Our office is an open room with desks. There are no walls, no real separation and everything is out in the open. We like it this way (most of the time) because it means we get to use each other to brainstorm, solve problems and as Nerf dart targets. People often wonder how we get anything done, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

The success of this organization and this working environment is evident by the fact that no one (with the exception of very few in the very beginning) has ever left Northeast Passage.

As with any family, there comes a time when it’s necessary to leave the nest. This week, the Northeast Passage family is losing Tom Carr and soon, we’ll be saying farewell his wife, Cara, too. Tom is leaving to pursue a job with Craig Hospital in Denver, CO. The decision to go was not an easy one, but we all knew it was the right one. It’s a tough transition and we’ve been working hard over the last few weeks to make it as smooth as possible. It’s made harder by the fact that Cara will be leaving us too. At Northeast Passage, it really is a family affair and, yes, husband and wife have worked together every day for the past 7+ years.

We’ve been so busy trying to figure out what this transition means, we haven’t taken a lot of time to reflect on all that Tom and Cara have contributed to this organization…

**Tom came to Northeast Passage shortly after he graduated from UNH, he was here just before the merger with the Recreation Management and Policy Department and back then it was just he, Dave and Jill. They ran the show. Over time, Tom has successfully built our Athlete Development Center – working tirelessly with UNH Athletics and U.S. Paralympics to create a first of its kind opportunity for student athletes with disabilities to attend school and continue to train in their chosen sport. He worked hard to make our sled hockey team one of the top ranked teams in the country  – securing funding, finding players and improving the level of play in New England… among many other things.

**Cara came to Northeast Passage after completing her internship here and a short stint working in a rehab hospital. She is an amazing therapist. She has improved and organized our home/community-based program to be one of the most cutting edge therapeutic recreation programs in the country. She naturally makes her clients feel like their individual needs are the most important and she makes each of them a priority. She doesn’t shy away from anything – especially if one of her clients is involved. She is creative, innovative and persistent.  She is modest and caring and a good friend. Her sense of humor often takes us by surprise and she always volunteers and jumps right in to whatever we are doing.

 They have both made significant contributions to this organization and impacted hundreds of individuals. Their expertise, skills and friendship will be greatly missed.

Tom and Cara – we are proud of you, thrilled for your new adventure and thank you for everything.

-KA

At NEP, we challenge our participants and athletes to push themselves, try something new and take on new adventures pretty much every day.  Seeing these individuals take on their own personal challenges and celebrating their successes has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time here at NEP.

It would be disingenuous if I did not follow the same advice and level of challenge that I have preached for so many years.  So, it is with some sadness that I announce that I will be leaving Northeast Passage at the end of May.  I have been presented with an opportunity to lead the Therapeutic Recreation Department at Craig Hospital in Denver, CO and I feel this is an opportunity and challenge that I cannot pass up.  With the support of my wonderful wife, Cara, and our two boys (Ryan and Andrew) we are embarking on this next adventure as a family.

It is hard to believe that it has been 14 years since Jill Gravink gave me the wonderful opportunity to work for Northeast Passage.  It is even harder to believe all that we have accomplished in that time.  My years at Northeast Passage have been the best of my life and I am honored to be part of what we have created. NEP is a wonderful place and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with such a great group of people.   I am beyond confident that the team at Northeast Passage will continue on with the same high quality, dependable programing and exceptional professionalism long after we are gone.  Knowing that NEP will go forward stronger than ever is part of what made this decision possible.

This is by no means goodbye.  Cara and I have strong family ties to the area and we will be back to visit often.  Our Therapeutic Recreation world is small and I know that we will never be far, even if we are physically across the country.

We will miss you all very much and are forever thankful for your support and friendship.

With love,

Tom and Cara Carr

DOVER, N.H. – Mike Downing, a hockey goalie, squared himself as Craig Brady fired a shot that flew past Downing’s outstretched glove but clanged harmlessly off the crossbar.

Downing flashed a grin at his teammate, a fellow Afghanistan veteran, as they began a grueling 90-minute practice. Besides a passion for the game, they also share this: Downing and Brady play hockey despite the loss of legs in combat.

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Original Air Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 11:00 News.

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Courtesy of UNH Video Production. By Scott Ripley.

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EXETER — Determination never leaves the eyes of Keri Bosworth.

It sits right in the center. It drives her. It pushes her. It gets her to do things she never thought she’d be able to do.

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Teens who have a parent serving in the military are expanding their social skills and support systems while they ski, sled and skate in northern New Hampshire this winter.

The Military Teen Adventure Camps being held in Bretton Woods are run by the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension and are paid for by a Department of Defense grant. Although there are other programs for children from military families, season and scope sets the New Hampshire camps apart.

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The members of the Big Green in attendance participated in a sled hockey event set up for local veterans. Thanks in large part to the work of athletic trainer Nicole Humann and her work to organize the event, the nearby rink hosted several veterans and others from the Upper Valley in a game of sled hockey.

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From: USA Hockey

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The second annual USA Hockey Sled Classic presented by the NHL took place last weekend, with over 100 of the top sled hockey players in the country competing on nine sled hockey teams affiliated with NHL clubs. The event was part of Come Play Hockey Month, a joint effort of USA Hockey and the National Hockey League.

The Buffalo Sabres Sled Hockey team captured the tournament title on Sunday (Nov. 20), after defeating the Boston Bruins’ sled team in the championship game at the Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Vorhees, N.J.

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