Adaptive Wilderness Expeditions | Adaptive Adventures
Remote locations. Expert team. Real adventure.
Single and multi-day wilderness expeditions for people who aren't ready to stop enjoying the outdoors.
Welcome to Something Different
This isn’t a retreat.
It’s not therapy in disguise.
It’s not a guided stroll through a park.
Adaptive Wilderness Expeditions are immersive, multi-day journeys in some of Canada's most remote and spectacular terrain. Hiking, rafting, paddling, heli-hiking - real trips, in real wilderness, with a team that has prepared for every situation before you even arrive.
You don't need to be an athlete. You don't need to have done anything like this before. You just need to want it.
Most people who come on these trips weren't sure they should apply. That feeling is the right starting point.
Every expedition is led by trained guides and supported by adaptive gear, skilled volunteers, and a tight-knit team. Whether you're hiking, paddling, hunting, hot-air ballooning, or conquering terrain you never thought possible, you're not just along for the ride. You're the reason we're out here.
So if something inside you is curious, or even a little scared in a good way, you’re in the right place.
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Kent Stewart, Participant, KVR Trip 2025
"Being able to get out into the backcountry and travel under my own power is incredibly meaningful. While my friends and family may have the physical ability to do this, there’s so much more involved — planning, equipment, support staff, and cost. All of which would normally make something like this out of reach for me.
Adaptive Adventures makes these trips accessible to anyone willing to give it a try. I feel so fortunate to be among the participants and never take a single moment for granted.”
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Jenna, Participant, Haida Gwaii Trip 2023
"Accessible Wilderness Expedition showed me what’s possible when adventure meets accessibility. From climbing massive trees and kayaking for the first time, to fishing and learning about Haida Gwaii’s culture, I felt empowered, independent, and truly connected to the world around me.
The staff and volunteers were amazing — their support turned impossible moments into unforgettable triumphs. This trip was lifechanging, and everyone with a disability should have the opportunity to experience it."
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Bob Baker, Participant
"My world had been shrinking daily as I thought I couldn’t do much anymore. This trip expanded my world and gave me hope for the future. Crying as we paddled along a cloud-filled lake at the beauty and stillness I thought I could never experience again, the joy of freedom!
I could do things again and the hope and realization that I could experience them again has changed me forever."
2026 Expeditions - Adventurers Wanted
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Fire In The Mountains - Cathedral Lakes
June 22 - 24: Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park, BC
Hiking · Fishing · Paddling
Camping
5 volunteers needed
2 full-scholarship spots remaining
Difficulty: 🟢 Easy - 🟦 Intermediate - ♢ DifficultThree days in one of BC's most spectacular alpine parks. You set the pace - summit attempt, lakeside fishing, or a paddle across turquoise water. Every option is supported and every option is real.
Featuring: BC Parks, West Kelowna FIre Department, West Kelowna Tim Hortons
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Wells Gray Rafting Expedition 2026
July 29 - 31, 2026: Wells Gray Provincial Park, BC
Whitewater Rafting · Hiking
Cabin + Camping
5 volunteers needed
4 full-scholarship spots remaining
Difficulty: 🟦 Intermediate - ♢ DifficultBig water. Real rapids. Helmcken Falls in your backyard. Three days of whitewater adventure in one of BC's most dramatic wilderness settings, fully guided and fully supported.
Scholarships brought to you by: Central Okanagan Realtors, Kelowna Fire Department, & Riverside Adventures
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Nass River Wilderness Rafting Expedition 2026
August 20 - 26: Nass River, BC
Multi-day Wilderness Rafting
Tented Camping
5 volunteers needed
1 scholarship, 1 subsidized spot, 2 pay-your-own-way spots
Difficulty: ♢♢ MaximumSeven days on a remote river with a skilled guide team, and pur adrenaline. This is the flagship Adaptive Wilderness Expedition of the 2026 season - and the most demanding.
