NEWRY — Maine Handicapped Skiing, the State’s leader in adaptive recreation programming for children and adults with physical disabilities, has expanded its capacity to serve more children and working families this winter during the February school vacation week. Thanks to new sponsor Saddleback Resort and a partnership with the Pine Tree Society, more young people with disabilities will have the opportunity to ski and ride during days that are convenient for families, therapists and caregivers.

MHS’s newest alpine program host site and sponsor is Saddleback in Rangeley. The resort has provided space, lift tickets and other support to enable MHS to deliver adaptive skiing and snowboarding lessons there from Tuesday, Feb. 16 through Friday, Feb. 19. As is the case with all MHS programs, participants in the Saddleback program receive lessons, lift tickets and equipment at no cost, thanks to the generosity of the resort and the time and talent of MHS’s volunteer instructors and guides.

MHS will also partner that week with another of Maine’s leaders in serving people with disabilities, Pine Tree Society, in delivering a winter overnight camp for children aged 8 to 18 with physical disabilities. The first annual Winter Wonderland Camp will take place Thursday, Feb. 18 through Sunday, Feb. 21 at Pine Tree Camp in Rome. Campers will stay in Pine Tree’s heated cabins and will enjoy arts and crafts, snowmobiling and other activities at the camp. MHS staff and volunteer instructors will provide a day of nordic skiing and snowshoeing, as well as a day of adaptive alpine skiing and snowboarding at Sugarloaf resort. The cost for this fourday program is $150 to cover all meals, lodging, staffing and activities. Most physical disabilities can be accommodated at the camp and within each activity.

MHS also still has limited availability in adaptive alpine programs at Sunday River and Sugarloaf resorts during various days throughout the February school vacation week, as well as in adaptive cross country programs at Pineland and the Sunday River Cross Country Center at Wilderness House.

For more information or to register for any MHS programs, visit www.skimhs.org or contact Maine Handicapped Skiing at info@skimhs.org or 824- 2440.

All daily lessons are free of charge for registered participants and all physical disabilities will be considered.