the circle up
letter from our Executive Director
SEPTEMBER 2023 in this issue:
Hello Friends! Welcome back to the Circle Up where we embrace the opportunity to connect with you in a more in-depth way than our monthly emails from me. Fall is such a lovely season in the Bluegrass and we're enjoying the cooler weather, changing leaves and a slower pace than our bustling summer season.
Letter from Julie B
P A G E 01
Partner Spotlight: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass P A G E 02
Fiscal Year 2023: Year in Review
P A G E 03
Staff Spotlight: Meet our newest Program Coordinator! P A G E 04
Meet our New Horses P A G E 05
Scenes from Early Fall P A G E 07
Fall brings about a routine in my home life, with my 3 kids are back to school, activities, sports and a more predictable rhythm than summer. We're also back to school here in partnership with Woodford County Public School District where students hand-selected by schools across the county have the opportunity to engage in our outdoor adventure programming multiple times across the school year. It is such a privilege to walk alongside these young people while they build skills such as connection, confidence, and coping while having a ton of fun on our beautiful campus. We've also been hosting weekend retreats, teambuilding, and connecting with our nonprofit partners. I had the opportunity to attend the Kids Are Worth It conference in Louisville along with 700 attendees last month hosted by Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky. It was wonderful to network, learn, and become more familiar with all the incredible and creative work being done. It's clear that while there is much to love about this Commonwealth, work continues to need to be done to support youth and families. I left energized and ready to continue to further our mission to use outdoor adventure to transform lives affected by trauma and build more resilient people for a better world. Thank you for being a part of what we do, for your support and encouragement!
my best,
the circle up
Julie B PAGE 01
Partner Spotlight: Big Brothers /Big Sisters of the Bluegrass This summer, we had the opportunity to reengage with a group many of you will be familiar with: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass! Thanks to the generous support of donors to our scholarship fund, we were able to offer a week of day-camp to our friends at Big Brothers/Big Sisters - including transportation to and from Lexington every day! When we talk to program partners about the barriers to accessing our programming, we hear repeatedly about the issue in getting participants out to the Life Adventure Center property. Luckily - that one has an easy solution! If it enables us to work with groups who can benefit from our camps and programs, we are happy to work together to remove whatever barriers are in our way. Campers from the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program got a taste of everything Life Adventure Center has to offer--all our outdoor adventure activities, from equine-assisted learning to our challenge course and ziplines, to archery and canoeing, to fun camp traditions and songs--all designed and delivered to unlock our camper’s internal resilience and build their self-regulation skills. And of course after every activity we deliver is capped off by an intentional debrief so the lessons last long after participants leave our property. Thanks to our donors for helping make this and so many other experiences possible at Life Adventure Center this year!
"For the kids in our program, the Life Adventure Center experience was life changing. It was a truly unique opportunity for them because the Center's amazing staff provided a safe and supportive environment where the kids could discover their strengths and build confidence. It offered our kids a chance to break free from the negative influences that surround them, to be encouraged by the Center's caring staff, and gain a sense of belonging. We can't wait for more of our kids to experience this amazing program next summer."
Chris Peck
President/CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass
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Staff Spotlight: meet our newest program coordinator! Hometown My family moved a lot when I was growing up so there are a few places I consider home, but I've spent the most years in the Dallas suburbs.
Jennilyn Fore
Favorite Weekend Activities I like to spend my weekends catching up with family and friends, hiking, and hanging out with my dog.
Favorite Song or Musical Genre My most played music on Spotify is either worship music or some kind of indie rock.
Favorite Candy Bar I'm not big on candy but my favorite sugary snack is Little Debbie's Pecan Spinwheels. "quote from Chris”
Favorite Thing about Working at LAC
OneChris of myPeck favorite things about working at Executive Director LAC is the land and how we get to steward Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the that for transformative purposes with participants. Rolling green hills and woods Bluegrass have a special place in my heart so I'm always excited to show up for work with the blessing of being in my favorite natural environment.
and her pup Zelda
Life Adventure Center Team at Work
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Our Year in Review: Fiscal Year 2023 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS
3,000 2,000 1,000 0
2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0
3572
74%
26%
Youth
Adults
63% Mission
$304,637
37% Mainstream TOTAL DONATIONS AND GRANTS
grants $198,821. $105,816. annual fund including unrestricted, restricted, and board giving scholarships awarded $123,036. the circle up
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meet our new horses MAEVE
FINNEGAN
CIEL There are some new equine fr i end s her e at LA C! We are especially gra teful for th e hor ses here and th e j o y they bring to so many of our parti ci pants and sta ff! Ho rs es offer a sense of connecti on th at is unmatc h ed by a ny oth e r programmatic opportuni ti es and a lens by wh i ch ou r participants can view themsel ves. Horses make their wa y to L i fe Ad ventur e C enter i n a vari ety of different ways - we purch ased Maeve th i s ye ar, Ci el wa s a donation from a local far m ( th ank s Ashwood F arm!) and Finnegan is here on lease! Di ffer ent h or ses bri ng wi th th e m different skil ls and personal iti es, just li k e people, mak i ng them excellent partner s for pr og rammi ng!
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We need your support! We work with people across Central Kentucky, primarily youth, to build internal resilience through intentionally sequenced outdoor adventure programming activities like ziplining, equineassisted learning, canoeing, archery, and more! We are able to provide that programming to some of the people who need us most absolutely free to them -- thanks to the generous support of donors like you!
Give today and help us serve even more deserving people! lifeadventurecenter.org/donate the circle up
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scenes from early fall
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