With a little help from our friends
[My] experience at Adventure Crew is one of my best life experiences. Going out with them really changed my life. – Crew teen
Hearing these words makes our hearts soar; this is why we do what we do. But what goes into creating such extraordinary, life-changing experiences each year? A quick hint: We couldn’t do it without our friends.
On May 20, Adventure Crew wrapped up the school year and kicked off the summer by setting a new record for the number of people on an outing – 223! We had 169 students and 54 adults, including staff, school advisors and volunteers, join our kayaking adventure on the Little Miami River, followed by lunch, fishing and field games. No doubt this also set a new record for number of sandwiches made in the field — they disappeared too quickly to count!
Creating exhilarating, transformative outdoor experiences on this scale, week after week, takes a far-reaching network of partnerships with schools, parents, community organizations, park districts, businesses and volunteers. It has also taken over a decade of tenacity, creativity and willingness to always keep learning so that we can continue to grow along with our teens.
We’d like to introduce you to our partners that are playing essential roles in making Adventure Crew Summer 2023 possible for hundreds of teens. In somewhat chronological order, we thank:
Great Parks of Hamilton County
Thomas More University Biology Field Station
Camping and Education Foundation
None of this would be possible without the incomparable program leadership of Director of Programming Paige Young and her team of 16 outdoor specialists, three of whom are former Adventure Crew teens themselves, and our dedicated volunteers. (Larry Falkin gets a special shout-out for coming 3 or 4 days a week for June summer camps.) And, of course – you. You have followed our progress over the years, cheered on our kids, supported our fundraising campaigns, bought raffle tickets, volunteered at Paddlefest (be sure to sign up to help this year!) and made countless sandwiches for our teens. Our thanks to all who have had a hand in making magic happen this summer, and year-round, here at Adventure Crew.