AEE Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group (TAPG)
This website is an evolving statement by AEE's Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group (TAPG) aimed at describing our professional group. It is an effort to bring about an open forum for discussion and learning that is representative of this field of practice. We invite a broad range of readers including practitioners, insurance companies, government monitors, other professional organizations, students, teachers, consumers, and the general public. We do not assume that our thoughts are inclusive of every application of adventure therapy across the world or even within the United States. Have Questions? Want more information? Email us at tapg@aee.org
Join our email list!
Make sure you're on the list to receive our regular Insights Newsletter, providing updates about news, events and research in the worlds of Adventure Therapy and Therapeutic Adventure.
If you are NOT in our system yet: If you want to join our email list to stay up-to-date on TAPG news, click here to create an account. You can opt-in to TAPG newsletters.
If you ARE in our system already: If you would like to update your email preferences, just head to your Member Compass to update your profile information. You can opt-in to TAPG newsletters. (Head to your Profile tab, and scroll down to profile information. There is a field called 'TAPG Preferences' where you can select yes or no (or possibly if you'd like to try it out for a bit!)
TAPG Mission
The mission of the Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group is to engage practitioners in the development and promotion of adventure as a therapeutic approach.
TAPG Statement of Purpose
Therapeutic Adventure is the professional group for those AEE members who work within the fields of health, mental health, corrections, education, and other human service fields. Our primary purpose is to facilitate networking for professionals within our various fields and share information, techniques, and concerns regarding the therapeutic use of adventure. We define therapeutic as moving toward healthy change with intentional interventions. We represent the interests of this community to the Board and larger professional communities through workshops, conference and pre-conference activities, and best practices development.
Upcoming Events
TAPG Pre-Conference for the 2024 AEE International Conference
Nov. 12th & 13th, 2024 in Estes Park, Colorado
You may as well mark your calendars and start planning your presentations now! Next years Pre-Con will be held November 12th & 13th, 2023 at the beautiful YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. With everything from a challenge course to climbing walls, disc golf to dog parks, hiking trails to horse stables, archery to axe throwing, and over 860 acres of space to explore, play, and learn together, YMCA of the Rockies is a perfect host for almost any type of therapeutic adventure! Check out all this place has to offer here.
The AEE International Conference will immediately follow the Pre-Conference, November 14th - 16th, 2024.
Adventure Therapy Best Practices
AEE's Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group(TAPG) has been engaged in efforts to produce a statement of best practice for adventure therapy (AT) since 2001, with writing beginning in 2007. TAPG has coordinated Adventure Therapy Best Practices conferences that have, and continue, to serve as catalysts for this effort. The intent of this effort is to identify, establish, and promote appropriate AT practices. The following is to be considered a working document in its attempt to provide preferred programming standards for the administration of adventure and wilderness therapy programs. This statement will reside on the TAPG website and be updated as the field grows in knowledge and understanding. Please click here to access the best practices document
Interested in becoming an AEE Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist?
As the field of Adventure Therapy progresses forward, evolves and gains popularity, professionals from the wide variety of Adventure Therapy settings have come together to express an interest and a need for greater professionalism in Adventure Therapy. After the tremendous efforts of those involved in creating the Adventure Therapy Best Practices, and the advent of specific certification standards that meet the needs of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council programs, a growing need for an adventure therapy certification became more and more apparent. Learn more about certification here.
Meet The Leadership Council!
The Leadership Council structure affords the most representation of membership possible, supporting the community and mission and purpose of TAPG. The Council coordinates activities and provides direction for the professional group. Leadership Council members serve for a term of 3 years.
Christy Brock (she/her)
Alex White, MS, CMHC, CCAT (he/him)
I’m Alex White (he/him). I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist (CCAT) based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I am the Chair of the Leadership Council of the Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group, a small but mighty community of dedicated adventure therapy (AT) / therapeutic adventure (TA) enthusiasts from across the field. We represent different backgrounds, cultures, specializations, and areas of practice, and are committed to providing opportunities for learning and connection in this realm for which we are all so passionate. Thank you for your interest and involvement in the TAPG community!
Patrick McMillion
Marl Reinert, MSW, LCSW, CCAT (she/they)
Lindsay Myrick, MS, LCPC-S (she/they)
Deb Lehman
Jay Pepitone, MA, NCC, LPCC (he/him)
Jesy Cordle, PhD(c), LRT, CTRS, CCAT (she/her)
Erin Carpenter, MA, CTRS (she/her)
Tony Alvarez, LMSW (he/him)
TAPG Awards: Mark Ames Scholarship & Heart of Adventure Therapy
Heart of Adventure Therapy Award
The Heart of Adventure Therapy Award is given yearly to either an organization or an individual who embodies the heart of adventure therapy! The purpose of the award is to honor an individual, organization or program that provides exemplary adventure therapy services. This individual or organization should exhibit the mission and vision of the Association for Experiential Education, and should also employ TAPG’s Best Practices. TAPG members will nominate agencies they feel are deserving of the award and TAPG Leadership Council members will vote on this award. Nominations will be solicited in January each year from the Leadership Council.
2023 Heart of Adventure Therapy Award Winner: Katie Asmus
The TAPG Heart of Adventure Therapy Award (HOAT) was created in 2014 to honor and celebrate individuals and organizations that provide exemplary adventure therapy services. The winner of the HOAT award exhibits the mission and vision of the Association for Experiential Education, exercises TAPG’s best practices, and represents the heart and soul of our work. This year’s winner does all that and more! Please join us in celebrating Katie Asmus as this year’s 2023 Heart of Adventure Therapy Award!!!
The list of Katie’s accomplishments and contributions to the field are about as big as her smile as she graciously accepted the 2023 Heart of Adventure Therapy Award presented during this year’s Pre-Conference Halloween Social!
She has been a long standing member of the Association for Experiential Education and has been an essential part of the TAPG community since the very beginning. She has taught and trained hundreds of practitioners through her work at Naropa University, Prescott College, and the countless presentations, workshops, and trainings she has hosted over the years. Katie, we are grateful, not only for what you do, but how you do it, with so much love, joy, and compassion!
You can learn more about Katie and the work she is currently doing as the founder and director of the Somatic Wilderness Therapy Institute here.
Heart of Adventure Therapy Award Winners
2014 Red Top Meadows
Mark Ames Scholarship
Mark Ames was a model leader and community member to the Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group (TAPG) of AEE. He contributed much in his time with us, bringing the true heart of Adventure Therapy work to our personal and professional development efforts. TAPG awards the Mark Ames Memorial Scholarship to provide an opportunity to attend TAPG's Pre-Conference workshop to an individual who otherwise could not afford to attend.
Many TAPG members have been presented with national AEE awards. Please take a look at the list, and if you do not see someone's name there that should be, consider nominating someone for this year.
Michael Stratton Practitioner of the Year Award
2000 Lee Gillis
1998 Mike Gass
1997 Christian Bisson
2021 Federico A Borroel
2004 Christian Itin
1997 Project Adventure
2010 Kim Wasserburger