Adventure Risk Challenge (ARC) is a youth development and outdoor education nonprofit dedicated to facilitating an immersive, multi-year program progression that increases access to four goals areas – literacy development, outdoor experiences, leadership development, and community building – for rural, low-income and English Learner high school students. Through ARC’s programming, students develop positive social and cooperative skills, raise their overall academic performance, learn about their role in stewardship of our natural environment, and become more engaged members of their communities.
What makes ARC most unique and impactful is that: (1) We have long-term relationships with our students, and they find belonging within ARC, among their peers and the adult staff members; and (2) Our curriculum integrates literacy development (especially writing and public speaking) into the more traditional aspects of outdoor education (recreational activities and leadership development).