Co-founder Matt paddling through calm water on a 2016 LEAP program

Welcome to the LEAP Guide Blog for 2017. As a co-founder of LEAP and having been personally impacted by the healing powers of the outdoors, I am very excited about our 2017 programs. LEAP has grown from a fledgling organization that started with one partner - The Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emanuel Hospital. The Burn Center is still with us in its sixth year, but LEAP has since grown to ten programs with eight partners in 2017. Two new partners are joining us on programs this summer - Camp Ukandu for children living with cancer and Edison High School, a school for students with learning differences.

Running rivers is what we do and is the essence of our entire curriculum. The guides are the key to making each experience special to our participants. Our LEAP guides are carefully chosen and believe in our mission. In many cases our guides grow and learn even more than our participants! So I encourage all LEAP guides to contribute your thoughts and reflections to this blog for the 2017 season. May the sun be bright this summer!

-Matt Reimann

LEAP co-founder and board member