Summer is always short in the Rockies, but this year BOEC stretched it to the fullest. For the first time in our history, we broke the 100-course mark, ending the season with 103 Wilderness Programs which served over 1,000 unique students. This milestone was only made possible by the dedication of our staff, interns, volunteers and supporters. Behind those numbers was a culture that made this summer stand out. The BOEC community worked together to create an atmosphere of support, respect, and fun.

Evergreen Parks and Recreation enjoying the Sawmill Reservoir

Camp Little Tree participant celebrates a successful climb

Among the many highlights was a new partnership with High Country Adaptive of Flagstaff, Arizona, who joined us for a San Juan River trip thanks to the connection of a former BOEC intern, Truman Shoaff. For participants, the trip was far more than an outdoor adventure.

Guided by BOEC’s philosophy of using the outdoors as a classroom, participants engaged in experiential education designed to foster teamwork, problem-solving, communication, independence, and self-esteem  all while having fun and embracing personal challenges.

Days were filled with exploration and discovery: navigating the river’s currents, hiking to the River House Ruin, where pictographs and petroglyphs offered a glimpse into history, and enjoying simple pleasures like fishing, riverside lunches, and splash-filled dance parties. Evenings brought their own magic, as participants pitched in with gear and cooking, unwound with riverside painting sessions and a playful costume night that had the whole group laughing under the stars.

By the end of the trip, the river had done what it always does best creating space for new experiences, stronger connections, and memories that participants will carry far beyond the water.

One caseworker described how it impacted a young woman on the trip:

“This experience greatly impacted her upon her arrival back at her group home. She had increased self-confidence and awareness of what she can do. The moment she got home, she couldn’t wait to tell everybody and anybody how her trip went. Since coming home, she has been increasingly independent and loves to do stuff on her own now that she knows that she can.”

High Country Adaptive participant enjoying time before dinner.

A favorite evening activity: painting by the river

Exploring the River House Ruins

Impact Beyond the Numbers

Across rafting, cycling, climbing, yoga, hiking, pottery, and more, this summer participants told us again and again that BOEC is about more than the activity itself. As one veteran shared:

“Life is experiences and accomplishments. Attending BOEC enabled me to meet fellow handicapped veterans and the great BOEC staff. There are wonderful people in the world and I was able to spend five days with some of them.”

Another participant reflected:

“I felt as if I was a part of a community. I felt safe and open around them, and I can tell that the skills I learned both indoor and outdoor I will be using for the rest of my life.”

Ability 360 exploring the River House Ruins

Ability 360 participants exude smiles for miles

Looking Forward

This summer was proof that when a community comes together around a shared mission, the impact is extraordinary. With record-breaking program numbers, strengthened partnerships, and participants carrying their confidence and skills home with them, 2025 will be remembered as one of BOEC’s most successful summers yet.

And while the leaves are turning and snow is just around the corner, the spirit of this summer will carry on — in new friendships, in fresh confidence, and in the knowledge that outdoor adventure truly is for everyone.