Background
All Out Adventures (AOA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and was founded in 2001. One of our founders, Philippe Galaski, continues to serve on the board of directors.
Since our founding in 2001, we have paddled, hiked, skied, skated, camped, and more with thousands of people throughout Massachusetts. Our programs are open to people of all ages, experience levels, and abilities. Most of our programs are either no cost to participants or are a very nominal fee. As we break down the barriers to participation in outdoor recreation, we strive to ensure that cost is not a barrier.
Funding
All Out Adventures currently has three major contracts or grants that provide for about 65% of our operating costs:
- Department of Conservation and Recreation's Universal Access Program: Through this contract, we provide low or no cost activities to people with disabilities and their family and friends in state parks and forests throughout Massachusetts.
- Statewide Head Injury Program: Through this contract, we provide 3 - 4 recreational programs throughout Massachusetts for people with brain injuries and their family and friends.
- Veterans Adaptive Sports Grant: Through this partnership with the federal Veterans Administration and the VA Central Western Healthcare System in Leeds, MA, we offer kayaking and cycling programs to Veterans and disabled Members of the Armed Forces.
The rest of our operating costs come from donations, private program fees, grants, and the profits from recumbent trike sales. Over 80% of every dollar raised directly supports our programming.
Meet the Staff
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Karen Foster
Karen has been the Executive Director since 2007. Prior to joining the team at All Out Adventures as a Program Leader in 2004, she worked as a 9th grade history teacher, as a middle school-based program administrator, as a coastal kayaking and road cycling instructor for the REI Outdoor School, and as an educational program evaluator. Karen attended a National Outdoor Leadership School backpacking trip leader course at Mt. Rainier National Park, is certified in Wilderness First Aid, as a Leave No Trace Trainer, a level 2 SUP instructor and as a level 2 kayak instructor with an adaptive endorsement. She holds a B.A. in history from The College of Wooster and an M.S. in Educational Administration from the University at Albany, SUNY.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Susan Tracy
Sue is the Program Director for All Out Adventures. In addition to developing and coordinating AOA’s programs, Sue has led hundreds of adaptive recreation programs including paddling, cycling, camping and winter programs since joining AOA in the spring of 2006. Sue holds a degree in Communications/ Media from Fitchburg State College and is a graduate of the North Quabbin Woods guide-training program. Sue is an ACA certified basic coastal kayak instructor with an adaptive endorsement. Prior to joining All Out Adventures, she worked as a graphic designer.
PROGRAM LEADER/
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS COORDINATOR
Patti Dougherty
Patti joined All Out Adventures as a Program Leader in the spring 2017. She is an ACA certified kayak and SUP instructor and an avid skiier, snowshoer, and paddler. Patti has extensive experience coaching youth and high school athletics. She has a strong background in non-profit and for profit business management and serves as Vice President of the Easthampton Youth Soccer Assoc.
PROGRAM LEADER
Helen Kahn
After 12 years of running a cafe in Florence, MA, Helen followed her heart to the great outdoors. She volunteered with AOA in the fall of 2017 and became a program leader in the spring of 2018. She has served on the board of several non-profit organizations, including as President of Northampton Soccer Club. Helen is an ACA certified kayak instructor and enjoys sharing her love of outdoor recreation with participants in the AOA programs.
PROGRAM LEADER
Jackie Brown
PROGRAM LEADER
Matt Lucier
Matt joined All Out Adventures as a volunteer in January of 2012 and was hired as a program leader in May of 2012. Matt is a graduate of Greenfield Community College's Outdoor Leadership Program class of 2012. He earned instructor certifications in several areas of outdoor recreation and maintains his Wilderness First Responder, Backcountry Travel Instructor and Kayak Touring Instructor certifications. Matt has worked as a guide at multiple outdoor organizaions in Massachusetts and Connecticut, facilitating recreation and therapy in the outdoors. Matt is also a licensed home inspector and enjoys time at his own home with his wife and retired racing greyhound.
WINTER PROGRAM LEADER
Adrienne Phelps
Adrienne joined All Out Adventures volunteering in 2016 with the ice skating programs after playing ice hockey for 16 years. Upon graduating from the Outdoor Leadership Program at Greenfield Community College she worked for an Outdoor Learning Center and a Via Farrata working with a variety of different students including burn victims. Adrienne returned to work for All Out Adventures in 2017 for the winters and works with North Carolina Outward Bound in the summer. Adrienne is a Wilderness First Responder, has certifications in canoeing, and rock climbing.
PROGRAM LEADER
Anna Boysen
Anna has been leading winter programs for All Out Adventures since the winter of 2014. Having grown up in Norway, she brings her passion and experience with cross country skiing to programs. She holds an MFA from the Glasgow School of Art and is a 2010 graduate of Greenfield Community College's Outdoor Leadership program. She has led day trips and expeditions for the Wilderness School in Connecticut as well as for Adventure In Adventure Out, based in Amherst, MA. She is certified in Wilderness First Aid.
PROGRAM LEADER
Corey Cusson
Corey has been with All Out Adventures since the 2008 Kayak-a-thon, when he volunteered as a tandem paddler. He joined the team in 2009 and has been leading programs since. A graduate of the Outdoor Leadership Program at Greenfield Community College, Corey has held certifications as a Wilderenesss EMT, ACA Canoe and Kayak Instructor, and as a rock climbing instructor. He has worked as a Program Leader for Rustic Pathways and as a medical officer aboard Schooner Adventures. In 2013 he graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in English and currently works full time as an Editorial Assistant at Storey Publishing in North Adams.
SHOP DOG
Hazel
Hazel joined All Out Adventures in the fall of 2010 by way of Dakin Animal Shelter in Springfield. Hailing from Virginia, she enjoys scouting trail conditions for programs, posing for Facebook posts to help increase awareness and participation of our programs and fundraising, and most of all making sure all those who come to our office feel welcomed and loved with an exuberant greeting.
SHOP DOG
Clover
Originally from Elkins, WV, Clover joined the team at All Out Adventures in 2010. She is responsible for alerting us when people come to the office and when FedEx and UPS trucks stop by as well as keeping the floor tidy by chewing up dropped zip ties from the trike shop. She loves to greet office visitors, chew the biscuits the UPS driver drops off, and visit with our Program Leaders when they come to the office at the beginning and end of each day.