June 15, 2020

Every time we launch on the river, we adapt our plans according the elements, and navigate with care, each small or significant in-the-moment decision. When a storm rolls up the canyon or unexpected circumstances arise, we manage the present dynamics with our goals and values in view. Sometimes, that means making tough decisions about what can and can't happen in the moment, and changing course. Often times, these types of decisions can feel like a loss in the moment, but are always in service to the health and well-being of long-term impacts.

As a professional expedition program provider, we are highly skilled at adapting to remarkable and humbling circumstances. Still, the novel coronavirus has impacted our partner communities in significant ways, and created many challenges without a clear path forward for our programs this season. After months of creative program changes and careful considerations, we have made the difficult decision to suspend our river expedition programs for summer 2020.

We know that supporting the whole human being in healing, promoting meaningful social connection, and building personal confidence and community strength are experiences that are crucial and greatly needed in this time. We feel a deep sense of loss for the experiences that our participants won’t get on the river this summer – and we are continuing to adapt our offerings for the season ahead in hopes of offering bursts of these essential elements for our communities.

We spent considerable time exploring the many forms our programs could take, while still maintaining our core values and safety standards. The factors that contributed to this decision are numerous: from overnight summer camp restrictions to inter-state group travel and specific partner community risks and considerations — ultimately our commitment to providing the safest, most responsible and accessible programming possible is what was the driver in our decision-making. We look forward to resuming our immersive programs in 2021, and will continue to work with our partner communities to create offerings that best meet our participant community needs at this time.

Although our flagship programming won’t happen this season, we are continuing to make meaningful progress for our adaptive program offerings. We remain on track to support a few individuals with disabilities and their accompanying friends or family members on day and multi-day trips on the Rogue River in partnership with Orange Torpedo Trips this August. We look forward to sharing more about this with you as the summer unfolds.

For all of our partner groups, we are continuing to create and explore alternative programming to meet the particular needs and restrictions for each organization and community. Although we hope to offer time in nature to each group, we are also exploring virtual ways to offer connection, support, and engaging opportunities. We will keep you informed and share in the celebration of those offerings as they come into being.

Some of the potential programming we're exploring...

  • Small group outings for specific cohorts within our partner communities if/when in-person programming becomes possible

  • Bite-sized pieces of our programming like: morning movement & mindfulness offerings or pauses for appreciations & gratitude

  • Alumni-specific program offerings

  • Deepening our collaboration with our current partners as well as expanding and building new, strong partnerships for the future

  • A commitment to continued education, reflection, and engagement in developing an action plan that best supports our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracist work within the whole of our organization – from Board development to program delivery (LOOK for more specifics on how we're wholeheartedly working with this across our organization in the days and weeks to come)

  • Creative project collaborations with our participant communities, as well as experts in the fields of well-being, the connection of humans and nature, and trauma integration

  • Looking beyond the summer to increase potential collaborative school-year offerings

If you would like to stay in touch with our programs throughout the summer and beyond, please join our mailing list here, as we’ll continue to keep our community updated on our progress.

Over the last ten years, we have seen the critical impact of our programs on the lives of our participants and groups — from participants who express that their LEAP experience “gave them their life back” to powerful and subtle shifts in personal confidence, identity, and experiencing connection after isolation. We look forward to growing these experiences over the next ten years for more people and communities. Thank you for your continued support of our work now and in the future.

I am deeply moved by your support and welcome your communication and questions as we continue to navigate and adapt to our circumstances. Over these last few years, I have learned immense lessons from our participants about resilience, the ability to overcome challenges, and a life-altering commitment to joy. I will continue to lead our programs with such energy and inspiration.

Thank you for your on-going engagement and commitment to our work as we adapt. We look forward to sharing the future impact and joys of our programs.

Valerie Pufahl

LEAP Program Director

Please contact Val with any questions at valerie@leapadventure.org

 

 

 

 

Cart (0)