Partnership with Nonprofit SOAR Experiences Introduces Adaptive Hikes

with Action Trackchairs

By Cherry Dumaual

SHERMAN — People with limited mobility are now able to explore the 15 miles of scenic hiking trails at Deer Pond Farm Nature Preserve, located at 57 Wakeman Hill Road in Sherman. The preserve spans 850 acres — half in Sherman and half in Pawling, New York — and features wide, well-marked trails designed to showcase the area’s natural beauty and environment.

To make it possible for individuals with disabilities — including paraplegia, quadriplegia, amputations, stroke, or limited lung capacity — to “hike” through the preserve’s winding gravel paths, Deer Pond Farm, part of The Connecticut Audubon Society, recently partnered with the nonprofit SOAR Experiences (Specialized Outdoor Adaptive Recreation) and Starr Adventures. Together, they introduced guided adaptive hikes using Action Trackchairs –motorized, all-terrain wheelchairs built for adventure. Deer Pond Farm plans to continue the program in May.

Instead of traditional wheels, these chairs run on continuous rubber tracks — like a tractor, hence the name Trackchair. They allow users to move confidently across dirt trails, grass, sand, and even snow. A simple joystick provides smooth control, while the chair’s stable design ensures safety and comfort on uneven terrain. Guides from SOAR Experiences accompany participants on every adaptive hike, assisting with navigation and addressing any issues along the way.

Cathy Hagadorn, director of Deer Pond Farm, shared why the preserve launched the program. “We wanted to introduce this special and unique program in our nature preserve. It was important to the late Kathy and Walter Wriston, who gifted their 850-acre estate, Deer Pond Farm, to the Connecticut Audubon Society, to have the land be accessible and free for all to enjoy.”

She continued, “Our nature center and teaching terrace are ADA-accessible, and the adaptive hike showed how the trails are also accessible with specialized track chairs. The 15 miles of trails here are all about 10 feet wide with a gravel base, like a dirt road. This is perfect for people using the adaptive track chairs to be able to explore natural areas that they might not otherwise be able to.”

Johnny V., 71, from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., who has a left below-knee amputation due to cancer, drove more than an hour to join the adaptive hike. An avid participant in adaptive sports, he describes himself as an “adaptive sports-aholic.” He first learned about the Action Trackchairs through one of the adaptive sports programs he’s involved with. Johnny said he’s thrilled about the new partnership between Deer Pond Farm, SOAR Experiences, and Starr Adventures, which expands opportunities for people with limited mobility to explore nature.

Reflecting on his experience, Johnny shared, “Individuals like me, with limited mobility, feel empowered when we have access to adaptive sports. We can enjoy new experiences that otherwise might have never known possible. Discovering adaptive hikes can become a positive habit — joining a community of individuals of different abilities in a sport that connects us with the healing effects of nature.”

Ninety-year-old Budrow from New Fairfield praised the adventure. “The organized 2.5-mile adaptive hike that I took through Deer Pond Farm Nature Preserve was exhilarating. Fortunately, for mobile-challenged people like me, they provided Action Trackchairs to ride up and down the sometimes moderately steep, bumpy rocks and trails. Sometimes it was a heart-pounding experience when going over large rocks or steep inclines that could easily upend your vehicle. Sometimes I felt like I was riding a wild bronco. Fortunately, I wore a seat belt. I learned a lot about forests, thanks to knowledgeable Deer Pond Farm guides.”

Another adaptive hiker, Molly Elisabeth, described her experience. “…Using an amazing track chair at the beautiful Deer Pond Farm in Sherman was an amazing experience, and the chairs were…easy to use. To be out in nature — exploring, free, grounding — is a gift. I hope that someday in my lifetime, experiences like this will be more of a normalcy than a luxury.”

According to Hagadorn, Deer Pond Farm plans to expand its adaptive programming. “In 2026, we plan to host five or six adaptive hikes between May and October. Regionally, Tarrywile Park in Danbury also plans to host about five hikes as well.”

She explained further, “The adaptive hike at Deer Pond Farm was more than just a fun exploration in the woods. My team and I got to connect participants and their families with the importance of land management, forestry practices, ecology, and bird conservation. Some of the participants on the adaptive hike shared how grateful they were to have opportunities such as this. It provides them with an enriching adventure they could not have otherwise imagined.”

Hagadorn hopes that people reading this article will spread the word about the adaptive hikes and track chairs from SOAR Experiences and consider donating to them or, to Deer Pond Farm, to support additional adaptive programming.

Through its partnership with SOAR Experiences, Deer Pond Farm Nature Preserve aims to make guided hikes accessible to all. Family and friends can share in the wonders of the outdoors — like reaching a scenic overlook or, in Deer Pond Farm’s case, the summit. These adaptive hikes are more than just outings; they are joyful reminders that, with the right support and equipment, nature truly belongs to everyone.