By Daksha Pillai
On a grassy knoll, within view of the ziplines and overlooking a bucolic meadow, there is a sight less expected: an outcropping of weathered stones, arranged in concentric circles, facing east in a universal symbol for hope.
Out of the ordinary for a summer camp? Definitely, and for good reason.
The Labyrinth is no ordinary sculpture and the Life Adventure Center (LAC) is no ordinary summer camp.
Calling the LAC a “summer camp” doesn’t do justice to the wide variety of programs they offer and communities they serve throughout the year. In addition to traditional week-long day camps in the summer and fall, the center also partners with schools, businesses and nonprofits for anything from half-day programs to overnight retreats.
Participants expecting a traditional secluded sleep-away camp will find that — and much more. In addition to rustic bunkhouses and wooden pavilions, the sprawling 115-acre campus includes an archery range, equine center and an exhilarating “Challenge Course” complete with high ropes and a 40-foot climbing wall. Located adjacent to the main campus are hundreds of miles of trails available to the public, where avid mountain bikers and equestrians can explore the beautiful terrain.
The LAC was founded in the early 2000s through the merging of the Cleveland Home, a post Civil War orphanage and the Life Adventure Camp, which was created by Ross and Cathie Brown in the 1970s to teach nature resiliency to behaviorally-challenged youth. Not only are members of the Brown family still on the board of directors but the Labyrinth also features stones from both of the organization’s original buildings.
While the LAC continues to honor its past, Executive Director Julie Breitigan is focused on bringing the organization into the future. By centralizing the campus in the Woodford County campus and transferring stewardship of Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary to Bluegrass Greensource, Julie has been able to expand and enrich their programming.
Horsing around
Within the spacious arena, where cool dirt floors and large fans break up the summer heat, the LAC hosts a variety of equine assisted learning activities.
While setting up an obstacle course for a new group of campers, summer intern Emma Ingalls described the gradual process behind equine assisted learning. Campers first “meet and greet” the horses before grooming and bathing them. These activities build familiarity with the animals and allows campers to be comfortable before ascending to the saddle.
“Everything we do here is a challenge by choice,” added Julie.
As Lauren Burke, equine director, began to guide horses inside the arena, she described the program’s focus on adaptive equine vaulting — essentially gymnastics on horseback with a therapeutic focus — which campers can participate in under supervision.
Though the idea of vaulting on a horse may seem daunting, Lauren highlighted it as an opportunity for campers to build confidence in themselves and their skills.
“It is a unique niche with being the safest equestrian sport and being entry level friendly,” Lauren explained.
Before ascending to the real saddle, would-be vaulters practice on a wooden version.
Throughout the arena, accommodations are made for the needs of all campers. For participants who have a harder time sitting still, fidget stations are scattered around the area where they can occupy their excess energy. Adjoined to the main area is an air-conditioned classroom that acts as a quiet space and an arts and crafts area.
“A lot of the time we’re getting people for two hours and we try to make that the most empowering, enjoyable two hours possible,” Lauren said.
The LAC has 16 horses on the property, with the majority of them brought on through boarding arrangements. Thunder, also known as the One-Eyed Wonder, is a fan favorite. Julie explained that many of the children connect with Thunder because of his physical disability, not in spite of it.
Nurturing nature
Within the warm wooden walls of the Assembly House, Kyle Yarrow keeps a lively group of children occupied after their active morning outdoors. As the kids decorated nature journals with their favorite things spotted during their walk, Kyle explained his approach as an environmental educator.
“No matter how old you are, there are different ways to connect with [nature]” Kyle said.
Later that week, Kyle and his young campers dressed up as birds in order to help build empathy with other creatures. Once the empathy was built, Kyle was able to engage older participants in discussions about social action and environmental policy.
Both Kyle and Julie highlighted the importance of pairing exciting outdoor adventures with time for more serious contemplation, allowing campers to return home with a better sense of themselves and their communities.
“Part of the process is not just having the experience but also reflecting on it,” Julie said.
Though the time spent at the LAC by the campers ranges from hours to weeks, the communal structure of the program allows for ample opportunity to connect with nature and each other. During a heartwarming initiation ceremony, new campers and staffers receive “camp names” that reflect the positive attributes they’ve displayed during their time at LAC. Julie’s nickname “Sunburst” is a perfect fit for her beaming smile and warm personality.
Scattered on the walls of the Assembly Hall are colorful canvases, each hand painted by every visiting group to represent their experiences at the LAC. The center hosts over 3,500 participants every year, many of whom come away with valuable life lessons and skills to show for it.
‘Not a place to fake joy’
While there is always plenty of room for fun here, the outdoor adventures are guided by a defining purpose: to help individuals affected by trauma build resilience and self-empowerment.
The LAC works with a multitude of outside partners to achieve this goal including primary and secondary schools, Refuge for Women and the Amachi program which supports children with incarcerated parents.
One of the LAC’s most cherished partners is the Bluegrass Care Navigators which they partner with to host the Central Kentucky location of Camp Hope. Camp Hope helps children who have lost a loved one reflect on their grief and develop coping strategies by connecting with nature and their peers.
During a poignant part of the program, campers make luminaries for their loved ones and carry them to the Labyrinth where a staffer tends to the glowing fire. There, campers have an opportunity to “let go” of the obstacles holding them back in their grief journey and take comfort in their fellow campers who have had similar experiences.
In addition to the Labyrinth, nearly all of the activities at the LAC can be integrated with therapeutic support depending on the needs of the group participating.
“It’s pretty amazing when you can pair a big physical activity with a therapeutic question,” Julie said.
Amongst the “7 C’s of Resilience” used to guide camp activities, coping is one of the most essential. Due to their experiences, many participants struggle with emotional regulation, a skill that the LAC strives to cultivate in its campers. Still, progress often takes time.
“This is not a place to fake joy, you’re allowed to cry, you’re allowed to have a hard day,” Julie said.
For Julie, whose background in clinical psychology, this trauma-informed approach to nature resilience served as a calling.
“I heard about the mission and I just had to be here,” Julie said.
Taking the Big Swing
Despite the sweltering heat, the young campers rushed to take their places in the “Challenge Course.” These kids were participating in the Woodford County Reading Group, spending part of their day strengthening their literacy skills and the other part here, awaiting their turn on the “Big Swing”
In the “Big Swing”, one of the focal points of the challenge course, a person ascends a ladder to fix their harness on the low point of a hung rope; when the ladder is removed, its up to their fellow team members to hoist them up and help them swing as high as they want.
While this might not seem to have much to do with reading, Katherine Harper and Julie Ross who have run the reading group and worked with the LAC for years, can attest to the importance of integrating learning with physical activity.
“It gives them so much self-confidence and they get to know each other,” Ross said.
It certainly seemed this way for young Marie Clair Bobbitt, who bravely took her place in the harness and with the help of her friends, swung to new heights. Even after she came back down to the ground, her wide smile showed that she wouldn’t be forgetting her experience at LAC any time soon.
If you are interested in booking a group or making a donation to LAC, visit www.lifeadventurecenter.org.
