Waypoint Adventures tells Revere commission it brings adaptive kayaking, climbing, bikes and beach chairs to people with disabilities

Rob Dunn, program coordinator for Waypoint Adventures, told the Revere Commission on Disabilities on June 10 that the nonprofit runs adaptive outdoor programs intended to “free what’s possible” for people with disabilities.

Waypoint’s activities, Dunn said, include tandem and adaptive kayaking, hiking, backpacking, cross‑country skiing, indoor and outdoor rock climbing, tandem and adaptive cycling, ropes‑course programs, and adaptive mountain biking. He described equipment in Waypoint’s fleet — adaptive boats, off‑road wheelchairs, beach wheelchairs, Hoyt running chairs and other specialized cycles — and said the group partners with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Paddle Boston, Central Rock Gym, Spaulding Rehabilitation and local organizations such as Empower SCI.

Why it matters: Waypoint’s programs bring adaptive recreation to participants who lack regular access to natural settings, Dunn said, and the commission flagged the group as a prospective exhibitor at the commission’s All Abilities Day at Revere Beach on Aug. 9.

Dunn said Waypoint serves the full disability community and uses an experiential education model — set goals, have the experience, reflect, and apply learnings. He described the organization’s Leaders‑in‑Training cohort and school partnerships with Boston and Somerville special‑education programs and Merrimack Heights Academy.

On equipment and accessibility, Dunn gave details about a beach wheelchair in the fleet: “It is called a Hippocamp,” he said, describing a blue framed chair with a wide front wheel and twin rear tires that can move across sand and permit a swim‑off from the chair because armrests can be removed. At the same time he cautioned the chair is not designed for independent self‑propulsion by many wheelchair users.

Dunn described Waypoint’s transfer and safety practices: staff receive agency‑wide transfer training delivered in partnership with Spaulding Rehabilitation, and the organization brings transfer boards and bench systems to assist participants moving into kayaks and boats.

On cost and access, Dunn said Waypoint’s public (open‑enrollment) programs typically charge about $20 per participant, but scholarships are available and the organization will reduce costs for people on fixed incomes. “We try to make sure there’s some wording out there to let people know of, like, you know, scholarships could be available for programming,” he said.

Commissioners asked technical and operational questions. Commissioner Molly asked whether the blue beach chairs could go in the water; Dunn replied simply, “They can,” and described the removable armrests and wheels that enable water entry and exit. Chair Ralph DeChico and other members discussed transfer assistance logistics; Dunn said Waypoint would coordinate individually with participants and could provide transfer‑trained staff for events.

Dunn said Waypoint offers equipment rental (off‑road chairs and other items), volunteer opportunities for people with and without disabilities, and custom group or school programs. He also said Waypoint has authorization to operate on some federal and state lands in New England.

The commission invited Waypoint to the Aug. 9 All Abilities Day; Dunn said he expected to attend and to help coordinate equipment and staffing for that event.

Ending: The commission thanked Dunn for the presentation and asked staff to share his contact information with residents seeking program or volunteer details. Dunn said his email and Waypoint’s web link were available in his meeting signature and that he would follow up with commission staff about the beach event.