MALDEN, MASS. – The City of Malden in collaboration with First Seed Sown recently held the city's first Adaptive Hiking Event on July 26, 2024 for Disability Pride Month. As the next step in outdoor access for The Great Malden Outdoors, more than 30 participants, volunteers, and guides hiked through Greenwood Park within the Middlesex Fells Reservation.

The hike was led by Waypoint Adventure, a non-profit adventure guiding company that provides both guides and equipment to make the outdoors accessible to all. Director of Education Eileen Turpin and Program Coordinator Rob Dunn walked the volunteers through an equipment tutorial with various models of off road wheelchairs as well as the soft skills needed when working with folks with physical, cognitive, and/or social/emotional disabilities to provide an inclusive hiking environment.

“Greenwood Park is a favorite adaptive hiking location in the Middlesex Fells for our team. With its mix of easy to moderate trails, off street parking, and large field for equipment demonstrations, we can provide equitable access to a fantastic trail network. We look forward to creating more programs for Malden residents of all ability levels to foster more appreciation for the green spaces in and around the city.”--Eileen Turpin

Adding to the experience for hikers and volunteers, Friends of the Fells guide Jeff Adams provided a flora and fauna tour along the trails. The Friends of the Fells is a non-profit that provides over 230 free hikes a year throughout the Middlesex Fells Reservation as well as a dedicated network of volunteers who were essential in completing this event.

“Friends of the Fells jumped at the opportunity to work with The Great Malden Outdoors from day one. From our earliest conversations during the Summer of 2023, we wanted to be involved with getting more Malden residents outside and enjoying the Middlesex Fells. This event was just the beginning of a larger effort to connect more people to the power of nature in our collective backyard.”--Maddie Morgan, Community Engagement and Operations Manager for Friends of the Fells

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) provided two park rangers and trail staff to check the route before the hike, to clear and potential downed trees or obstacles along the trail to ensure the group could complete the hike safely.

While this event was the finale of the Malden Disability Commission’s Disability Pride celebrations, this cohort of outdoor access organizations are working on a larger outdoor education series to make the Middlessex Fells more accessible for Maldonians. Malden’s Disability Commission was happy to join the diligent work of Darren Josey and his extended team. The Malden Disability Commission raised the Disability Awareness flag on July 15th outside City Hall with Commissioner Kate Higgins sharing the significance of each of the Disability Pride flag colors.-- Marilyn Rezendes Andrews Chair of the Malden Disabilities Commission

“The Great Malden Outdoors campaign was created to make the outdoors more accessible to all. Trail access is already difficult for first timers and even harder when the majority of trails aren’t ADA accessible and off road assist equipment is so expensive. With partners like Waypoint Adventure, Friends of the Fells, and the DCR–it IS possible to get everyone outside,” says Darren Josey (DJ), creator of The Great Malden Outdoors and event volunteer.

To learn more about future events for The Great Malden Outdoors, sign up at: www.TheGreatMaldenOutdoors.com

For more information about potential sponsorship opportunities or media inquiries please contact: Darren Josey at DJ@FirstSeedSown.com

For more information about our partners:

Waypoint Adventure: https://ma.waypointadventure.org/

Friends of Fells: https://www.friendsofthefells.org/

DCR Universal Access Program: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/universal-access-program

Malden Disabilities Commission: https://www.cityofmalden.org/450/Disability-Commission

First Seed Sown: https://www.firstseedsown.com/municipalities

Approved Photos by Colgan Johnson of 1981 Photography: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F1kyIAsP7bZkc2s70MuY0pXeTLQT7uUf?usp=sharing

The Great Malden Outdoors Program Announces How to Ride a Bike Program for Kids with REI

May 2024, Malden, Mass. – The Great Malden Outdoors, a program to improve outdoor access in the City of Malden, today announced its collaboration with REI, the outdoor equipment co-op, on a “How to Ride a Bike” program for Malden youth.

Starting on Tuesday, July 16 through August 15th at the Linden-STEAM Academy in Malden, trained REI instructors will help 240 local children learn to ride a bike or improve their bike riding skills. Ideal for children 5-12 years old accompanied by an adult, participants will learn balance, braking, steering, stopping, and starting in a fun, interactive class for just $5 – a class that normally costs $99 – thanks to a grant provided by the Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation.

