UNE student Julia Currier wraps up internship with Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation as adaptive winter sports instructor

Julia Currier (wearing the silver helmet) at her internship site at Maine Adaptive & Recreation, housed at Sunday River ski reso
Julia Currier (wearing the silver helmet) at her internship site at Maine Adaptive & Recreation, housed at Sunday River ski resort

Health, Wellness, and Occupational Studies (HWOS) student, Julia Currier (’20), hit the slopes this winter for an internship experience with Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation. Housed at Sunday River mountain in Newry, Maine Adaptive offers summer and winter adaptive sports and recreation programs, including skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, canoeing, cycling, golf, tennis, and more, for adults and children with physical disabilities. 

As an avid skiier, Julia supported participants of all ages on the Sunday River slopes, aiding them with adaptive ski equipment, helping them to exceed their goals and, most importantly, ensuring they had fun. As part of Julia's culminating internship project, she is writing and illustrating a children's book about adaptive winter sports, designed to ease potential anxiety, build confidence and provide engaging visual and sensory elements for children. 

As the winter season comes to a close, Julia reflected about the value of her experience. "Volunteering at Maine Adaptive has shown me how powerful social engagement in outdoor recreation can be,” she said. “I have helped participants break through boundaries they never saw possible and am inspired by their drive every day. I have reveled in sharing my passion with others and learning from both my fellow volunteers and the participants. I have truly enjoyed my time at Maine Adaptive and know I will be back for next ski season."

HWOS Assistant Clinical Professor and Internship Coordinator Collyn Baeder, M.P.H., served as faculty mentor for Julia's internship experience.

Currier steers the bucket seat for a winter sports program participant.
Currier steers the bucket seat for a winter sports program participant.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.