The outdoors is better when everyone can join. This Veterans Day (11/11/25), Wilderdog will donate 5% of proceeds to Vermont Adaptive, a nonprofit that makes outdoor recreation accessible for veterans and people with a wide range of disabilities.
We recently spoke with Vermont Adaptive’s Director of Communications and Marketing, Kim Jackson, about the programs, resources, and community that help Vermonters of all abilities get outside and thrive.
Could you introduce yourself and share how you got involved with Vermont Adaptive?
My name is Kim Jackson, and I’m the Director of Communications and Marketing here at Vermont Adaptive. I first got involved about 17 years ago when Vermont Adaptive was a client of my PR company. I worked with them on media relations and communications for about five years, and then things grew to a point where they needed someone in-house. I came on staff and have now been here for 12 years. Before that, I was the PR director at Killington Resort, and I’ve lived in this region for a long time, so I’ve always been aware of Vermont Adaptive and the incredible work they do year-round across the state.
How would you explain Vermont Adaptive’s mission to someone who’s never heard of it?
Vermont Adaptive empowers people with disabilities through sports and outdoor recreation. It’s about using the outdoors to level the playing field and improve both physical and mental wellbeing. A big part of our mission is accessibility. We never turn anyone away based on their ability to pay. We offer scholarships and use a sliding scale fee structure because many of our participants are already managing medical expenses and other costs. We don’t want finances to be the reason someone can’t get outside and experience the benefits of recreation.
You’ve been able to see a large chunk of the organization’s history. When did Vermont Adaptive start, and how has it evolved?
Vermont Adaptive started back in 1987 when a woman named Laura Farrell created a small handicap ski association at Ascutney Mountain Resort. It began with just a handful of people but grew quickly, eventually moving to Pico. Over the years we expanded to include eight partner resorts, including Pico, Killington, Sugarbush, Bolton Valley, Mad River Glen, Bromley, Stratton, and Saskadena Six.
Our programming has grown too. In addition to winter sports, we now offer a full slate of summer activities like mountain biking, paddling, hiking, tandem biking, and wellness retreats. One of the biggest changes this year was our merger with Bart Adaptive Sports in July. That added two more program locations at Bromley and Stratton, which really gives us a presence across the entire state.
Who are the people Vermont Adaptive serves?
We work with such a wide range of people. Our participants range from 3 to 93! Vermont Adaptive was created for anyone of any ability or disability. We work with any type of disability: physical, cognitive, developmental, emotional, behavioral, and neurodiverse.
The most important thing is that our programs are individualized. Every person comes to us with different goals. It might be a parent who wants their child to feel comfortable and supported in our space for a few hours. It could be someone who skied before an injury and wants to get back on the mountain. Or it might be an athlete who wants to compete at a higher level. We work closely with each person to understand what they want to achieve and design a plan to help them get there.
What do those adaptations look like in practice?
It depends on the individual and the sport they’re interested in. There’s a wide variety of adaptive equipment available, and we help match people with what they need. Someone with a spinal cord injury might use a sit-ski, like a bi-ski or mono-ski. An amputee might ski with their prosthetic and outriggers instead of poles, or they might choose to ski without the prosthetic using one ski and outriggers, which is called three-tracking. For someone with a cognitive disability, the equipment might stay the same, but the lesson itself could be adapted. We might change how we teach, how information is presented, or the environment they’re in to make sure they’re learning in a way that works best for them. Everything we do is customized to the person.
Vermont Adaptive has such a strong volunteer base. How would you describe that community?
Our volunteers are really the heart of what we do. We have over 600 people who volunteer with us in some capacity throughout the year, and about half of them are core volunteers who dedicate a lot of time during the winter or summer seasons. They come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some are retirees, some are physical or occupational therapists, some are parents, and many are college students. We even partner with the UVM Ski and Snowboard Club, and a lot of their members volunteer with us. We don’t require a minimum number of days for volunteering, which gives people flexibility to give what time they can.
What we really emphasize is training. We provide thorough training, both online and on-snow, so that all of our instructors are on the same page. That way, whether someone is teaching at Bromley one day or Sugarbush the next, they’re using the same best practices and teaching methods.
As Vermont Adaptive continues to grow, what are some of the organization’s biggest needs?
Volunteers are always a big need because the more instructors we have, the more people we can serve and get outside. Funding is another major priority. Adaptive equipment is expensive. An adaptive mountain bike can cost between $15,000 and $20,000, and a sit-ski can cost $10,000 to $15,000. We have a fleet of adaptive equipment that we need to maintain and update, and we’re always trying to keep up with the latest technology to give participants the best possible experience. Donations also support our scholarship fund, which is essential to keeping our programs accessible to everyone.
If someone wants to get involved, what’s the best way to do that?
The easiest way is to go to vermontadaptive.org and fill out the volunteer application under the Volunteer section. That starts the process, which includes a background check, SafeSport training, and on-snow or on-bike training depending on the season. If someone is curious but not ready to commit, they can come shadow a lesson first. That gives them a sense of what we do and whether it feels like a good fit.
It must feel intimidating for someone participating for the first time. What is that experience like?
It’s different for everyone. Some kids run in excited because it’s the highlight of their week. Others are more hesitant, especially if they’re trying a sport again after a life-changing accident. We focus on creating a calm, welcoming environment and meeting people where they’re at. Progress can happen in small steps. Maybe the first visit is just spending time in our space and getting comfortable. The next time, they might try on ski boots and walk around. It’s all about building trust and confidence at their pace.
With Veterans Day coming up, can you talk about the role veterans play in Vermont Adaptive?
Absolutely. We have a program called Veteran Ventures, led by our veteran program coordinator, Misha Pemble-Belkin, who is a retired sergeant. Since he joined us, we’ve served over 700 veterans and service members through about 9,000 individual outings and more than 35 multi-day retreats. We work with veterans from the Korean War through today, and many are living with invisible disabilities like PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. Our programs are designed to meet veterans where they are in life. Some retreats might involve quiet hikes and time in nature, while others are more active, like backcountry rescue training on Mount Washington. It’s about offering experiences that feel meaningful and accessible to them.
You must get to see a lot of service dogs at Vermont Adaptive?
We love dogs! Service dogs are always welcome here, and when their person is out on a lesson, we get to hang out with them while they’re off duty. Of course, when they’re working, we can’t touch them or distract them, which is tough sometimes because they’re so cute.
We see a lot of guide dogs, especially during our big February weekend for blind and visually impaired athletes. Usually six to eight of them bring their guide dogs, so it can feel like a bit of a dog party when they’re all off duty. We also see service dogs working with veterans. It’s amazing to watch how focused and calm they are when they’re working and then see their personalities shine when they’re just being dogs.
And finally, what’s the most rewarding part of the job for you?
For me, it’s definitely the storytelling. I get to talk to our participants and volunteers, hear their stories, and share them in ways that encourage others to get outside and try something new. I’ve been in journalism and PR my whole career, so using those skills to tell stories that truly make a difference in someone’s life is really meaningful to me. Seeing how those stories ripple out and bring new people into the Vermont Adaptive community is the best part of what I do.
We’ve also partnered up to create a Vermont Adaptive x Wilderdog bandana which you can find here. All funds from the purchase will go directly to Vermont Adaptive.
