On February 13, for the first time ever, Pine Tree Camp opened its gates for something really special: winter Adventure Day Pass.
Megan and her nine-year old son Trey were among the dozens of families who came for some barrier-free winter fun.
Megan and Trey weren’t able to get outside very much this winter and the chance to safely spend the day outdoors at Pine Tree Camp was a true highlight.
“We put winter Adventure Day Pass on our calendar and said ‘Yay! We’re going to our happy place!’ Trey loves to be outside and with Covid happening it’s been very difficult for us to get out,” she said.
Access to the outdoors is critical and, during this time of physical distancing, it’s more important than ever, especially during the winter months. Pine Tree Camp Adventure Day Pass featured safe, physically distanced adaptive snowshoeing, ice fishing, sledding, nature exploration and, of course, s’mores by the fire.
Megan and Trey were ready to experience it all.
Pine Tree Camp partnered with the Equip For Living Foundation to provide accessible ice fishing. It was the highlight of Trey’s day.
“The first thing we did was head out to do some ice fishing,” Megan continued. “We took a side-by-side ATV out on the ice. They were really accommodating and had tents with heaters. We watched them drill a hole in the ice for us then baited our lures. Trey got to sit in a camp chair with me and hold the fishing pole. We sat there and bobbed away.”
After lunch, Megan and Trey enjoyed spending a little time by the fire then made snowballs and snowmen together.
“We went at our own pace and that was really nice,” Megan said. “My favorite was sledding. Trey got to sit in the sled with me and we pushed ourselves down
the hill. He loves to go fast and we just kind of flew down. It was so good to get fresh air all day.”
Pine Tree Camp’s winter Adventure Day Pass is an extension of the programming that was launched in July in response to challenges presented by Covid-19.
“The response has been incredible,” said Pine Tree Camp director Dawn Willard-Robinson. “This summer, we had waiting lists for each day we offered Adventure Day Pass, so we expanded into the fall and winter. We welcomed
lots of people who had never been to Pine Tree Camp. The success of this program really illustrates what we already know: fully accessible access to the outdoors is critical.”
L.L.Bean provided funding to ensure Adventure Day Pass continued this winter.
“The good old-fashioned remedy of getting everybody outside has huge restorative benefits,” Dawn continued. “When you want to take a break from your day-to-day routine, sometimes the best thing to do is get outside and try something you’ve never done before. L.L.Bean’s support made that possible.”
Thanks to their support, Megan and Trey created memories that will last a lifetime.
“As people continue to head outside for comfort and connection, we at L.L.Bean support ways to make the outdoors more accessible,” said Christina Semanyshyn, manager, strategic partnerships and corporate giving. “When Pine Tree Society told us about the Adventure Day Pass program and the access it provides for campers
and entire families, we were delighted to support their important mission.”
This spring, Pine Tree Camp will add a fleet of adaptive bikes and launch a biking program. From hand cycles to recumbents, kids of all ages and abilities will be able to ride on the trail system through the woods.
“We can’t wait to try the bikes,” concluded Megan. “It will be an adventure!”
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