May 5, 2025 • 11 mins
We spoke with Matt Udal and Davey Edwards about Open Doors Outdoors, events, and more coming up.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thank you for listening to Community Access. My guests this morning,
our Matt you'dall director of outreach and fundraising and Davy Edwards,
founder and executive director. They're both here from Open Doors Outdoors.
Good morning, gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Morning, good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
So for people who don't know about open Doors Outdoors,
let's give them a taste of what you do.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Sure our mission is to take veterans, their families and
young people into the outdoors for reconnection, healthy activity, and healing.
We do that through hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing. We have an
amazing UTV program, and we just added archery in twenty
twenty four. All of our adventures are free to those
veterans and their families, and we have a pillar that
serves the autistic community as well, which those activities are
(00:43):
also free.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Why did you decide to create this.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
So gosh about I guess in twenty fifteen went through
a divorce bankruptcy, lost almost everything. I had three little
kids nine, eight and six at the time, and I
had to figure out a way to keep them moving
with minimum resources. And we started off going to the
library and getting free moving zoo passes and museum passes,
(01:08):
and I started taking them hiking. We would go hiking together.
The reason why we started with hiking is because it
was it was free. It was something that you know,
I had just enough money for gas and snacks, and
if you have money for gas and snacks, I tell
all parents, you can do anything with your.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Kids and be successful at it.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
So we started taking them in mountains, little hikes, little adventures,
and they started getting bigger, and eventually we ended up
on Mount Washington up in the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
And along the process, people started seeing the adventures and
asking questions, saying, hey, where's your power?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Our column was a hike. You know how the kids do?
We're just sleep?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
And I started sharing the information and then people were
also asking, hey, will you take me and my family
on a hike? So I started sharing the adventures. And
then in about twenty eighteen, about three years of healing
took place for me and my kids, and I was
already in a new relationship with my now wife, which
has been one full but it was it was something
(02:01):
that people could track and kind of see the progress
and what I did in my particular case to get
my family moving. And that's how we did it, and
I went to an accountant friend of mine who had
been with me for years and years, is my not
only a friend, but my accountant, And I said, have
an idea for a nonprofit? I shared, I share it
with him. He's like, I love it, Let's do it.
(02:22):
And I remember saying to him, I said, listen, you
know I had an idea for a yogurt company and
a mortgage company and a boat company.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
And they all failed. So now I have this new idea.
Are you sure it's going to work?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Like, I know you believe in me, but do you
think he goes? No, he goes, this is the one.
And we're going into our seventh year.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So yeah, it was. It's been a blessing.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
So you have an event coming up on June first,
Autism Awareness Family Day. Tell us about it.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Yeah, that's it's our second time doing this. And what's
so fun about it. It's a full day where families
can get out into the outdoors, experience our UTV, experience
our you TV rides. We have a two UTVs that
will be running all day long where families will be
able to really experience what open doors outdoors does for
(03:08):
our community, our autism community. And we all have different
events that take place throughout the day, So we have
things like a lego table, we'll have free ice cream,
We'll have some different fitness classes and different games. So
it's really a chance for families to get out there,
explore some of the outdoors and some of those experiences
and just if anything, just relax and enjoy that with
(03:29):
the family.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
And it's geared toward children who are on the spectrum
who may be sensitive to sensory things correct.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
So we'll have obviously those events, but we also have
a space set aside for those families who just want
to chill out, relax, a quiet space to get away
from any noise, an opportunity for them just to relax
and kind of put their feet up and chill out
for the day if that's what they want to do.
So it really is meant to cater to all those
(03:57):
things that families need throughout a day. Another thing that
is kind of a cool bonus is we have all
this sponsor and all this has been through the thankfulness
of donations and sponsors. But we'll also have like I said,
ice cream, some snacks, and a beer ticket for adults
who want to partake.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I do not have children with autism.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
But we had a veteran that came up through our program,
him and his wife, and it's kind of a neat story.
