A WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A REFLECTION ON WHO WE ARE
Our roots run deep, sprouting from two seeds of generosity and service The first seed, The Cleveland Home, was a beacon of hope for orphans post-Civil War, backed by John Cleveland's generous estate Our present home? That's courtesy of Judge Field McLeod, a benevolent board member who passed on his property to the Home. The second seed, Life Adventure Camp, was the brainchild of community visionaries like Ross and Cathie Brown in the 1970s. Nestled in Estill County, Kentucky, the camp was a haven for youth facing behavioral challenges, arming them with resilience, selfbelief, and life skills As the new millennium dawned, the two seeds intertwined, growing into what we now fondly call the Life Adventure Center or “LAC ” LAC continues to serve our community and aspires to connect underserved communities with our empowering, resilience-building outdoor adventures Walking alongside our participants and helping them discover or remember how strong and capable they are is a joy and privilege
JULIE BREITIGAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OUR MISSION
Life Adventure Center uses outdoor adventure to transform lives affected by trauma and build more resilient people for a better world.
OUR PROGRAMS
We're truly honored to join participants on this journey of resilience through the spirit of outdoor adventure. Our philosophy is “challenge by choice, ” creating a nurturing environment where individuals are empowered to grow at their own pace. Our programs are crafted to enhance resilience, shedding light on the connection between mind and body, and how stress and trauma can impact us.
We anchor our approach in the 7Cs of resilience:
WHAT WE ACHIEVED
OUR IMPACT IN NUMBERS
3,133 650 PARTICIPANTS SERVED*
*based on daily census
The participants we worked with this year were 65% Mission and 35% Mainstream, compared to 63% Mission and 37% Mainstream last year.
83% Youth and 17% Adults, compared to 74% youth and 26% Adults last year.
VOLUNTER HOURS
We are grateful to our 67 volunteers this year! From corporate groups spending a half day with us to our equine practicum students sharing a semester with us to our volunteers for the Extreme Adventure Challenge. These volunteers make a huge impact in our mission delivery!
56 PARTNER COLLABORATIONS
Groups we partner with include Mentors and Meals, Common Good, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Leadership Woodford, Community Inspired Lexington, Safe Harbor Academy, Sunrise Children’s Homes, Fatherhood Initiative, Lexington Rescue Mission, Amachi, and YAY Crush to name a few
PROGRAM DELIVERY
Our "mission" is all about supporting those who need us most We're teamed up with amazing nonprofit and school partners to reach individuals affected by trauma Regardless of who we're serving, our approach remains the same - always trauma-informed and always supportive. We offer choice, prioritize safety, work together, empower individuals, and stay sensitive to cultural, historical and gender contexts.
OUR IMPACT IN WORDS
"Both Yes Arts field trips were wonderful experiences for our students...Multiple students from our KRUSH COLLAB group commented afterwards about how much fun they had with their ‘new cop friends’. Since that particular program is about connection between officers and children impacted by incarceration, I'd say that is a win!"
-Elle Travis from Yes Arts
"As a parent, I enjoy the variety this camp has to offer and the quality of the personnel who direct all the activities. I like the themes of the camp and the subtle way lessons are learned. Every day, my son comes home tired, and this is a very good thing."
-Camper parent, Open Enrollment
"The staff was very supportive, upbeat, knowledgeable, accommodating, and helpful The activities were so fun!"
-Corporate teambuilding participant, Valvoline
OUR FINANCIALS
Thanks to the outstanding management of John Cleveland's estate by our board, along with the generosity of our donors and supporters, we are able to provide full or partial subsidies to every non-profit and school group we collaborate with. We take pride in achieving a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. This year, we received support from 125 individual donors, resulting in a 46% donor retention rate.
WHAT WE ENVISION
g y g g y p build resilience and launch our afterschool clubs and lessons to further our reach and impact. It is through these collaborative efforts that we can provide resilience building experiences for our youth, helping them to thrive
We are also excited to nurture the growth of our annual fundraiser, The Extreme Adventure Challenge. This event has already shown incredible promise, bringing together adventurers, volunteers and corporate sponsors. Additionally, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our fall trail pass fundraiser, a new initiative that will further our mission and reconnect us with our equine community.
None of this would be possible without the dedication of our team, volunteers, supporters, and donors It is their unwavering commitment and passion that drives our organization forward. As we move into the new fiscal year, we will continue to recognize and appreciate these changemakers who make our work possible. Together, we can increase the resilience and connectedness of our families, communities, workplaces and schools.
Thank you for being a part of our journey!
