Sideline Stories: Kayla Lee, Director, Adaptive Outdoor Education Center
I am often asked what I think makes the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center so special and unique. My immediate answer is what we call ‘the lodge.’ This is where we started in Carrabassett Valley in 2015, offering fully accessible overnight lodging. When I toured it for the first time it was studs and nails, maybe a few sheets of drywall up. Fast forward to today, it has become a home away from home for so many, a place of incredible connections, a place that one describes as ‘soul hugging,’ and, most importantly, a place of community.
Come into the lodge on any given weekend and you’ll be hit with this feeling of being home. You’ll be greeted with the smell of someone’s homemade dinner they plan to serve family style to anyone who wants a plate, followed by the comforting sight of strangers who have quickly become friends gathered around the fireplace, and before you know it a group of kids will be running or wheeling by in an energetic round of hide and seek. This is a place of no barriers, no judgement, and pure magic.
I’ve watched people who met here become lifelong friends, visiting each other in various parts of the country. I’ve seen kids invited to each other’s birthday parties, families gathering outside of programming, and parents who met on the couch become close friends over coffee dates and shared lived experiences. What begins as a ski lesson or four-day retreat often grows into a support network that extends far beyond our walls.
One of the clearest examples of this journey can be seen through our Horizons Ski Program, which is now nine seasons strong. Over the years, I’ve watched participants grow up on our slopes. Some joined us as five-year-olds who needed hands-on support every step of the way to confident, independent teenagers navigating the mountain with ease. Some of my favorite moments happen on chairlift rides, where the conversation has shifted from reminders about what it means to be a safe skier to catching up on school, hobbies, friendships, and future plans.
One of my most memorable chairlift rides was with a high school student who turned to me and said, “It’s cool to be doing something where the kids at school will think of me as more than just the kid who can’t see well.” That moment has stayed with me. At its heart, this work is about equitable opportunity. It’s about creating spaces where people are seen for their strengths, interests, and potential rather than the barriers they face. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of that journey. To cheer people on, build meaningful friendships, and help create experiences where confidence grows, independence flourishes, and everyone has the chance to discover what they’re capable of.
As our organization has grown, our programs have evolved alongside the needs of the people we serve. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that the best programs aren’t created in isolation, they’re built in partnership with the community. Many of our most impactful initiatives have been shaped by individuals with lived experience who understand firsthand the barriers, challenges, and opportunities that exist. By listening to those voices, we’ve been able to create programs that people genuinely want and need. We’ve seen this through our Wheel Together Retreat, bringing together adults with spinal cord injuries, led by people with spinal cord injuries. I’ve learned how isolated people can feel, how the world isn’t built with accessibility in mind, and how few people have the opportunity to connect and befriend another person living with SCI. The need for programs like this is evident as this year we received over 220 applications from individuals across the country and even the world who wanted to be a part of it, who crave this opportunity, who have never had the chance to do something like this.
There is incredible power in bringing together people who simply “get it.” Whether it’s parents sharing resources and advice, participants finding peers with similar experiences, or community members advocating for greater accessibility and inclusion, these connections create lasting change. They remind people that they are not alone and that their experiences matter.
Every season, I am reminded that our greatest accomplishment isn’t measured by the number of lessons taught or programs offered. It’s measured in friendships formed, confidence gained, families supported, and communities strengthened.
That’s the magic of the AOEC.
The beautiful thing is that our community is always growing. Whether you’re looking to participate in a program, volunteer your time, or simply learn more about what we do, there’s a place for you here. We invite you to explore our upcoming programs and events and discover what makes this community so special.
The Adaptive Outdoor Education Center has two locations in Maine; AOEC Carrabassett Valley and AOEC Brunswick.
View our program calendar at: adaptiveoutdooreducationcenter.org/calendar