Loon Echo Land Trust and Veterans Adaptive Sports and Training organized a cross-country ski meetup for veterans at Five Fields Farm in Bridgton on January 29. The event aimed to foster community and provide outdoor recreation for participants, many of whom highlighted its role in supporting mental and physical health. Five Fields Farm covered the costs of skiing tickets to make the gathering accessible.
On Thursday, January 29, Loon Echo Land Trust collaborated with Veterans Adaptive Sports and Training (VAST), a program run by Pineland Farms, to host a cross-country ski event at Five Fields Farm in Bridgton. This initiative sought to enhance the well-being of veterans through outdoor activities, addressing the isolation felt in a state lacking major military bases.
VAST offers weekly sessions every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon, alongside one-day events and multiday trips. The partnership between Loon Echo and VAST has spanned two years; last February, they held a similar meetup at Narramissic Farm under challenging conditions that participants found adventurous and rewarding. Laurie Bernier, a Loon Echo staff member, promoted the event through local veterans' groups, including the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services, which shared it on its website.
Accessibility was a priority, with adaptive equipment like sit skis for paralyzed individuals and sliders for balance issues available. Two volunteers with specialized training in disability support assisted participants. Five Fields Farm donated funds to cover skiing ticket costs.
Attendees shared personal stories of the event's impact. Air Force veterans Glen and Jennifer Mercier attended for the camaraderie, noting it helped fill the void of missing a military family network. Genee Gregory, an Air Force veteran involved with VAST since 2018, credited the program with saving her life after combat injuries disrupted her active lifestyle and affected her mental health. She described herself as an "adrenaline junkie" whose recovery benefited greatly from VAST's support.
Army veteran Al Sabaka, a former instructor for Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation, humorously remarked he was "reversing roles" as a student, skiing alongside Loon Echo volunteer and physical therapist Paula Mueller, whom he had worked with two decades earlier.
The gathering underscored the value of such community efforts in Maine, where veterans praised the blend of recreation and connection.