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The Destruction of a Paradigm

For years I thought I knew what I was capable of. I knew what was good for me. I humbly admitted to not knowing everything but knew what I was capable of achieving and what I would not tolerate.  Years of trusting my instincts and believing in what I knew to be real and true were abolished in one visit to Waypoint Adventure.

I am certain that Waypoint Adventure had never had a more reluctant attendee than I last summer. I received a letter in the mail telling me I had to report for a team building activity along with a disclaimer that had to be signed in case of injury.  I am obese. I am not active and had not visualized myself doing any type of outward bound activity.  It would take place in the woods where snakes lived. Enough said.

I was the first one to arrive at the site, along with my principal. I met Dan Minnich the co founder and explained to him that I would not sign any disclaimer. He immediately said, “Ok.”  Then he asked me why? I listed my fears and he calmly said I do not have to do any activity that I did not want to.  His calmness and direct eye contact instilled trust. I signed.

They were true to their word. The other cofounder Adam Combs was my group leader. He led us through activities that were not all physical but demonstrated the need to depend on one another and not remain an island. Suddenly, we were seeing how the entire group affected one another and ultimately the team.  Yes, I knew this on an intellectual level but never on a gut level.  In explaining what he was offering he would destroy our fears with a calmness that was solidly entrenched in fact and demonstrate just how safe we would be in doing these activities. True to their word if we did not want to participate we did not have to. We could simply sit surrounded by nature and serenity.  Yet, something in the lack of coercion and honest acceptance by them made me want to try. I was not judged by them and because of that saw how much I judged myself.  There unconditional acceptance is what made this program a success for me.

The activities that we were invited to participate in caused us to depend on one another physically and emotionally.  The steady rational that was provided by the explanations given by our team leader supported our experiences. There really was no need for fear when allowing our team members to pull me up 20 ft into the air and allow a piece of rope and pulley to support my swinging into the air…..Freedom.  I mentioned that I am obese. This experience gave me hope. It instilled a belief that if I wanted things to change I could change them.  Some of the activities that were developed for team building made me value my weight and see that although different than some of the younger more physically fit members of my team I am valued by just being who I am and providing what I could and they could not.

The experiences gained from going to Waypoint Adventure were transforming and immeasurable.  I gained peace of mind. Open a closed door and began to believe in things that I had not imagined or comprehended.  I challenge anyone and everyone to surrender to the Waypoint experience and not become affected by it.

Thank you, Dan Minnich and Adam Combs for busting a paradigm and instilling joy, for your vision and commitment to everyone who encounters you and your philosophy.

“Hakuna Matata”

Sincerely,

Nadine Fernandes

We are truly grateful for your support throughout this past year. Waypoint Adventure served 1502 people through 100 life transforming adventure programs this year and we couldn’t have done it without you. From our family to yours, thank you.

We truly hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season and a new year filled with life transforming adventures!!

Sincerely,

Dan Minnich & Adam Combs
Waypoint Adventure

David stood staring at the narrow plank in front of him. His other group members had already walked across the board bridging the stream. The water below looked cold and moved quickly. As hands stretched towards him, encouraging words filled the air. His first attempt nearly resulted in himself and a staff member tumbling into the water. Everyone knew this wasn’t going to be easy for him. Nervously, he looked up and down the stream hoping for another way across. After several minutes, David determined that this was the only way to the other side. With continued prompting from his peers and a few hesitant steps, David grasped the waiting hand and accomplished what he thought was impossible.

Experiences similar to David’s occur routinely on Waypoint programs. No, we haven’t been to Everest lately. Not even Base Camp. Nevertheless, climbing, hiking and paddling through New England’s woodlands become the “Mount Everest’s” where participants push their limits, challenge themselves and find they are able to overcome. Within this supportive community, they climb higher, paddle farther and explore woods that they never dreamed of enjoying again or for the first time.

Since this time last year, Waypoint Adventure was officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This tax status is a huge step toward a solid financial foundation and enables donors to receive a tax deduction for their gift. Additionally, many programmatic milestones were met and exceeded. This year our goal was to serve 700 participants through 70 programs. To our surprise, our goal was surpassed as we’ve now implemented more than 80 fee-for-service programs generating more than 1,400 participant contacts. In this pursuit, Waypoint has been privileged to serve over 20 Boston area schools and organizations which include: Perkins School for the Blind, The May Institute and Boston Centers for Youth and Families.

We need your support for 2012! Our financial goal for the year is $210,000.  We expect $90,000 of this to come from grants and fee for service programs. This means that we need to raise $120,000 from folks like you who believe that this transformational outdoor adventure programming should be available to everyone, including those with disabilities.

We cannot continue doing this work without you. Would you consider partnering with us by showing your support through a one time or monthly gift? Your investment will make a huge difference.

If you are interested in hearing more stories of transformation, would like to join us on a program or would like to see a more detailed breakdown of our finances, we would be happy to speak with you. Please contact us anytime!

Sincerely,

Dan Minnich and Adam Combs

Co-Founders