Nature possesses the incredible power to heal, motivate and inspire.
Shep Roeper, cofounder and executive director of Beyond Boundaries, recognized this profound impact and believed that everyone should have access to outdoor activities, no matter their physical, cognitive or economic challenges.
Beyond Boundaries offers year-round programming, including rafting, kayaking, hiking, biking, indoor/outdoor climbing, fishing and pontoon boating. These adventures are designed for individuals of all abilities and backgrounds, helping them develop social skills, create a sense of community and boost their confidence.
In one of the most challenging and exhilarating fields, Beyond Boundaries is creating a space where no one is excluded from the transformative benefits of outdoor exploration.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Roeper to discuss his journey in creating Beyond Boundaries, its impact on the Richmond community and what exciting plans lie ahead.
What inspired you to start Beyond Boundaries?
I co-founded this organization based off a nonprofit that my cofounder, Kyle, and I worked for after college in California called Environmental Traveling Companions. Its programs included environmental traveling companions, adaptive cross-country skiing, rafting, paddling and overnight programs, primarily for people with disabilities. We really loved the atmosphere that it created and the impact it had on the community.
Kyle and I are very passionate about playing outdoors and know how beneficial it is for us. We recognize there’s a lot of people out there who can’t afford it or don’t have access the same way we do. That is when we began whitewater rafting in Richmond for people with disabilities, and then from there, it expanded to more activities and more groups.
What is Beyond Boundaries’ core mission?
We have a tagline “adventure is for everyone,” and our mission really is to connect underserved communities outdoors. While we primarily work with individuals with disabilities, we also work with underserved youth groups, those in substance recovery and veterans. We partner with other nonprofits, local organizations and schools that are already serving our group or populations in some form or fashion.
Our three pillars are access, community and empowerment. Regarding access, many of our participants require adaptive climbing and adaptive kayaking gear. We want to make people feel welcomed and part of the community. Not just the Richmond community, but the adventure community. Lastly, we empower people by teaching skills that make people feel more confident and capable.
Could you share some accomplishments the organization has achieved since the beginning?
My favorite thing to highlight and celebrate is that every group we work with comes back the next year and wants to do more. This is proof that there’s a growing need out there. With more support from the community comes the ability to hire more employees and allows us to offer more programs.
I feel proud when participants gain more confidence through our activities. Seeing someone who uses a wheelchair for a lot of their day to day, get out of their chair and go rock climbing or scale a 40-foot wall and view the world a little differently. It is impactful to witness that and see their loved ones witness that, too.
Where do you see Beyond Boundaries in the next five years? Are there any exciting developments on the horizon?
We are looking for a partnership or property to create a camp. This will give us the opportunity to throw roots down and have a property of our own that we can have complete control over. Then, we can expand the program offerings and create longer programs.
Due to our unique programs, we are starting to see a lot of groups reach out with curiosity outside of a few hours away or outside of the state to come to us for those specialties. Since we don’t have lodging opportunities, it’s very challenging or impossible for them to get to us in a day, do the activity and get back home. By offering a camp, we can expand our reach and provide more in-depth experience.
How can individuals or businesses get involved and support the work that Beyond Boundaries is doing?
There’s either a physical access challenge or a financial access challenge that we try to tackle with our participants. Funding is always important because it means we can offset the cost or provide it at no cost to our participants. Also, it allows us to buy the necessary adaptive gear that a lot of our groups require for our programs.
We rely heavily on volunteers, and people can sign up to do that individually, as a group of friends or a business staff. There are a lot of people who volunteer to get involved and give back. Sometimes they like the activity that we’re providing, but they’ve never done it around someone with a disability, which makes them nervous. We offer free disability inclusion training for volunteers, which has been very beneficial in preparing volunteers to work.
To learn more about Beyond Boundaries and find volunteer opportunities, visit its website here.
