By Felix Dowsley, Boys Program Director “¿Hace frío, Rodolfo?”“¡Sí! Hace frio.” We were cresting the pass between Jalcomulco and Tlapcoyan, headed for the legendarily fun Roadside section of the Alsaseca River. Rodolfo, a former raft guide who switched to driving shuttles after years of abusing his knees carrying boats, huddled over the steering wheel, a […]
Fall 2025 Overnight Trips are in the books! It was three days and two nights of working on paddling, climbing and campcraft skills, hiking and enjoying campfires, building stronger relationships with classmates and teachers, and learning lessons of resilience that inevitably arise in the outdoors. Whether on a river trip to the Tuckaseegee, Nantahala, or
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By Sara Valentine, FBRA Girls Program Staff All summer long, you’ll find FBRA staff exploring rivers and sharing adventures that fuel our passion for the outdoors, and that often means heading west on a US Forest Service river permit. With tens of thousands of lottery entries for these coveted river permits and only a handful
Summer Fun on Utah’s Green River Read More »
By Jeff Edmonds, FBRA Boys Program Staff We are fortunate in Western North Carolina to be surrounded by wonderful places to mountain bike. There are renowned steep and challenging singletrack trails to be had, and there are plenty of places that are appropriate for beginners and for families with varying ability levels to ride together.
Our Top Five Family Friendly Mountain Bike Rides Read More »
By Will Yeiser, Executive Director & Co-Founder The 2025–26 school year is off to a wonderful start, and a big reason for that is one of our most cherished traditions: Induction Week at FBRA at Camps Green Cove for the Girls and Mondamin for the Boys. At first glance, Induction Week might look similar to
INDUCTION WEEK AT FBRA: The Secret Sauce to a Strong School Year Read More »
While teachers and students enjoy a much-needed summer break, the work of FBRA continues during the “off” months of June, July, and August. From construction projects to summer camps to professional development, summer 2025 has provided a time for us to keep our community engaged and energized. Summer Construction Projects That beautiful slab at our
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By Felix Dowsley, Boys Program Director I’m writing on behalf of Will Yeiser, Tricia Chan, and our staff to celebrate our triumphant return to paddling this week. I want to especially thank Nora Randolph and David Clarke for their tireless planning and strategizing to get us back out there safely. We are also grateful to
Return To The River Read More »
At French Broad River Academy, every student travels to Costa Rica each of the three years they are at the middle school for this incredible immersion experience. Each year’s trip builds on the prior one and is in a different area of the country. Year in and year out, the Costa Rica trip is what
Pura Vida Costa Rica 2025 Girls Trips Read More »
By Leanne Chapman, Boys Program Staff Leanne Chapman relays the story of growth and renewal while rock climbing in Potrero Chico this past winter. “You’ve got this Leanne!” I heard, along with, “C’mon, try to get to the next clip!” My hands were sweating, and my heart was pounding as I was analyzing my next
Finding Peace in Potrero Chico, Mexico Read More »
Ski season at French Broad River Academy is underway! For many of our students, this is their favorite season with FBRA Outdoor Programs. For one full school day per week in January in February, all FBRA students travel to Cataloochee Ski Area for skills-based, small-group instruction. Students love that they get to ski with friends
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