By Felix Dowsley, Boys Program Director Before I became Program Director and committed my summers to spreadsheets and carpet-walking, I had a very special 4th of July tradition: camping with FBRA students in the woods of Kentucky, climbing the world-class sandstone found in the Red River Gorge. With a trailer full of ropes, climbing shoes, […]
The Joys of Summer Programming Read More »
By Britt Payne, Girls Program Teacher and Trip Leader The Middle Fork doesn’t just flow through Idaho, it feeds it.. Every bend offers something entirely different. One minute you’re floating through a wide shallow riverbed, rolling valleys scarred by old burns, where blackened pines stand like monuments to fires long past. The next you’re swallowed
The Heartbeat of Idaho: The Middle Fork Read More »
By Stiles Rockey, Development Director At FBRA, the first week of school looks a little different. Instead of beginning the year behind desks and diving straight into academics, our students start outside—living, learning, adventuring, and building community together. The Girls Program begins and ends Induction Week at Camp Green Cove, while the Boys Program gathers
Why We Have Induction Week Read More »
By Tricia Chan, Girls Program Director I toss the last of the 95 drybags into our giant rented truck and slam the tailgate before everything spills out. It’s September 12, and my crew- four friends, including my husband John- and I are leaving Boise, Idaho on our way to Boundary Creek Campground, the put-in for
Notes From The Salmon Read More »
By Will Yeiser, Executive Director & Co Founder When we opened our doors in 2009, a ski program was not part of the plan. It wasn’t in the budget, on the schedule, or even on our radar. But as winter approached, we began exploring the idea of launching a ski program at FBRA. During my
Building Confidence on the Slopes: The FBRA Ski Program Read More »
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
Fall 2025 Overnight Trips Read More »
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 »