We had veterans that we wanted to share hikes with,
but they couldn't. They didn't have the capacity to get
out and hike. Whether it was a physical disability or
their age or whatever, they couldn't just get out into
the mountains. So I thought that in order to get
them out me if we had a UTV, I could
share the outdoors in the same capacity. So in order
(04:39):
to get this UTV program going for the disabled veterans
and older veterans, I mentioned I spoke to this one
veteran that we had and he has two autistic boys
and his name was Justin and he he's an awesome
guy and he's a great dad. And I said, hey,
can we take out your two sons in the UTV
just so I can at least get the logistics down
(04:59):
to figured this out. What's beautiful about the u TV
is the Hartford Foundation. The u TV came from a
grant right here in this building. I believe that we
wrote the I wrote the grant and we got the
UTV and now it's blossom in this amazing program. But anyways,
I said to Justin, hey, can we take your boys
out in the u TV just so I can learn
the logistics and just where to where are we going
to ride?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
How are we gonna how fast? How slow? Just just
what are we going to do?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
And he's like yeah. So we put both boys in
the UTV. I had one in the front with me
and he had one in them back with him. And
one of his boys is non verbal and he started
having like he started struggling a new environment.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Wasn't wasn't digging it at all.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
And I'm in the front of now, no, I've not
I've seen meltowns with my own kids, but not like
a legit meltdown that some of these you know, these
parents have to deal with. And I said, what am
I gonna do? And like most amazing dads, he's like,
just go, just go, don't.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Worry about it. This whole figure. How does we go?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
So I started the machine and we started to go,
and the vibrations from the machine and the sound and
the air, he calmed right down. Wow, and my buddies
in the back, He's like, well, that's kind of cool
and that was the beginning of.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Our autism program. I love that and then awesome.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
So when people are like, wow, you guys are doing
an amazing job, I tell everybody it was an absolute mistake.
We had no idea and now we're up to two
machines and we're we're in the process.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Matt is like oversight.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
He's like my He's like my uh, he's like the
he's like the net that keeps me dialed in. And
we do need a third machine. We need a third
u TV. I keep mentioned of that.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
So if people can't make the event, could they donate online?
Speaker 4 (06:31):
Absolutely, We're always looking for those people who are looking
to partner with us, whether it be through volunteering or donations,
or if there's you know, corporation or foundation that they
may be familiar with that that would be looking to help.
You know, the three areas that we serve that part
of the mission, veterans, their families, and young people. We
really do throughout the year have so many different events
(06:52):
and so many different adventures that we provide to those people,
and you know, we're always looking for people who are
willing to support and you know, even if it's not
there's no familiarity with veterans. If you have some sort
of connection with children or family of a veteran, we're
looking for support, whether it be through you know, funds
(07:12):
or time.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
So again, it's the annual Autism Awareness Family Day on
June first. It hops on the Hill in Glastonbury. It's
a free event, but you need to register, so go
to open Doors Outdoors dot org. You have another event
coming up. It's a golf tournament on June eighteenth.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
This is our second time doing this golf tournament, and
we do all sorts of events throughout the year to
raise awareness and funds. This one's exciting because it is
just focused on golf and June eighteenth to kind of
a perfect day of the week right in the middle
of the week in June, and we've got just a
phenomenal group of things like you know, auction items and
(07:52):
fun things on the course that we do. We really
try to separate when we do an event, separate ourselves
from others there doing the same thing. So that event
is at Linman Orchards in Middlefield. It's a nine am
start and we have room for one hundred and forty
four golfers. I'd love to get this thing sold out
by the end of April. It would be great to
have that success and just to focus on some of
(08:15):
the other adventures and events that we have throughout the year.
All the dollars are poured right back into the organization
for different adventures. You know, for example, we're starting this
year with another group of kids we're taking out for
hikes through the Waterbury School System. So it's something that
those dollars immediately have a place. As soon as they
come in, we know where they're going to go.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
And registration for the Autism Awareness Family they opened on
March twenty eighth, which is a Friday.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Could you use any raffle prizes or anything for the
golf tournament.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Yeah, So every year we're blessed with different events. People
step up and people that want to provide gift cards
or donations or auction items. We're really looked at showcase
those people in the community who own a business. So
if you have something that you want to either provide
as part of our giveaways for our golfers, or if
(09:09):
there's something you'd want to use as an auction item,
we really try to make sure that we shout out
those those groups, those organizations, those businesses, and.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
What about volunteers.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
So the Autism Day on June first, were still looking
for volunteers. That's a great opportunity to kind of do
put your heart behind a passion by helping those families.