“We’re excited to partner with The Great Malden Outdoors to help more kids in the Malden community learn how to ride a bike,” said Paul Gannon, REI’s Northeast Experiences Manager. “Our programs have helped thousands of kids across the northeast experience the joy that comes from the lifelong skill of riding a bike. For busy parents who may not have the time or skills to teach their kids themselves, this class is a great way to learn, and it encourages the next generation to get outside on two wheels.”

With support from Bike to the Sea, a Malden-based non-profit organization, and REI, participants will also get a no-cost bike check at the Bike to the Sea Bike Kitchen before the class to ensure their bike is safely set up to ride. And for anyone who does not have their own bike, The Great Malden Outdoors and Bike to the Sea are securing bikes so they can keep riding all summer.

“We’re proud to support The Great Malden Outdoors programming and assist in the efforts for children to learn to bike,” said Agnes Recato, Program Manager with Bike to the Sea. “We're working to build the local cycling culture by helping 240 more kids start their journey on two wheels, having them learn about the offerings and services at the Bike Kitchen as well as providing them amazing access to the Northern Strand Trail.”

The “Learn to Bike” program will also lead up to a family-friendly and first-time rider-friendly group ride in the Fall along the Northern Strand Trail in Malden. The program is all part of The Great Malden Outdoors, an ongoing program to improve outdoor access in the city that includes classes on rock climbing, birding, and more.

“This program is so important because learning to ride a bike has traditionally been something your parents teach you,” said Darren Josey, Founder and CEO of First Seed Sown Sales and Marketing and creator of The Great Malden Outdoors. “But what happens when so many parents have to work multiple jobs, as with many lower-income families in Malden? Even for higher-income families, finding the time to learn is difficult. This is why REI has a successful program teaching both kids and adults, and we’re grateful to be able to offer this class at a subsidized price of just $5 to ensure it’s accessible for all.”

Sign up for email updates to learn more about The Great Malden Outdoors programming at https://www.thegreatmaldenoutdoors.com/.

About First Seed Sown

First Seed Sown Sales and Marketing LLC was founded by Darren Josey, a 14+ year Consumer Goods and Outdoor Industry Executive, with a mission to make the outdoors more equitable for everyone. First Seed Sown focuses on offering Sales and Marketing support to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) owned businesses, in an effort to close the pay gap for people of color which currently make 75 cents on the dollar.

The Great Outdoors isn’t exclusive; however, historically BIPOC people have lagged well behind other groups in outdoor participation in what’s called “The Adventure Gap” – the difference between an ethnic group's percentage of US population to its percentage of outdoor participation. First Seed Sown wants to reduce and ultimately close the adventure gap for all people and in doing so, create more stewards of the outdoors so that future generations can enjoy them.

Founded by a Black and Puerto Rican, First Seed Sown focuses on supporting BIPOC-owned businesses to provide the generational wealth on which a community can thrive with the support of experienced top talent from within their community.

First Seed Sown Sales and Marketing LLC:

Darren Josey, Founder & CEO

https://www.firstseedsown.com/

DJ@FirstSeedSown.com

Based in Malden, MA

A Massachusetts SDO Certified MBE

About Bike to the Sea

Bike to the Sea is a non-profit organization established in 1993, with a mission to connect communities to the Northern Strand Trail, a shared use path utilized as a commute and recreation corridor through Everett, Malden, Revere, Saugus and Lynn. Bike to the Sea envisions a culture of care and respect for The Northern Strand Trail, the cities and towns and neighborhood it serves, and for the people of all ages and abilities who wish to use it for transportation, recreation, and joyful outdoor experiences.

Bike to the Sea expands the cycling culture in the North Shore region by advocating for improved cycling infrastructure and connection to nearby greenways. It has also recently opened up an outdoor Bike Kitchen in Malden along the Northern Strand Trail for use by members of the public to learn how to fix and maintain their personal bikes.

The Great Malden Outdoors Program Announces First Official Sponsor: Rock Spot Climbing

March 2024, Malden, Mass. – The Great Malden Outdoors, a city program to improve outdoor access in the City of Malden, today announced its first official sponsor, Rock Spot Climbing, along with the launch the first ever rock climbing program for city residents.

The rock climbing gym, located in Malden Center, is partnering with the city to launch an 8-week youth rock climbing program for middle school students in 6th through 8th grade. For $40, new climbers will have the opportunity to try the sport of climbing on Rock Spot’s boulder walls and learn the fundamentals before testing their skills on real rock at Waitt's Mount just a mile down the road in Malden.

