We’re going back to our roots this summer. Back in 1995, we found a great site on the Charles River and invited individuals and groups to windsurf. We’re not at the same spot on the Charles but we’re back on the river at an incredible site in Waltham. We’re calling this our AccesSportAmerica Summer Sports Program at Watch City. The paddling is more interesting and varied than any site we’ve known. We can windsurf safely there and the cycling paths are picturesque with a truly perfect grade for adaptive applications like ours.
The challenge has been in bringing all our hallmark sports to a spot with adequate storage and access. In short, we use a lot, and I mean A LOT, of equipment in our program. We’ve been working on this project for the better part of this year. I believe we’ve met the challenge with creativity and some elegant engineering/design. With the help of Wayside Containers, we built a 32’ Program house which will hold five windsurfers, four stand up paddle boards, two kayaks, a chase boat, sails, booms, paddles, and lifejackets. The container will, amazingly enough, also house 20 adaptive cycles! Three Hawaiian outrigger canoes will be on site as well with all the amenities to make this site fully functional. This program will offer our widest range of water and land sports this summer.
We’re putting the finishing touches on our Program House getting ready to be a fully functioning program starting in June. Our participants will be individuals and groups, some of whom we’ve worked with in the past, and also new athletes from the surrounding area. Needless to say, we’re very excited and pleased to add this new program as we expand into another great community. Along with the autonomy and freedom to teach as we know best, comes financial challenges. But I know we can count on you! Your gift of any amount will help provide the equipment, innovative methodology, and expert trainers who will be part of some amazing and transformative sessions this summer. You can make your donation by visiting our FirstGiving page. Don’t forget to share it with your friends too.
Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see updates on the program, and look for hashtags #ASAsummer #ASAWatchCity and #goACCESS across these platforms.
For more information or to sign up for our new ASA Summer Sports Program at Watch City, contact ross@goaccess.org.