The golf tournament, we thankfully that's run like a top.
We need just a few volunteers for that. And it's
really throughout the year that we need volunteers for our races.
(09:41):
Through November in December, we have some different events that
will need volunteers. But we're never going to turn anyone away.
So if you're looking to step up, we're looking for
people that are looking to partner with us throughout the
rest of the year. So Davey brought up Davey brought
up the new Oudio bow Uh the BO program And
(10:02):
one of is the cool thing about Davey is he's
always thinking about the vision of the organization, who we
can help and how we can grow that. And one
of the you know, kind of hot buttons that kind
of keeps him up at night thinking is you know,
what what could we do if we had more space.
Right now, we're blessed to have people the farmers who
(10:22):
are volunteering, UH to donate their land for our UTV,
but down the road, we we'd love to extend and
build that program. We'd like to build that UTV program,
that that odeo BO program, and having some land that
would be accessible to do that, whether it's through a donation,
a partnership, or something that's available that you know, we
could at some point purchase. So if you're a landowner,
(10:46):
if you know someone who's looking at you know, have
has a parcel land that's not maybe put to use
right now, we'd love to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, it's neat. It's neat in in our in our world.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
The five oh one C three world, because if you
have an organization that maybe is at the end of
it's it's it's lifespan, you can actually pass that those
assets onto another organization.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
It's kind of neat.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
And you know, I'm always looking for, you know, like
a summer camp or or something on the water or
something up in the mountains where people were blessing lives
for just like Open Doors is now and they're and
they're deciding that maybe they've you know, it's time to
move on to something else. And so we would love
to partner with an organization like that that maybe has
(11:31):
all the all the assets available that that kind of
meshes with open Doors Outdoors and we can kind of
come in and kind of take that torch and carry
it with our mission.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Well, I'm speaking with matt Y Dahl and Davey Edwards
from Open Doors Outdoors. I believe that all of these
things will come to fruition for you. As you continue
to open doors, more doors will be opened for you.
Thank you both so much for being here today and
for all of the amazing work you're doing.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
Thanks Ellison, thank you so much.
Thank you for listening to Community Access. My guests this morning,
our Matt you'dall director of outreach and fundraising and Davy Edwards,
founder and executive director. They're both here from Open Doors Outdoors.
Good morning, gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Morning, good morning.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
So for people who don't know about open Doors Outdoors,
let's give them a taste of what you do.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Sure our mission is to take veterans, their families and
young people into the outdoors for reconnection, healthy activity, and healing.
We do that through hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing. We have an
amazing UTV program, and we just added archery in twenty
twenty four. All of our adventures are free to those
veterans and their families, and we have a pillar that
serves the autistic community as well, which those activities are
(00:43):
also free.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Why did you decide to create this.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
So gosh about I guess in twenty fifteen went through
a divorce bankruptcy, lost almost everything. I had three little
kids nine, eight and six at the time, and I
had to figure out a way to keep them moving
with minimum resources. And we started off going to the
library and getting free moving zoo passes and museum passes,
(01:08):
and I started taking them hiking. We would go hiking together.
The reason why we started with hiking is because it
was it was free. It was something that you know,
I had just enough money for gas and snacks, and
if you have money for gas and snacks, I tell
all parents, you can do anything with your.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Kids and be successful at it.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
So we started taking them in mountains, little hikes, little adventures,
and they started getting bigger, and eventually we ended up
on Mount Washington up in the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
And along the process, people started seeing the adventures and
asking questions, saying, hey, where's your power?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Our column was a hike. You know how the kids do?
We're just sleep?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
And I started sharing the information and then people were
also asking, hey, will you take me and my family
on a hike? So I started sharing the adventures. And
then in about twenty eighteen, about three years of healing
took place for me and my kids, and I was
already in a new relationship with my now wife, which
has been one full but it was it was something
(02:01):
that people could track and kind of see the progress
and what I did in my particular case to get
my family moving. And that's how we did it, and
I went to an accountant friend of mine who had
been with me for years and years, is my not
only a friend, but my accountant, And I said, have
an idea for a nonprofit? I shared, I share it
with him. He's like, I love it, Let's do it.
