WINDHAM, N.Y. – The Adaptive Sports Foundation (ASF) welcomed eight U.S. military veterans for its three-day Warriors in Motion® (WIM) kayaking event, held July 29–31.
“This has been a wonderful experience,” said U.S. Navy veteran and first-time WIM participant Walter Kain. “Not only the kayaking has been great, but meeting a whole bunch of other veterans and volunteers just made this program a wonderful thing. I’m blessed that there are programs like this that take care of us disabled veterans.”
The warriors arrived Tuesday afternoon at the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center in Windham, where they met ASF staff and volunteers. They had lunch while reviewing the week’s schedule and discussing water safety practices, including signs of overheating during the hotter days on the lakes.
After lunch, the group carpooled to CD Lane Park in nearby Maplecrest to hit the 26-acre lake. Not only did the veterans get a chance to be on the water on a 90-plus-degree afternoon, but they also became familiar with their kayaks and learned how to properly propel themselves. One veteran, Luciano Yulfo, was experiencing paddle sports for the first time.
After exploring for a couple of hours, the group packed up and headed to their hotels to check in and rest before enjoying a catered dinner at the ASF lodge, provided by Jesse’s Harvest House.
The following day, ASF staff picked up the warriors from their hotel at 9 a.m. and traveled across the Hudson River to Copake Lake, the largest lake in Columbia County. Copake Lake Boat & Ski Corp. generously allowed the ASF and the warriors to launch their kayaks into the lake and provided a rental pontoon boat for staff and lifeguards to patrol the paddlers.
The WIM group ventured around the peninsula during the morning session before heading back to shore for lunch at Copake Lake Boat & Ski. After lunch, the warriors challenged themselves to paddle the perimeter of the 410-acre lake, admiring nature and the beautiful homes along the shore.
Their kayaking adventure ended for the day at 3 p.m., when they returned to Windham to rest and clean up before another dinner catered by Jesse’s Harvest House.
Due to impending rain and construction on Route 23C, ASF staff decided to remain local on the final day, returning to CD Lane Park. The weather also impacted some travel plans, prompting several veterans to depart early to avoid the storm. Those who remained were still able to paddle the quiet lake for a short while, enjoying the peacefulness of having it all to themselves.
The group paddled for about 30 minutes before a cold, heavy rain began to fall, prompting a spirited dash back to shore—an exciting end to the paddling event. Once everything was packed up, the group returned to the ASF to chat, recap the week and share lunch before departing.
“I lost my wife of 49 years just 15 months ago, so I have a big void in my life,” Kain said. “Getting involved in opportunities like this has helped me a lot. I appreciate everything that the ASF is doing here.”
The ASF’s next Warriors in Motion event will take place Aug. 25–28. This special four-day WIM Women’s Retreat will feature a variety of outdoor sports exclusively for injured female veterans.
About the Warriors in Motion Program
The Warriors in Motion program provides injured U.S. servicemen and women with a foundation in wellness and lifelong healthy living. All WIM programs are goal-oriented and empower participants to take charge of their fitness and wellness. For more information, visit www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org/military-program.
Thanks to grants and private donations, ASF provides all necessary equipment, meals, lodging, water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray, ponchos, and printed and digital maps—at no cost to the veterans.