ABOUT THE GRAND ADVENTURE
The Grand Adventure envisions consistent and un-fractured support through the entire course of a patients’ path (diagnosis-treatment-recovery-maintenance-into survivorship).
Our healing tool is the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, but our reach is worldwide.
We use experiences with nature to inspire patients to see their innate strength
Strength
We connect patients with others on a similar journey to build a supportive community to weather ups and downs
Fortitude
We meet patients where they are in their healing journey to give them a boost when and where they need it
Resilience
Together with hospitals, we’re gifting patients life defining experiences and friendships that build self-resilience and a reconnection with the world beyond the confines of diagnosis.
Receiving long term treatment is scary and isolating. Our virtual and in-person programs share the natural wonder of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks in a format that meets patients where they are in their cancer journey. Our programs are designed in close concert with Hospitals to deliver flexible, best-fit programming with smooth delivery and tight HIPAA compliance.
About
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The Grand Adventure harnesses the healing power of nature to inspire strength, fortitude, and resilience through connection to the perseverance within, for all ages and stages throughout the journey with life-changing diagnoses.
Our Mission
How We're Different
We partner directly and individually with hospital departments to support patients in their journey.
We serve anyone grappling with life-changing diagnoses like cancer and hematology, supporting them wherever they are in diagnosis, treatment, or recovery.
Our programming is carefully crafted with input from patient's healthcare providers, naturalist guides, and our experienced program team.
Customized Experiences
Our programs are 100% free, making them accessible to a hospital's entire patient base, regardless of socio-economic background.
Financial Access
We offer in-person and virtual programs that bring the power of healing through exploration to your patients, regardless of geography or physical ability.
Ability Access
Relationships are the heart of all of our work. We partner deeply with hospital staff, program partners, and connect patients with our alumni mentors.
Connections & Mentors
We partner directly with hospitals and their caregiving departments and staff. We’ve created programs designed to integrate the important healthcare support network required to support in-treatment, immuno-compromised individuals.
OUR PROGRAMS
Our Partners
Board of Directors
Stacey C. Kayem, Executive Director
ZoAnn Dreyer, MD
Lisa K. McCoy
Timothy J. Porea, MD, MPH
Christopher Conti, MBA, GM Aramark
Medical Advisors
Dr. ZoAnn Eckert Dreyer, M.D.
Sidney L. and Donald F. Faust Professor in Pediatric Cancer Survivorship, Texas Children's Hospital
Clinical Director, Long-Term Survivor Program
Chief of Long-term Survivor Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital
Tim J Porea, M.D., M.P.H.
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist in Houston, Texas and is affiliated with Texas Children's Hospital
Professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center
Advisory Board
Vickie Mates
Founder/Director, Team Mates Ventures
Paige Curry
Executive Director, Astoria Park Conservancy
Brenda Younkin, MS, CRMC
Owner/Natural Resources Specialist
Shawn Ankeny, AIA
Ankeny Architecture and Design
Jennifer Kronberger-Overcast
Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty
Joe Petrick
Education & Community Leader
Frequently Asked Questions
Please fill out this interest form [include link] and our team will reach out to you to schedule an orientation meeting, learn about your existing programs, and have a conversation about how The Grand Adventure can support your community.
The Grand Adventure enables Healing Through Exploration for anyone in and/or recovering from long-term care. Inspiration Point [link] and Uplift [link] require participants to be able to travel and explore the National Parks. Boundless [link] brings the healthing power of the national parks into your hospital room.
Either you or a hospital representative may fill out this interest form [link] and our team will reach out to you to schedule an orientation meeting, learn about your existing programs, and have a conversation about how The Grand Adventure can support your community.
We are HIPAA Verified, thus ensuring that all electronic communications remain securely protected and private. We request permission to use pictures and videos of programs to support our fundraising efforts that allow us to offer all our programming free of charge to participants and hospitals.
We move at the speed of trust and relationship building. Typically, Boundless programs take about 3 months to plan and Inspiration Point and Uplift programs take about a year.
Did you know the average cost associated with childhood cancer is a startling $833,000 (nih.gov). The Grand Adventure offers families a critical leg of emotional-social-psychological support that is entirely free of charge. Our programs support patients through their entire journey, critically revealing resilience, community, and fortitude where before there was often little to none.