ASF WIM Womens Retreat Empowers Female Vets

WINDHAM – The Adaptive Sports Foundation concluded its four-day Warriors in Motion® (WIM) Women’s Retreat on Thursday, Aug. 28, with five female veterans participating in a variety of sports and wellness activities throughout the week.

“This was such an enjoyable week. I made some new friends and saw some old friends,” said Air Force veteran Anne Maker. “Having an all-women’s retreat gives us the opportunity to share more than we normally would in a co-ed situation. Being among all women, you can build a camaraderie with each other, and we tend to stay in touch with each other more.”

This was ASF’s first WIM event exclusively for women since 2019. The veterans arrived at the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center in Windham on Monday evening, where they met the ASF staff and volunteers who would accompany them throughout the week. They also enjoyed a catered Mexican dinner from Zicatela’s II before checking into their hotels to rest ahead of their first full day of activities.

On Tuesday morning, the ASF shuttle picked up the group and transported them to nearby Tannersville for a hike along the Kaaterskill Rail Trail. The two-mile trek included scenic views of Kaaterskill Falls, offering photo opportunities along the way. After lunch back at the ASF lodge, the women embarked on a 12-mile bike ride to CD Lane Park in Maplecrest and back.

That evening, the veterans participated in a cooking clinic, hosted by hosted by Rick Quattrini at his home in Windham. They prepared, cooked and ate a paella dinner to put a bow on a busy first day.

On Wednesday, the group traveled to the Hudson River for a kayaking adventure led by Rip Van Winkle Adventure Tours. Launching from the Coxsackie Boat Launch, the group paddled more than four miles south, taking in views of both riverbanks. They came ashore at Quattrini’s second home in Athens, where he served a riverside lunch featuring chicken, steak, salmon, shrimp and street corn. Afterward, the group returned to Windham to relax before enjoying dinner at the home of longtime ASF supporter Rosie Stubbs.

Rosie and her late husband, Bob Stubbs—former ASF chairman—were early champions of the Warriors in Motion program more than 20 years ago. Rosie was thrilled to host the dinner, catered by Main Street Market, for the visiting veterans.

On Thursday morning, the retreat concluded with a calming one-hour yoga and sound therapy session at Mountain Breeze Yoga. The group then returned to the ASF lodge for a vision board workshop and lunch before saying their goodbyes.