The core program at AE is the One Year Therapeutic Intervention Program for at-risk youth that blends traditional therapy/counseling with intense adventure based activities. The ultimate goal of this program is to prevent at-risk-youth from moving to a higher level of care. The program includes a 10 day Residential Stay followed by one year of Aftercare services.

Referrals to the Therapeutic Intervention Program are made by mental health agencies, social services, residential placement facilities, probation officers, schools, and parents. Appropriate reasons for referral may include poor behavior in school, motivational problems, problematic behavior in the community, drug and alcohol experimentation, delinquency, low self-esteem and alienation from the family.

The AE program for visually impaired teens is supported by the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped in the Northeast. Each summer, visually impaired teens take part in a 10 day overnight stay that has been modified from AE’s Therapeutic Intervention Program, blending group counseling with adventure-based activities. This adaptation has allowed AE to provide these teens with the same experiences as their sighted peers. Currently, three (3) iterations are conducted during each summer, and group size for each iteration is limited to 8 participants to allow for high quality, intense care and attention. After the 10 day program ends, participants are encouraged to remain in touch with staff through the use of the toll-free number and email. During the winter, participants are invited to return for a week-long reunion, which serves to reinforce accomplishments attained at AE during their 10 day stay.

The goal of the program is to provide youth with activities that improve self-esteem and confidence, build trust in themselves and others, improve communication skills, improve mobility and help better prepare them for employment and higher education. Parents and youth have reported greater self-esteem in the participant, leading to more involvement in social and recreational activities. As the program continues to grow in popularity, more programs are being added every year.

Adirondack Experience has been working with the blind and visually impaired for over 10 years. The staff has been trained by the Commission for the Blind and continues to receive instruction on skills needed to work with this population of youth. Youth interested in attending the AE program must be referred by their state’s Commission for the Blind, and acceptance to the program is dependent on available space.

AE works with corporate groups, clubs, church organizations, and school groups, offering group initiative activities, trust building opportunities and personal challenges through the high and low ropes challenge courses and outdoor rock climbing wall. Goals for groups include improving teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills, building trust and self-confidence, and gaining a greater appreciation of individual differences. Participants are encouraged to overcome obstacles and test limits of physical and emotional comfort. All activities are “challenge by choice” which allows individuals to determine their own level of activity and accomplishment. Any program can be customized to fit a group’s individual needs.

The low ropes challenge course allows group members to share common experiences and face challenges which cannot be met without communication and cooperation. Through working together, participants learn to accept individual differences and view them as assets rather than obstacles. Empathy, creativity, problem-solving, and trust are just some of the skills participants gain. Transfer of these skills to everyday life is the ultimate goal. The high ropes challenge course offers participants the chance to step outside their comfort zone and find the courage to accomplish the activities in front of them. Through the high ropes course, participants gain increased self-esteem, self-confidence and independence. The climbing wall allows participants to challenge themselves physically and mentally, while building self-confidence and trust and overcoming fears. AE offers many other adventure-based activities, including hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, orienteering, rappelling down a 140 foot cliff, and Tyrolean Traverse, which takes participants across a 40 foot gorge. During the winter season, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or ice climbing activities are offered.

Come and spend a memorable day with us in the High Peaks. Contact us soon to reserve your day. Overnight stays can also be accommodated in our 8 bed farmhouse, or you can camp on our 230 acres. Our challenge courses are available Monday through Friday, and some Saturdays.

*meals provided upon request

Adirondack Experience has been working with St. Joseph's Rehabilitation Center, located in Saranac Lake, NY for many years. The clients at St. Joe's look forward to spending a day at Adirondack Experience, enjoying a barbecue lunch, and facing the challenges of the low ropes course. AE staff work effectively with this population by creating "story lines", which relate each element of the low ropes course to the recovery process. Issues such as trust, reducing impulsivity, perseverance, foresight, and accepting help form others are addressed through the different challenges.

The success of these day long visits to AE have lead to other adventures as well. AE staff have taken St. Joe's clients snowshoeing in the winter months, provided the chance to get out and enjoy the Adirondacks when they are most beautiful, covered in snow. Recently, St. Joe's clients have been treated to camping trips in a beautiful, secluded location in the Adirondacks, enjoying a night in the peace and solitude that staying outdoors offers. These camping trips create the perfect opportunity for intimate group sessions and quiet reflection time.

AE can work effectively with your corporate group on our low ropes course, or on any of the other activities we offer. The low ropes course fosters team-building that can be transferred back to the office or other work setting. Challenges on the low ropes course cannot be solved individually. Groups find solutions through the use of systematic problem solving skills, a willingness to face challenges individually and by learning to work actively as members of a team. Built into the course are opportunities to involve shy, more reserved members of the group into leadership positions. Those who are more outgoing or overbearing are put into the highly dependent role of follower. We have devoted much time to developing strategies or "story lines" that relate to each element of the ropes course. Each "story line" can be related to the issues your staff is facing in the workplace. Solutions to challenges on the course can be directly applied to problems participants encounter on a daily basis. These issues include dysfunctional communication patterns, interpersonal relationships, and other work place related issues. Our goal is to effect positive changes in your workplace, increasing communication, problem-solving skills and teamwork!

*meals provided upon request