To Boldly Go: Legally Blind Find Joy In The Outdoors With Help From Lions Group

BY JONNA MAYBERRY AND RAY TWEEDALE

Jonna Mayberry is a former public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications. Ray Tweedale is a Lions Club member and BOLD president.

Visit Sunburst Ski Area in Kewaskum on any given Sunday evening in mid-winter, and you’ll likely find Marty Hutchings and his sighted guide enjoying the slopes to the fullest.

Hutchings participates in the Lions Club-run organization BOLD — Blind Outdoor Leisure Development — and is the group’s program director and VIP (visually impaired person) liaison.

As a participant since 2001 and group leader in various roles since 2005, including president, Hutchings finds joy in the program and has witnessed many participants light up during their first outing with BOLD.

“I’ve seen people get on a bicycle who had ridden when young and then lost their sight,” Hutchings said. “To witness somebody get on a bike again and rediscover the wind in their face and the freedom is awesome.”

While BOLD offers various activities, alpine or downhill skiing is the activity that started it all. In 1974, Lions Club member Dick Kapp launched Milwaukee BOLD after being inspired by a blind downhill skiing program in Aspen, Colorado.

Initially, the group had just five blind downhill skiers, but as Milwaukee BOLD grew larger and recruited participants from surrounding areas, the program was renamed as Southeastern Wisconsin Lions BOLD Inc.

Since then, every winter, a dedicated group of certified ski instructors teach people who are blind to ski each Sunday evening during January and February. Blind skiers start small, first skiing on flat surfaces and working their way up to bigger and bigger hills.

The instructors are paired with blind skiers, follow them down the slopes and shout directional commands as they speed along. While putting so much trust in an instructor might sound scary, Hutchings said the connection between instructor and blind skier is a beautiful relationship.

One of the best things about BOLD, Hutchings added, is that all activities are fully funded by the Lions Club, so there is no cost for VIPs to get outdoors.

“All of this is possible through the Lions Club,” Hutchings said. “They pay for everything — transportation, tickets, fees. Participating is completely free, thanks to them.”

When the snow melts, there are still plenty of activities to keep all ages of BOLD participants busy. BOLD averages 26 different summer and winter activities. Almost every other weekend, some event is scheduled for the VIPs.

Hutchings first joined the program to participate in tandem biking. Other activities include hiking, bowling, tours of various sites, excursions to narrated plays and virtual options like bingo.

Seeing kids get involved with the program is his favorite thing, Hutchings said.

“We had an 8-year-old girl start downhill skiing,” he said. “She’s since moved out to Colorado, but she grew up in the BOLD program as a skier, and seeing her grow as an athlete was cool.”

The group encourages parents and guardians of blind and low-vision children age 6 and up to get them involved in the program so they can start learning new skills and have the opportunity to build relationships with other blind Wisconsinites.

All activities occur within the sighted community, a vital integration connecting the blind with the sighted world.

BOLD Kids activities include downhill skiing, picnics, bike rides, swimming, canoeing, snow tubing, water skiing, bowling, roller skating and many more year-round activities.

Blind Outdoor Leisure Development activities are primarily based in southeastern Wisconsin, made possible by about 100 individual Lions Clubs in the region. BOLD is open to all legally blind people, and events are free. For information and to participate, including as a volunteer instructor or guide, visit wisconsinbold.com.