FOUNDER

“The river is a metaphor for life. Rivers start very small. Sometimes they are smooth, sometimes they flow back upstream, and sometimes everything is going along just fine and then you hit a big waterfall. LEAP spun out of the need we found by taking people who were disadvantaged or living with physical ailments down the river. We could see the power of what was happening and the power of transformation as a result of being in the outdoors.”

FOUNDER

“The metaphor of the river is the core essence of our curriculum. It helps participants understand that life does not stand still, no matter how we feel. It continues its march forward, but we can learn how to navigate the obstacles it presents. Sometimes we need to stand on the bank for a while, and sometimes we need to jump in and accept the consequences. This metaphor is the beginning of acceptance, of trauma, and of how we learn to live with and manage it.”

FOUNDER

“I believe adventure is at the heart of what we offer. In life, we all face moments that require the courage to look at challenge and choose to move toward it. On our programs, participants sit above rapids, an unknown force below, and decide whether to paddle into the unknown. Most often, they emerge on the other side, having met the challenge. Sometimes they fall, and they are pulled back into the boat by their team. Over time, this experience reshapes how people face all challenges in life: first, learning they are capable, and second, learning they can trust community to help carry them forward.”