♪♪ Welcome to Windows to the Wild.

I'm Willem Lange.

You know, the outdoors has a way of empowering people.

You get that sense of freedom here that inspires and creates a feeling of belonging.

Now, today, we're going to hike with the class of second grade students, led by the Little Foot.

Whether you've heard of Scarlet or not, you'll take away something meaningful from her story.

But first, we're going kayaking.

Waypoint adventures is a Massachusetts based nonprofit organization that challenges people with disabilities to discover their potential through outdoor adventure.

♪♪ I got my hands on the boat, so don't worry.

Yep.

It's not going anywhere.

♪♪ Before families arrive, work begins.

This is the opportunity for families to do something together.

So it's not just the participants who go on a kayak.

We get the mom, the dad, brothers, siblings, cousins, whoever is here.

We try to get them out on a kayak.

Staff and volunteers from Waypoint Adventure prepare for an outing on the water.

The Massachusetts based nonprofit has a mission to help get people with disabilities outdoors.

20% of people have a disability.

It's the world's largest minority group, and in the United States, we spend billions of dollars on outdoor activities.

Outdoor recreation, adventure.

And people with disabilities face some particular barriers that sometimes prevent them from accessing those kinds of activities.

Dan Minich is co-founder of Waypoint Adventure.

He studied outdoor education at the University of New Hampshire and then put it into practice.

I studied outdoor education, also qualified for work study.

So I ended up getting a job, where I worked one on one with three young men who had disabilities.

And I got to know them and their families and started to become aware and understand some of the barriers that they were facing that prevented them from doing things that I was studying in school and just doing for fun, recreating.

Our activity today is kayaking, but we also like to have a goal that is much bigger than just our activity, something that we can take home with us and work on as as we grow up.

So we'll talk about our goal, and then we're going to get ready to kayak.

People of any age, in any disability, discover places they might not otherwise experience.

We hear from many of our friends who have disabilities that one of the hardest challenges that they face, associated with their disability, is social isolation.

And often don't get an invitation.

And so that's a, that's that's not a giant barrier, just extending the invitation.

And then sure, as we look around with some of Waypoints, adaptive equipment, there are some pretty cool pieces of physical, adaptive equipment that help to make programs accessible.

Today's adventure is a kayak trip in Boston Harbor right off Logan Airport's runway.

My partner, Victor and I, just met, and now we've got our life jackets, and we carried our boat down to the water.

Practiced using the paddle a little bit.

Are you ready?

Victor?

What do you think?

Thumbs up or thumbs down?

I'm excited because it's his first time alone and I really feel like, he can do it.

Yeah.

So thank you for that.

For this experience with this group.

I really feel like, Happy.

Happy for my kid.

Like a family.

Navigating barriers isn't always easy.

You clear one and another pops up.

But then learn quickly that language can sometimes keep people isolated.

A former Boston Public School principal, Claudia Gutierrez, who is on Waypoint's board, has been coming into the office and individually calling families and often speaking to them in Spanish to extend the invitation and say, come on.

Yes, you can participate in this and you should consider East Boston has a large, Latino community.

And, English is not a very strong suit.

So you're a parent with a disability, and you really can't communicate, effectively with someone who's going to take your child out to rock climbing outdoors or to, bike ride or to kayak out in the ocean.

So if you can't really communicate well with that instructor, you're going to say, no.

But with me, I'm able to talk to them.

I'm able to ease their worries.

I'm able to answer any of the questions they have, and knowing that someone they trusted before with their children is going to be here.

Also, protecting their children, I think brings their anxiety levels way down.

Claudia's experiences in schools led her to Waypoint as a board member.

When I, became an administrator here in, East Boston, there really wasn't anything for my children with disabilities to do.

Some programs, school partners would come to the school and do some activities with the children with disabilities, but not out in the open, not out in nature.

There was nothing.

No one in was trained and no one felt comfortable enough to take some of our students to some of these activities.

♪♪ And so even today's location, we're at Constitution Beach in Boston, across from the airport, accessible by a t stop.

And so this this place was chosen intentionally to remove some of the barriers that oftentimes people face in accessing the outdoors.