(02:22):
And I remember saying to him, I said, listen, you
know I had an idea for a yogurt company and
a mortgage company and a boat company.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
And they all failed. So now I have this new idea.
Are you sure it's going to work?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Like, I know you believe in me, but do you
think he goes? No, he goes, this is the one.
And we're going into our seventh year.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So yeah, it was. It's been a blessing.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
So you have an event coming up on June first,
Autism Awareness Family Day. Tell us about it.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Yeah, that's it's our second time doing this. And what's
so fun about it. It's a full day where families
can get out into the outdoors, experience our UTV, experience
our you TV rides. We have a two UTVs that
will be running all day long where families will be
able to really experience what open doors outdoors does for
(03:08):
our community, our autism community. And we all have different
events that take place throughout the day, So we have
things like a lego table, we'll have free ice cream,
We'll have some different fitness classes and different games. So
it's really a chance for families to get out there,
explore some of the outdoors and some of those experiences
and just if anything, just relax and enjoy that with
(03:29):
the family.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
And it's geared toward children who are on the spectrum
who may be sensitive to sensory things correct.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
So we'll have obviously those events, but we also have
a space set aside for those families who just want
to chill out, relax, a quiet space to get away
from any noise, an opportunity for them just to relax
and kind of put their feet up and chill out
for the day if that's what they want to do.
So it really is meant to cater to all those
(03:57):
things that families need throughout a day. Another thing that
is kind of a cool bonus is we have all
this sponsor and all this has been through the thankfulness
of donations and sponsors. But we'll also have like I said,
ice cream, some snacks, and a beer ticket for adults
who want to partake.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I do not have children with autism.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
But we had a veteran that came up through our program,
him and his wife, and it's kind of a neat story.
We had veterans that we wanted to share hikes with,
but they couldn't. They didn't have the capacity to get
out and hike. Whether it was a physical disability or
their age or whatever, they couldn't just get out into
the mountains. So I thought that in order to get
them out me if we had a UTV, I could
share the outdoors in the same capacity. So in order
(04:39):
to get this UTV program going for the disabled veterans
and older veterans, I mentioned I spoke to this one
veteran that we had and he has two autistic boys
and his name was Justin and he he's an awesome
guy and he's a great dad. And I said, hey,
can we take out your two sons in the UTV
just so I can at least get the logistics down
(04:59):
to figured this out. What's beautiful about the u TV
is the Hartford Foundation. The u TV came from a
grant right here in this building. I believe that we
wrote the I wrote the grant and we got the
UTV and now it's blossom in this amazing program. But anyways,
I said to Justin, hey, can we take your boys
out in the u TV just so I can learn
the logistics and just where to where are we going
to ride?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
How are we gonna how fast? How slow? Just just
what are we going to do?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
And he's like yeah. So we put both boys in
the UTV. I had one in the front with me
and he had one in them back with him. And
one of his boys is non verbal and he started
having like he started struggling a new environment.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Wasn't wasn't digging it at all.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
And I'm in the front of now, no, I've not
I've seen meltowns with my own kids, but not like
a legit meltdown that some of these you know, these
parents have to deal with. And I said, what am
I gonna do? And like most amazing dads, he's like,
just go, just go, don't.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Worry about it. This whole figure. How does we go?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
So I started the machine and we started to go,
and the vibrations from the machine and the sound and
the air, he calmed right down. Wow, and my buddies
in the back, He's like, well, that's kind of cool
and that was the beginning of.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Our autism program. I love that and then awesome.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
So when people are like, wow, you guys are doing
an amazing job, I tell everybody it was an absolute mistake.
We had no idea and now we're up to two
machines and we're we're in the process.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Matt is like oversight.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
He's like my He's like my uh, he's like the
he's like the net that keeps me dialed in. And
we do need a third machine. We need a third
u TV. I keep mentioned of that.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
So if people can't make the event, could they donate online?
Speaker 4 (06:31):
Absolutely, We're always looking for those people who are looking
to partner with us, whether it be through volunteering or donations,
or if there's you know, corporation or foundation that they
may be familiar with that that would be looking to help.
