2025 has been an incredible year for Green Mountain Adaptive Sports in so many ways. Our adaptive sport programs continue to grow, both in the number of participants and in the locations we serve.
This year, we added three new adaptive sports programs to better serve our community and expand access for people of all abilities across our region, bringing us to a total of nine adaptive sports programs. (Scroll down for more details and annual update about each program.)
We continue to sponsor coaches as they pursue professional accreditations and gain valuable experience they can bring back when working with our athletes.
In addition, something especially important to us and central to our model, we continue to build strong partnerships with other adaptive programs and local sports facilities. These collaborations strengthen our bonds and create a solid foundation for growth—expanding opportunities and allowing us to achieve far more together than would ever be possible working alone.
Our Board of Directors—entirely volunteer-led—continues to work tirelessly to keep Green Mountain Adaptive Sports moving forward while building long-term stability. We are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together as a board, and deeply thankful for the unconditional support of our community and our volunteers. Through fundraisers, donations, partnerships, events, and so much more, our community continues to stand behind us. We are truly grateful to be surrounded by such dedicated and inspiring people who, working collaboratively, help us advance our mission of providing greater and more equitable access to adaptive sports for people with disabilities in our community.
PROGRAMS RECAP
The Adaptive Aquatics Program continues to thrive. In 2025, 52 athletes participated across four pool locations in Vermont, completing a total of 206 lessons. GMAS is proud to continue providing grants to aquatics coaches, supporting their ongoing training, expertise, and certifications so they can better serve our athletes.
The Adaptive Rock Climbing Program is a favorite among families, as they watch their loved ones gain strength, confidence, and new skills with each lesson. GMAS currently partners with Metro Rock and Petra Cliffs, funding 55 lessons for 11 athletes, along with monthly clinics for additional adaptive athletes of all ages and abilities. Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited to explore expanding this program to as many as two additional locations—stay tuned for more details in the new year!
The long-awaited Adaptive Skateboard Program held in partnership with Talent SkatePark in Burlington and a lot of amazing volunteers has exceeded all expectations! The excitement is contagious, as coaches, volunteers, and athletes feed off each other while exploring new skills and celebrating every success. We can’t wait to see this program continue to grow in 2026.
The new TetraSki and SnowKart program has been years in the making, and it’s incredible to see it come to life. Cathy Webster worked her magic as a coordinator, navigating snow, wind, ice storms, cancellations, and all the surprises in between. By the end of the season, 31 athletes with complex disabilities experienced the joy of skiing independently, completing 55 lessons led by our three specifically trained instructors. We are proud to have the only TetraSki in Vermont, and the schedule for 2026 is already full of exciting opportunities!
The Adaptive Cross-Country Ski Program in partnership with the Craftsbury Outdoor Center is gaining momentum, benefiting from coaches and volunteers who are always kind, patient, professional, and caring with our athletes. Join us to try out this fun experience, or sign up to receive a scholarship for lessons, a ski pass, and equipment—we’ve got you covered!
Amy MacDonald, a participant in many of our programs, is leading our brand-new Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program. This program is designed to support families navigating a life-changing event that has resulted in a disability and are unsure where to begin in rebuilding and reconnecting with their community. Reach out for guidance—Amy is all ears and eager to offer advice and support wherever she can.
The Adaptive Ski and Ride Program continues to be a favorite! In 2025, GMAS sponsored 40 individuals for a total of 300 lessons at Stowe. We also supported the training and racing fees for five Vermont Special Olympians at Smugglers’ Notch Resort. After a successful pilot program supporting a young athlete with financial need, GMAS expanded its support and will be sponsoring 19 athletes at Smuggs for 2026. This growth is truly exciting, and we look forward to strengthening this new partnership.
The Adaptive Kayaking Program, held in partnership with Cathy Webster of the NDAA, ran smoothly this summer, and continues to bring joy to so many families. A total of 31 Green Mountain Adaptive Sports athletes participated, completing 106 launches. Of those athletes, 11 were new to the program, while the rest were returning participants—including Nina and Brandon, who received special recognition from the volunteer coaches. Volunteers are always needed for this program, please reach out to get involved.
“Nina Myette, a middle school student from Morrisville, was a first-time kayaker this year and embraced the challenge with determination. With support from instructors and the use of an angled oar, she quickly learned how to paddle forward and gained confidence on the water. Nina progressed from staying near the shoreline to independently exploring more of the reservoir alongside a volunteer. She went from feeling apprehensive to being excited to get in the kayak—an incredible and inspiring transformation!” relates Meg Denton, a member of the GMAS board and an Occupational Therapist with a Master’s of Education degree who volunteers for the program.
Brandon has made remarkable progress in his kayaking skills over the past few years.