♪♪ Hi, Margaret.

I'm kayaking!

You are?

Yeah!

I'm Yvette Neal and this is Holden.

He's 13.

My name is Holden Neal.

Holden is actually the first, person in the family that got involved with Waypoints.

When we first moved, to the Boston area from Austin, two and a half years ago, he was invited on some field trips.

And what were the first Waypoint field trips you had?

I think he had.

I think I had a rock, I, yeah, I had a rock climbing field trip.

Yeah.

Rock climbing was the first thing that he did.

And then you started doing kayaking with Waypoint right?

Check it out.

What kind of crab is that?

Oh, it's a crab shell.

♪♪ Is that a crab shell?

Yeah.

Cool.

Look at this.

Look at the crab's mouth.

Oh that's awesome, Holden.

Holden lives with autism spectrum disorder.

So do his siblings.

And he was the first person in the family to ever kayak.

He was excited about it.

We got lots of great pictures back, and then we sort of started exploring more, more kayaking, for the whole family.

I also had Waypoint Adventures at school.

Oh.

Did you?

Yeah, he had Waypoint adventures, like at, What kind of Waypoint adventures?

Like hiking and more rock climbing.

Oh, neat.

Okay, I want to try and find a horseshoe crab.

And also just some regular crabs.

But what are regular crabs?

They're just like the normal crabs you find on the beach.

Like green crabs.

♪♪ What does it mean to be outside in nature?

Is that important to you?

Yeah.

In fact I, In fact I found toys not interesting.

Instead, I just like to, like, look at those bugs.

Yeah, he's kind of always been that way.

I think, though, all of the kids, they really like insects and nature and really their favorite thing in the world is just to be outside.

♪♪ It's a great equalizer because when you're on our kayaks, on the water, you're kind of all in the same situation.

It's very peaceful.

And it's it's really true.

Wheather you have, you know, mobility issues or sensory issues, as long as those needs are met ahead of time.

And you know what those are, which Waypoint does they meet all of those needs.

It's great.

I mean, everybody has fun and nobody's thinking about what makes us different.

♪♪ What's it feel like?

Feels really spiney.

It's really about showing that we all can be out in the natural places.

It's just some of us might need a little more time to get ready and accustomed.

You might need a special piece of equipment, but it's really about showing, like with all available for all of us to get out there and do it.

And sometimes you see these beautiful, natural wonders that are in our backyard.

How do you feel about waypoint?

I know I talked a lot about like your adventures with Waypoint and and being included.

Remember last time they were talking about belonging?

That everybody belongs.

Yeah.

So how do you feel about that?

It feels.

It feels good.

The idea of belonging and what it means, because it's not just belonging with one another in a group, but also belonging with nature, you know, that could be another idea of belonging is, is we're belonging somewhere in the world or somewhere in nature.

♪♪ Victor, how are we doing?

Bien?

Or not so good?

We decided we'd rather go swimming, so we just dove out of the front of the boat.

And so we fished you out of the boat, put you back in the seat, and then the next time we decided, hey, why don't you just come back here, hang out back here.

Here.

Let's show them what we can do.

Ready?

You work with me.

Ready?

One, two.

One, two.

Has my personal mission changed over the last 15 years?

I think the exact same reason that I got into this was that I love spending time outside.

Right when I go on an adventure, it ignites my own personal enthusiasm for being alive.

It challenges me and I either find, oh, I wasn't ready for that, or I did more than I thought I was capable of.

And it helps me imagine new possibilities is exactly what I'm so enthusiastic about being able to share with people who sometimes don't have that opportunity.

♪♪ We take you to Gilford, New Hampshire, where an extraordinary hiker name, Little Foot, invited her second grade classmates to go on a hike with her.

The purpose was much more, however, than just a simple walk in the woods.

♪ WILLEM: Just when most students at Gilford Elementary School pack up to head out the door... ♪ Kim Lesnewski and her granddaughter, Scarlett, head in.

KIM: You got to put all those things away > Today, remember, we're doing the scavenger hunt.

WILLEM: Kim and Scarlett, along with parent volunteers, prepare a room full of students for an outing.