You know, the three areas that we serve that part
of the mission, veterans, their families, and young people. We
really do throughout the year have so many different events
(06:52):
and so many different adventures that we provide to those people,
and you know, we're always looking for people who are
willing to support and you know, even if it's not
there's no familiarity with veterans. If you have some sort
of connection with children or family of a veteran, we're
looking for support, whether it be through you know, funds
(07:12):
or time.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
So again, it's the annual Autism Awareness Family Day on
June first. It hops on the Hill in Glastonbury. It's
a free event, but you need to register, so go
to open Doors Outdoors dot org. You have another event
coming up. It's a golf tournament on June eighteenth.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
This is our second time doing this golf tournament, and
we do all sorts of events throughout the year to
raise awareness and funds. This one's exciting because it is
just focused on golf and June eighteenth to kind of
a perfect day of the week right in the middle
of the week in June, and we've got just a
phenomenal group of things like you know, auction items and
(07:52):
fun things on the course that we do. We really
try to separate when we do an event, separate ourselves
from others there doing the same thing. So that event
is at Linman Orchards in Middlefield. It's a nine am
start and we have room for one hundred and forty
four golfers. I'd love to get this thing sold out
by the end of April. It would be great to
have that success and just to focus on some of
(08:15):
the other adventures and events that we have throughout the year.
All the dollars are poured right back into the organization
for different adventures. You know, for example, we're starting this
year with another group of kids we're taking out for
hikes through the Waterbury School System. So it's something that
those dollars immediately have a place. As soon as they
come in, we know where they're going to go.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
And registration for the Autism Awareness Family they opened on
March twenty eighth, which is a Friday.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Could you use any raffle prizes or anything for the
golf tournament.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Yeah, So every year we're blessed with different events. People
step up and people that want to provide gift cards
or donations or auction items. We're really looked at showcase
those people in the community who own a business. So
if you have something that you want to either provide
as part of our giveaways for our golfers, or if
(09:09):
there's something you'd want to use as an auction item,
we really try to make sure that we shout out
those those groups, those organizations, those businesses, and.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
What about volunteers.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
So the Autism Day on June first, were still looking
for volunteers. That's a great opportunity to kind of do
put your heart behind a passion by helping those families.
The golf tournament, we thankfully that's run like a top.
We need just a few volunteers for that. And it's
really throughout the year that we need volunteers for our races.
(09:41):
Through November in December, we have some different events that
will need volunteers. But we're never going to turn anyone away.
So if you're looking to step up, we're looking for
people that are looking to partner with us throughout the
rest of the year. So Davey brought up Davey brought
up the new Oudio bow Uh the BO program And
(10:02):
one of is the cool thing about Davey is he's
always thinking about the vision of the organization, who we
can help and how we can grow that. And one
of the you know, kind of hot buttons that kind
of keeps him up at night thinking is you know,
what what could we do if we had more space.
Right now, we're blessed to have people the farmers who
(10:22):
are volunteering, UH to donate their land for our UTV,
but down the road, we we'd love to extend and
build that program. We'd like to build that UTV program,
that that odeo BO program, and having some land that
would be accessible to do that, whether it's through a donation,
a partnership, or something that's available that you know, we
could at some point purchase. So if you're a landowner,
(10:46):
if you know someone who's looking at you know, have
has a parcel land that's not maybe put to use
right now, we'd love to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, it's neat. It's neat in in our in our world.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
The five oh one C three world, because if you
have an organization that maybe is at the end of
it's it's it's lifespan, you can actually pass that those
assets onto another organization.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
It's kind of neat.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
And you know, I'm always looking for, you know, like
a summer camp or or something on the water or
something up in the mountains where people were blessing lives
for just like Open Doors is now and they're and
they're deciding that maybe they've you know, it's time to
move on to something else. And so we would love
to partner with an organization like that that maybe has
(11:31):
all the all the assets available that that kind of
meshes with open Doors Outdoors and we can kind of
come in and kind of take that torch and carry
it with our mission.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Well, I'm speaking with matt Y Dahl and Davey Edwards
from Open Doors Outdoors. I believe that all of these
things will come to fruition for you. As you continue
to open doors, more doors will be opened for you.
Thank you both so much for being here today and
for all of the amazing work you're doing.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
Thanks Ellison, thank you so much.
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