“Brandon Bird, 20, has made remarkable progress in his kayaking skills over the past few years. This season, he learned to confidently turn and maneuver his kayak using a fun cue tied to his love of SpongeBob SquarePants. With character-themed gloves and simple prompts, Brandon quickly mastered directional paddling. His growing independence and joy on the water made his progress this year especially exciting to see,” reports Marcy Pelkey, a member of the GMAS board and an Occupational Therapist who volunteers for the program.
SPECIAL EVENTS, GROUPS and Fundraisers
Green Mountain Adaptive Sports would not exist without the incredible financial support of our community. Our organization relies on the generosity of donors, foundations, and local businesses who support us in many ways—by hosting fundraising events, donating raffle prizes, contributing a portion of their sales on Giving Tuesday, or participating in “Round Ups,” a newer form of fundraising for us, and one we hope to continue growing in 2026.
Below is a short recap of some of our adaptive events and fundraisers from 2025. Thank you to everyone who helped make them such a success, and to all who gave it their all—as participants, coaches, volunteers, hosts, and donors.
We appreciate YOU!
Adaptive Events
GMAS has become a leader in the adaptive sports field by hosting large, collaborative events. Each January, GMAS hosts the annual Stowe Monoski Camp, an event that attracts 25-30 monoskiers to Stowe from across the country.
A group of monoskiers take part in a clinic at Stowe led by Chris Young. Photo: Jeb Wallace-Brodeur
2025 was another outstanding year for the camp, welcoming athletes from near and far and strengthening partnerships with organizations such as the Kelly Brush Foundation, High Fives Foundation, and Spaulding Adaptive Sports Center.
Collaboration goes a long way, and it brings us immense joy to see athletes, coaches, and volunteers give their all during a weekend dedicated to monoskiing. Everyone leaves Stowe with renewed energy, sharpened skills, and clear goals for the season—along with new connections within the adaptive sports community and hearts full of pride, compassion, and gratitude for all that was accomplished.
The Stowe Adaptive Mountain Bike Weekend serves a similar purpose and achieves many of the same goals each August, as approximately 25 athletes gather in Stowe for two unforgettable days—one spent riding singletrack trails at Cady Hill Forest and another participating in the Race to the Top of Vermont.
A few of the 24 riders who came to the 2025 Stowe aMTB Weekend. Photo: Jeb Wallace-Brodeur.
This year was no different from past events: we crushed trails together, laughed, learned, connected, and grew in confidence, skills, and friendships.
Many thanks to everyone who attended, and to the Kelly Brush Foundation and to our new partner, New England Adaptive Sports, for helping make the weekend such a success. Reach out to volunteer for this event which will be held Aug 21-23, 2026.
Fundraisers
2025 was a busy year of fundraising as always. Even without paid staff, without money—we don’t have a program, it’s that simple. So, we buckle up every year, and hit the campaign trail.
The annual Heady Trotter four-mile beer run at The Alchemist Brewery in Stowe—hosted by Great American Brewery Runs—was another huge success and one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. A record 1,806 racers hit the start line, and thanks to a generous matching donation from the Vermont Community Foundation, the event raised over $18,000 for GMAS.
Other important fundraisers for GMAS this year included the Trapp Cabin Trail Race, the Stowe Cider Solstice Party, Giving Tuesday campaign, The American Flatbread Bake Sale, Groove Beyond Zumba, and the Winter Challenge (coming back as Tom Hall’s Vertical Ski Challenge on March 16, 2026). We are thankful for everyone who supports our fundraisers, whether by volunteering or by donating to one event or many, and we always welcome new events that help raise the important funds GMAS needs to carry on our mission.
Tom will be challenging himself again on March 16th by skiing as many vertical feet as possible in a single day.
Looking Ahead into 2026
We continue to look for more, and new opportunities to engage with our community. we already have a few new opportunities lining up for 2026 including:
- Opportunities for some of our athletes ages 16 and up to join Just Hands for a day of driving fast cars at Lime Rock Park.
- The return of the GMAS Celebration on Sunday, June 28th at Davey Park (save the date, more info to come.)
- New Bike Kits for all to purchased – May 2026.
- Participation in the Pond Skimming Party at Stowe Mountain Resort, Saturday, April 11th, 2026.
- Stowe Adaptive Mountain Bike Weekend, Aug 21-23. This collaborative event has become another favorite with many of our athletes and volunteers, registration to open in May.
- Volunteers opportunities are available for many of our programs and events. Sign up to help!
- Apply for a grant to start, or continue instructor trainings to get certified in adaptive sports (ski, aquatics, and rock climbing).
- Reach out to learn more and see how you can get involved with GMAS in 2026.
By Pascale Savard
January 28, 2026