outdoor education

ski season french broad river academy

Ski Season at FBRA

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 […]

Ski Season at FBRA Read More »

french broad river academy 2024 staff training

2024 Staff Training

Three Weeks Before Liftoff It’s late August, and 2024 Staff Training is wrapping up as the first day of Induction Week approaches. Unlike most schools, the staff at French Broad River Academy spend three full weeks preparing for the upcoming school year. This commitment to staff development up front pays innumerable dividends when school starts.

2024 Staff Training Read More »

why salamanders

Why Salamanders?

The humble salamander is French Broad River Academy’s mascot. But why? What makes salamanders worthy of mascot status? Here are some salamander tidbits so that you’ll be in the know… Fact 1: Salamander Capital of the World According to the Highlands Biological Station, the Southern Appalachians is one of the most biologically diverse regions on

Why Salamanders? Read More »

groundbreaking woodfin whitewater wave june 2024

Groundbreaking on Woodfin Whitewater Wave June 2024

It’s official. Construction on the Woodfin Whitewater Wave and adjoining park expansion are slated to begin just days from now! The Town of Woodfin and the general contractor signed construction contracts on June 11, 2024. After years of planning, it’s finally GO TIME on Taylor’s Wave, located in Woodfin’s stretch of the French Broad River,

Groundbreaking on Woodfin Whitewater Wave June 2024 Read More »

french broad river academy kickball most dangerous activity

The Most Dangerous Activity At Our School

By Felix Dowsley, FBRA Boys Program Director This essay first appeared on the website of The Mountain Tactical Institute. Every week, our school fields seventy two students and fourteen staff in an ever-rotating program of whitewater paddling, rock climbing, service work, and downhill skiing. I read every incident report and look for trends, hoping to

The Most Dangerous Activity At Our School Read More »

Let My People Go Paddling

The Reason Our Staff Paddle By Will Yeiser, Executive Director and Co-Founder One of the many concepts that influenced the creation of the French Broad River Academy (FBRA) came from legendary climber, businessman, environmentalist, and founder of Patagonia, Inc. Yvon Chouinard.  In his book “Let My People Go Surfing,” he outlines his business approach of

Let My People Go Paddling Read More »