“There are no barriers,” Annemarie Albiston said about the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center (AOEC), the organization she and her husband, Bruce, founded in 2015. “It doesn’t matter what your ability is, you’re welcome here.”
The AOEC organizes programming at their central campus in Brunswick and other locations in Maine, including a lodge where visitors can stay in the Carrabassett Valley near Sugarloaf. Their ambitious mission to “enhance the quality of life for all people with disabilities through adaptive recreation and education programs” means their programming looks very different depending on the day and season. Some days it looks like the annual Wheel Together Retreat for adults with spinal cord injuries. Another day could focus on teaching downhill skiing with adaptive equipment. And sometimes, a day revolves around taking the AOEC llamas, Nikki and Kate, for a walk across a mile and a half of accessible trails.
“It’s not the activity that’s important,” said Annemarie. “It’s the friendships and community that develop from people doing things together—that’s what matters.”
“From the beginning, everything we did was about supporting and improving quality of life—we wanted to bring people together to meet each other and have fun.”
Over a thousand people with disabilities—plus their families—take part in AOEC programs each year. This is an exponential leap from the Albiston’s first event back in 2012, when they held their inaugural Aphasia Retreat. “We had 11 people attend, and we were over the moon!” Annemarie said.
That first retreat—and, truly, all that has followed—was inspired by Annemarie’s father, Andre R. Hemond, who developed aphasia after suffering from a stroke in 2005. “There were so few resources for people with aphasia,” Annemarie explained. “We had to do something, and that led us to found the Aphasia Center of Maine. From the beginning, everything we did was about supporting and improving quality of life—we wanted to bring people together to meet each other and have fun.”
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Since then, the Albistons have widened their scope to provide a broad array of programming for people living with all different disabilities—physical, developmental, emotional. “All ages, all abilities,” said Bruce.
The idea of “connections” is incredibly important to the Albistons, and it’s reflected in their ongoing relationship with Mascoma Bank, their partner for AOEC financing and personal banking. Mascoma Bank has been an integral part of the development of the Brunswick facility, providing financing to purchase more land to expand the trail network and increase recreational opportunities. Mascoma Bank also sponsors the Nature Series, a hands-on educational program that invites participants to connect with the natural world and learn more about the environment.
Amberlynn Esperanza, Assistant Vice President, Commercial Lending Development Officer at Mascoma Bank, recognizes human connection as one of the most crucial aspects of a banking relationship. “Over 125 years ago, community leaders and businesspeople came together in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and built a bank for the community,” she said. “Now, we’re continuing that work in Maine. I feel honored that the Albistons have chosen to be part of our foundation of clients here.”
Mascoma Bank has helped with financing for the ongoing development of the AOEC Brunswick facility and the Horizons Center. AOEC Brunswick hosts year-round adaptive recreation and educational day programs for people of all abilities, as well as accessible trails and the Maine Native Sensory Gardens, which are free for the public to explore. The Horizons Center is a fully accessible event and performance venue featuring a large stage complete with stage lighting, sound, wide-screen projection, and seating for up to 125.
For their part, the Albistons appreciate the personal relationships they have with members of the Mascoma Bank Maine team. Todd Bachelder and Amberlynn Esperanza are not just bankers to the Albistons, they are frequent participants at AOEC events. “There are folks who sponsor us and send money and we never see them,” said Annemarie. “And we certainly appreciate that support, but Mascoma Bank is different. They’ve come to several of our programs, and we even have photos of them on our Kindness Wall! We can introduce our families to them and explain, ‘They’re the reason we can do this.’”
Bruce made it simple: “We trust them.”
That trust remains strong as the Albistons look forward to what the future will bring. “This year we’re starting a new initiative around cooking and nutrition,” said Bruce. “And it’s as much about socializing as it is about cooking—isolation and loneliness are huge problems for our people, so we want to set up something that meets however often they want to learn about different kinds of cooking, with support from a local culinary school.”
“Also, we’re planning a networking group for siblings,” Annemarie added. “We know a family with two daughters, one who has a disability, and the mother told me, ‘When Doug and I are gone, the only person she’ll have left is her sister.’ We saw the need for a support network for siblings.”
Other initiatives are on the horizon, plus, the Albistons are looking forward to adding to their popular gear library. “Adaptive equipment is expensive. We’ve got 25 to 30 pieces—bikes, ski equipment—that we keep available for folks who want to try something new.”
Through it all, at the core of every AOEC adventure is connection—amongst the families, more than 150 volunteers, staff members, the various nonprofit partners including Maine Audubon and the Chewonki Foundation, and Mascoma Bank.
“Friendship is something that doesn’t always happen for our people,” Annemarie said. “To see them come together—that’s a beautiful thing to be a part of.”
“Our rewards are hugs and smiles,” agreed Bruce.
Mascoma Bank’s Amberlynn Esperanza understands this kind of commitment. “They spent time building their business, now they’re spending time building community. And that’s a community we’re proud to be a part of.”
Click to find out more about AOECThrough it all, at the core of every AOEC adventure is connection—amongst the families, more than 150 volunteers, staff members, the various nonprofit partners, and Mascoma Bank.
