My Nonprofit Reviews
enolan
Review for River Discovery Inc, Boise, ID, USA
I was recruited by a friend and colleague to volunteer as a nurse practitioner and mental health professioal for the adult trip in September 2009. Having written my Master's research project on the therapeutic effects of wilderness, I expected a good experience. The reality was, however, so much better that I had imagined. I felt kind of guilty by the end of the trip for having had such a good time! I felt personally renewed and reinvigorated, as if the windows of my mind, body and soul had just been opened to a refreshing breeze. I felt calm and alert and happy to be alive! The guides' expertise is blended with such a sense of fun that it is possible to truly and deeply relax at the same time that you are challenged by the river setting, knowing you are safe in their hands. We floated whitewater and flatwater, swam, hiked, fished, climbed, soaked in hot springs, laughed, ate great food, talked around the campfire and slept under the stars. I saw the participants come alive as they tried out new skills like paddling kayaks, or as they enjoyed well loved hobbies like photography. I saw them compare their scars from treatment and talk about losing their hair. I saw them face down what scared them and helped each other do the same. I saw them emerge victorious! It was beautiful and truly inspiring and I felt so grateful to be a part of it that I joined the Board to help make this experience possible for more people.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I still feel great when I remember the September trip. II also enjoy offering this experience to cancer survivors. Serving on the Board has brought me in contact with a dedicated group of people who want to make a real difference in the lives of others.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
We would like to provide this experience to as many people as possible. We want to grow the program and spread the word!
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the opportunity to combine the incomparable beauty of the Main Salmon River and the fun of a river trip with an experience that leaves everyone, guides, volunteers and participants, feeling stronger and more confident in themselves.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
kind, professional, capable, fun-loving.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
At a time when global weather patterns make the great outdoors look like a threatening environment, we could help people rediscover their innate connection to the natural world and their ability to benefit from being in it, and desire to protect it.
Ways to make it better...
I'd like to see as many people as possible enjoy these trips, with no empty slots.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Growing the program and getting the word out.
One thing I'd also say is that...
One of the most beautiful elements of a river trip is the sense of community that develops over the week. There are numerous parallels to everyday life, and one of them is that helping one another get down the river is a great way to live.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