KIM: Can I spray you?

All right!

> In the beginning, it's a little bit of chaos organized chaos getting the kids all ready to get them out here.

But once we get them out there, we have it pretty much this year, we have enough volunteers that every adult has about 3 or 4 kids only.

> Do you want to be in charge of the lichen?

WILLEM: Right behind the school, along the edge of the parking lot, is a trail.

This is where the trip begins.

KIM: So, we take them out hiking, but we teach what do we each them?

SCARLETT: Um... Leave No Trace.

KIM: And we also teach them...?

Hike safety.

♪ [water rushing] WILLEM: We met Scarlett a couple of years ago at the foot of Mount Washington.

She's known on the trails as Little Foot.

And believe me, she can climb!

♪ At that time, six-year-old Little Foot had already completed all of New Hampshire's forty-eight 4,000-foot peaks.

She did that before she turned five.

♪ [Scarlett giggling] Later that year, we caught up with her on New Hampshire's Mount Hale.

[cheering] [Scarlett giggling] KIM: I think when we saw you guys last, we filmed her Winter 48 finish.

Was that it?

SCARLETT: I think so.

KIM: Yeah, it was the Winter 48 finish.

Since then, she finished her New England 48 Four Seasons.

We finished that in November.

She just needs the rest of her trail work hours to get her patch for that.

Do you know what lichen is a home to?

What animal?

WILLEM: Kim and Scarlett have made it to the summits of nearly all of the highest peaks in New England.

KIM: Little bugs will live in... WILLEM: For safety’s sake, they hike with a team, mostly adults.

It was Scarlett who kindled the idea of getting her peers outdoors.

KIM: Oh!

Scarlett!

What kind of lichen is this?

SCARLETT: Is this KIM: It was already detached.

SCARLETT: It's trumpet and green reindeer.

KIM: Yeah.

> So, it started one day we were on trail, and Scarlett had mentioned doing a hiking club at school and had asked SCARLETT: At mine.

KIM: At her school, yeah.

And had asked if it would be possible.

And I said, Well, let me think about that.

SCARLETT: It took her a while.

KIM: Took me a little while because it's a commitment.

I mean, it's all volunteer.

And, you know, it's a lot of kids.

So, we talked about what we would teach the kids and what we would do during hiking Club Scarlett, what kind of tree is this?

> Scarlett, what kind of tree is this?

SCARLETT: Um... Is that... Is that an oak?

KIM: It is.

But it's a little sapling, so it's not quite a big tree yet.

> She said to me, she's like, I want to show kids that they can go outside and have fun instead of being at home on TV, or sitting on the couch and watching TV.

And I think it's just to foster them.

Not everybody is lucky that they have somebody that loves to be outdoors and hike, so I think that this allows us to reach a lot of kids.

They’re our future and the next generation, so it's important to teach them about being outdoors and how to be safe, especially.

So, that way, as they grow up and they mature, they can teach others.

BOY: Oh no!

Buddy can’t go home.

GIR: Where’s the spider?

BOY: Where did the spider go?

KADE: Hi!

I'm Kade, and I am here in the volunteering role today with the Gilford Elementary School hikers.

So, I love hiking.

I am so excited that they brought this program back again this year.

They did it last fall and I heard all the wonderful things about it.

And I wish I could volunteer more but, oftentimes, because I teach, my schedule doesn’t allow it.

But this is such a great opportunity to get the kids out and explore our beautiful trails here in Belknap County.

WOMAN: Okay.

Let’s see if there’s anything in there.

Oooo!

Cool!

KID: Can I see?

KID TWO: Is there a treasure?

KID: Can I see?

WILLEM: During the hikes, students get close to nature.

It's a fun way to learn about the world they live in.

MAN: Good job!

WOMAN: Nicely done!

KADE: Absolutely.

Sometimes, for some children, this actually works even better this environment.

From my experience, I also teach adults, and, oftentimes, I have classes outside where we have walk and talk class where we're walking the trails while we are talking about healthy nutrition and setting goals in your life.

For many, it's much more... it helps you free your mind, and you're more likely to maybe acquire new skills and knowledge when you are in the woods.