“We’re thrilled to partner with The Great Malden Outdoors to help more people get excited about the sport of climbing,” said Pete Sancianco, Director of Marketing at Rock Spot Climbing: Malden. “When Rock Spot opened its doors, we realized many residents hadn’t tried climbing before and wanted to learn more. We’re excited for this opportunity to help teach the next generation of rock climbers about the sport and get more residents to enjoy climbing both inside at Rock Spot and outside on real rock walls within the city.”

As a sponsor of The Great Malden Outdoors, Rock Spot is supporting the program’s mission to create awareness of outdoor recreation opportunities in Malden through an advertising campaign, website, and local programming for residents within the city limits. Created by the Malden-based marketing agency, First Seed Sown, the program aims to show residents where to go within the city to access outdoor spaces, the skills recommended, community and activity groups to go with, professionals to hire to guide folks, and local retail partners to acquire outdoor gear or take skills building classes.

“We’re excited to work with Rock Spot to offer Malden kids a low-cost opportunity to try rock climbing for the first time, or to improve their skills,” said Darren Josey, Founder and CEO of First Seed Sown Sales and Marketing and creator of The Great Malden Outdoors. “The sponsorship of Rock Spot is the first step in achieving our goal to improve access to outdoor recreation for residents of Malden. We can’t wait to get the first group of kids outside to climb at Waitt’s Mount in May, and we have more programming through the Malden Recreation Department coming soon.”

In addition to the 8-week climbing program, which will be advertised in 8 languages across the Malden Public Schools, The Great Malden Outdoors is also organizing a Waitts Mount Cleanup on April 14, as well as an information session about all upcoming programming through The Great Malden Outdoors at the Malden Public Library on May 11.

Register for email updates about The Great Malden Outdoors programming at https://www.cityofmalden.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=796 and learn more about The Great Malden Outdoors at https://www.firstseedsown.com/municipalities .

About First Seed Sown:

First Seed Sown Sales and Marketing LLC was founded by Darren Josey, a 14+ year Consumer Goods and Outdoor Industry Executive, with a mission to make the outdoors more equitable for everyone. First Seed Sown focuses on offering Sales and Marketing support to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) owned businesses, in an effort to close the pay gap for people of color which currently make 75 cents on the dollar.

The Great Outdoors isn’t exclusive; however, historically BIPOC people have lagged well behind other groups in outdoor participation in what’s called “The Adventure Gap” – the difference between an ethnic group's percentage of US population to its percentage of outdoor participation. First Seed Sown wants to reduce and ultimately close the adventure gap for all people and in doing so, create more stewards of the outdoors so that future generations can enjoy them.

Founded by a Black and Puerto Rican, First Seed Sown focuses on supporting BIPOC-owned businesses to provide the generational wealth on which a community can thrive with the support of experienced top talent from within their community.

First Seed Sown Sales and Marketing LLC:

Darren Josey, Founder & CEO

https://www.firstseedsown.com/

DJ@FirstSeedSown.com

Based in Malden, MA

A Massachusetts SDO Certified MBE

About Rock Spot:

Since 1998, Rock Spot Climbing has provided unforgettable experiences for climbers of all ages and ability levels. Whether you are new to the sport, or a seasoned climber, our gyms are warm and inviting. Walk-ins are welcome, and we have options for day use, memberships, and punch passes so you can choose the experience that suits you best. Our amazing local teams will have you climbing in minutes and when you’re ready, we make it simple to join our incredible communities with programs to support you for your entire climbing journey.

Our Malden facility opened its doors in December of 2022. It was our second facility that featured a form of climbing called bouldering, where our route setters create body movement puzzles known as “problems” that are set closer to the ground, but offer a stronger focus on community and training. We have a continuous padded flooring system and down-climb holds designed to reduce the impact on our climbers with every fall and we provide a complete safety orientation with every climber’s first visit. This ensures everyone is confident in our facility’s features and protocols so that they can focus on having fun on our climbs. Bouldering is a great access point to the sport, complementing the top rope climbs featured at our other locations. It’s a great indoor activity you can enjoy with friends and family that will keep you healthy all year long while having fun and being part of a growing and inclusive community.

Rock Spot Climbing: Malden

Pete Sancianco, Director of Marketing

https://rockspotclimbing.com/

p.sancianco@rockspotclimbing.com

195 Exchange St

Malden, MA 02148