Malden Public Schools launch inclusive free outdoor series with The Great Malden Outdoors & Partners

Special to The Advocate

Malden Public Schools in collaboration with First Seed Sown, creator of The Great Malden Outdoors, are launching an inclusive outdoor recreation program series for residents and students. The program has two parts: first, an Adaptive Outdoor Event series for Malden residents with special needs or disabilities run by Waypoint Adventure in April, May and June. Part two is the expansion of the afterschool hiking program, going from one to two schools, run by Friends of the Fells (FOF) through Malden Public Schools’ Malden Out of School Time (MOST) afterschool program.

“The Great Malden Outdoors goal from day one was to increase outdoor participation for all Malden residents by removing barriers to entry for this Environmental Justice Community,” says First Seed Sown CEO Darren (DJ) Josey. “With the help of MOOR [Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation], cost will not be an issue thanks to local non-profit partnerships with Waypoint Adventure and Friends of the Fells who are providing: professional guiding, equipment, and outdoor education. At a time when DEI / EJ work is being cut in both the public and private sectors, the state of MA is investing in outdoor access for those communities who are underrepresented outside.”

Both programs were funded by a grant from MOOR, making the Adaptive Outdoor Program free for residents and the MOST / FOF hiking program at no additional cost to current participants. “A central pillar of the Office of Outdoor Recreation is to promote inclusivity outdoors,” said MOOR Director Paul Jahnige. “We are proud to support organizations like First Seed Sown in breaking down barriers and promoting equitable access to nature. The Great Malden Outdoors project will offer adaptive outdoor events and after-school hiking programs for folks with disabilities to cultivate a sense of kinship. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, can experience the joy and freedom of the outdoors.”

To get the word out, Malden Public Schools will be distributing backpack fliers (in eight languages) about the Adaptive Outdoor Event Series to every Independent Learning Plan classroom in the city. The Malden Recreation Department will also email its citywide list to build upon existing social programming for residents with disabilities, like its Teen Night Out, a three-city partnership for teens with disabilities to socialize.

Waypoint Adventure and First Seed Sown will lead programs on April 5, May 4 and June 1. Adaptive hiking will be taking place within the Middlesex Fells Reservation via MBTA-accessible trailheads and with the utilization of specialized adaptive hiking equipment that can overcome rocky and rooted dirt trails. Adaptive rock climbing will take place at Waitts Mount, the only ADA-accessible outdoor climbing destination in the eastern part of the state.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with First Seed Sown as they launch accessible programming as part The Great Malden Outdoors and look forward to bringing engaging activities and skill building to participants,” said Waypoint Adventure MA Cofounder and Executive Director Dan Minnich. “Being outdoors and having access to sports has provided so many opportunities for individuals with a disability to learn lifelong skills, and continue to find partnerships such as this to spread access for those who need it most.”

FOF will take its successful afterschool hiking pilot program at the Salemwood School and now offer it at the Beebe School, the largest public school in the city. The FOF afterschool outdoor education program introduces students to the Middlesex Fells and inspires them to develop a stewardship ethic for the natural environment. Children experience new challenges of trail hiking and outdoor exploration, build observation skills and increase self-confidence in being outdoors in nature. As a result, students become more physically fit and develop a connection to this valuable outdoor resource.

“Working with the students from the MOST program has been incredibly rewarding,” says Friends of the Fells Camp and Youth Development Director Liz Cohen. “It’s so fun to watch kids grow and gain confidence in their abilities and comfort with the forest. At the beginning of the eight-week program, kids can be tentative; approaching a steep trail or a rock that needs scrambling with some apprehension and unease. But by the end of the eight weeks, I get to witness their transformation as they race up trails and tackle difficult terrain without thinking twice. It’s a great feeling, for me and the kids!”

For more info about these programs and organizations, visit www.TheGreatMaldenOutdoors.com, www.FirstSeedSown.com, **@Fi***********.com, www.waypointadventure.org and www.friendsofthefells.org.