KIM: It is!

It's a great classroom!

They learn all this cool stuff about I mean, many people GIRL: Can I have a pen?

KIM: There you go.

Oh, it’s part of a tree nut already opened.

KID: Ahhh.

KIM: They learn about all the stuff in the environment.

I mean, it's an education out here.

I honestly never knew this much about lichen until I started hiking with Scarlett and she found a love for lichen and I've had to learn about it.

So, I've had to learn!

> It might be cinder.

KID: I think it might be KIM: Oh, you think it might be fluffy dust?

KID: It’s still not flat.

It's definitely not flat.

SCARLETT: Oh yeah!

It's fluffy dust!

KADE: You would think they’d come home tired and want to nap, but they're so excited.

They're so happy to share what they have experienced, what they have found.

Like, today, all these items on the scavenger list.

It's amazing.

BOY: Yay!

KADE: Is it fun?

BOY TWO: Yeah.

KADE: When you come home, what do you say?

What do you say about hiking club?

BOY TWO: It's awesome.

KADE: It's awesome, right?

And they're also learning new things, you know BOY: And hiking!

KADE: And hiking, yes!

And I hope that one day, they will teach their kids to come out and play like me.

BOY: Like me!

[chuckling] KADE: Like you, yeah.

KIM: Penny, what do we have to do at this trail junction?

What do we need to wait for?

PENNY: The others.

KIM: The rest of the group.

So, let's just wait for the group.

They learn how to work together.

It's team building.

You know, right now, they're working in a group together and, you know, Penny's relying on Scarlett's knowledge of tree and they all rely on the strengths of each other, and they work together.

It's great.

WILLEM: Scarlett and her grandmother never miss an opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge.

WARDEN: Our plan for you guys would be to make noise.

WILLEM: They partner with New Hampshire Fish and Game at public events such as this one in Laconia.

Together, they promote safe hiking.

KIM: There's a lot of things that I'm a huge advocate for as far as getting kids outside, but I think I'm an even larger advocate for getting kids outside safely, and that's always just been huge.

I mean, she's always carried a backpack.

And she just graduated to her first adult backpack, and she carries almost 10 pounds.

So, for me, I want parents to realize you can do it, and they don't need to start with a backpack like this.

They can start with an empty backpack.

It's just something on their back.

It's like your lifesaver that has your life-saving equipment.

WOMAN: Where does it occur?

Because we see the dirt on his leg, but we don't know did you bump your head?

KIM: The minute somebody gets hurt, she'll be the first one saying, I've got an ace bandage!

And if somebody gets hurt, she'll go right up to them and try and help them.

> Look at how nice that cleaned up.

Wow, Warren.

Good job she did.

> So, I just think it's important for people and parents to realize that they can definitely get kids outside and do it safely.

There's so much out here.

WILLEM: The idea of a school hiking club came to Scarlett while on a hike, and like most things she puts her mind to, it's gaining traction.

KIM: Good job, Amelia, KADE: I don't know if you already heard this, but when they announced this club, it was like booked within like eight minutes and there were not enough spots for more kids.

So, there's big demand and not enough spots.

I think it's fantastic to have such a little star in the school and get other kids excited about hiking, and I think it's more relatable to kids to see someone their age share the passion.

KIM: Good job, girls.

> We're fostering more than just being out in the wilderness and being out on trails; we're fostering her personal growth.

♪ ALL: Thank you, Windows to the Wild!

WOMAN: Woohoo!

Well, we've come to that place in the show that I have always liked least, when we have to say goodbye.

So I shall.

Bye bye.

I Willem Lange and I hope to see you again on Windows to the Wild.

We leave you with some sights and sounds from around New England.

♪♪ Support for the production of Windows to the Wild is provided by the Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust.

The John D McGonagle Foundation, the Bailey Charitable Foundation, Road Scholar and viewers like you.

Thank you.

Make a gift to the wild and support the Willem Lange Endowment Fund, established by a friend of New Hampshire PBS.

To learn how you can keep environmental, nature and outdoor programing possible for years to come, call our development team at (603) 868-4467.

Thank you.

♪♪