During the school year, we focus most of our energies on Adventure Incentive Programs. These year- long programs are designed to have a measurable impact on youth with disabilities and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Adventure Incentive Programs call for River’s Way staff to collaborate with teachers and guidance counselors involved with our target populations. The program works with groups of 8- 11 participants. It is sometimes possible to run programs with two groups from one school, but this can be a complex arrangement. The maximum number per group on all of our adventures is 12. Unlike many other incentive programs for students, adventure incentives teach skills while motivating individuals. For example, students work hard to earn a caving trip. At the same time, caving trips provide concrete lessons on cooperation, helping others and achieving successes in challenging situations.

Students in Adventure Incentive Programs participate in three- four off site adventures (climbing tower, high ropes, caving and canoeing) and four team building sessions held at their school. The first adventure is open to all students. Students earn the remaining adventures by making measurable progress with grades and/or behaviors. Teachers and counselors commit to at least three adventures over the course of the year. We emphasize that the integrity of the program is compromised if students who earn adventures are not able to participate in these adventures as promised.


The cost for a group of 11 to participate in an Adventure Incentive Program is close to $1,800.00. We ask schools to try and cover as much of this cost as possible, at the same time recognizing that many school systems have limited resources. Through fundraising and foundation support on our end, we are able to make allowances for what different schools can afford. We are convinced of the value of outdoor adventures, and we do not want money to be an issue when it comes to providing programs to the populations that we serve.

• Washington County, VA
• Bristol, VA
• Bristol, TN City Schools
• Sullivan County Schools.
• Morrison School
• Frontier Health
• Highlands Community Services

Measuring progress is critical to the success of Adventure Incentive Programs. River’s Way funding sources require evidence of progress with the students that we serve. In addition, students and teachers benefit from seeing tangible progress, and measurable goals add backbone and a sense of purpose to programs. Teachers or counselor must monitor the grades and/or behaviors of students involved with Adventure Incentive Programs in ways that can be measured numerically. We ask teachers and counselors for two reports per school year (mid-term and final), with each report indicating numerical measurements of progress for their students. Examples of numerical reporting include: grades, Likert scales and point systems.

Teachers and counselors are also responsible for setting up weekly monitoring times with students, either as individuals or in a group. Meetings can be short, but they are critical to achieving success. Students need to know where they stand in terms of their goals.


We know that Adventure Incentive Programs can change lives. As an example, the 2004-2005 mid-term report for students at Highland View Elementary School indicated that all 16 students in the Adventures Incentive Program raised their grades, with two students on the A-B honor roll and only one F among all of the students at the end of the 2nd six weeks. Moreover, teachers and counselors assert that these programs build confidence that is carried over into the classroom. Students begin to achieve higher grades, some earning “A’s” for the first time in their lives. Adventure Incentives “break patterns of negative behavior” and have a “life-long impact”, providing “skills that no text book can teach.”