Event Application
The Support System
You're Not Alone Out There
Before the trip starts, you'll hear from your guide team. They'll ask about your goals, your experience, and what you need - not to assess you, but to prepare for you. By the time you land at the trailhead, they already know your story.
On the expedition: adaptive equipment, expert guides, emergency protocols, satellite communications, and a team whose job is to make sure the only thing you're thinking about is the view.
You're the Reason This Happens
Special Supporters (aka donors and/or volunteers) move participants, carry gear, cook meals, offer emotional support, and more. Donors often cover the costs that make this accessible. You’re not just observing transformation - you’re experiencing too.
Sponsor a participant or fund a trip
Apply as a volunteer support team member
Fund adaptive gear or travel
Help us scale to more regions
How does it work?
Apply for an Expedition: We'll ask about your goals, experience, and how we can support you.
Meet the Team: Our staff and volunteers will connect to help you prepare.
Show up Ready: We handle preparation, gear, and logistics. Your job is to arrive.
Whether you ride the equipment, carry the pack, fund the trip, or fuel the whole journey, your participation doesn’t just make this happen, it becomes part of the story.
Our Staff
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TIM ROPCHAN, Executive Director
Tim brings a experience and passion to Adaptive Adventures. With an Honours Bachelor in Human Kinetics and leadership experience across non‑profits focused on health, wellness and inclusion, his career reflects one constant: helping people access what others assume they cannot. He’s served as Executive Director locally, and previously managed recreation and support programs across Canada and Australia. A competitive athlete and ultra‑runner, Tim knows firsthand that the limits we see are often the ones we set, and are the ones worth challenging.
As Executive Director of Adaptive Adventures, he’s committed to advancing both our local, wellness‑centred Outdoor Recreation programs and our bold Wilderness Expeditions. When he’s not planning gear, trails or strategy, you’ll find him on the path with a race bib on back, wilderness ahead.
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DANIELLE STALENHOEF, Director of Operations
Danielle leads our operations with the precision of an athlete and the empathy of a coach. A former National Team field‑hockey player and kinesiology graduate, she now applies that high‑performance mindset to designing and refining programs, training guides and volunteers, and boosting inclusion across our offerings.
When she isn’t orchestrating trails and gear, you’ll find her running, skiing or hiking with her son on her back.
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LAURA MCEWAN, Adaptive Wilderness Expeditions Manager
Laura dreams big for everyone. A Recreation Therapist and outdoor enthusiast, she spent over 15 years in BC, carrying her small-town Ontario roots into wilderness dreams. With experience in health care and person-centred therapy, she turns “what if” into real climbs, paddles, and remote adventures.
When she’s not planning our next AWEsome expedition, you’ll find her hiking, biking, skiing, or camping with her husband, two kids, and her dog Luna - the team’s honorary member.
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ROB BRAUN , Equipment & Maintenance Coordinator
Rob is the silent force behind every safe outing. With a toolkit for adaptive gear and a knack for problem‑solving, he ensures every trail‑rider, sit‑ski and adaptive paddle works without worry. He also trains new staff, shares on‑the‑trail wisdom and keeps the mood high.
Rob is as committed to the journey as any participant, and his energy makes sure we’re all ready when we hit “go.”
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BRYN WALSH, Social Media & Marketing
Bryn brings creativity and connection to Adaptive Adventure’s stories as our Social Media and Marketing lead. A former varsity pole vaulter and sprinter for the University of Toronto, she grew up in Nelson, BC, surrounded by mountains that inspired a lifelong love of skiing, hiking, and climbing.
With a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology and Physical Education and current studies in Clinical Counselling Psychology, she’s passionate about storytelling that captures inspiring moments and makes the outdoors accessible for everyone. You’ll find her behind the camera, sharing stories online, and out leading trips in the wild places she loves most.
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NICOLE CHIRKOFF, Resource Development Coordinator
Meet Nicole Chirkoff, our Resource Development Coordinator with a flair for adventure and a heart rooted in the Okanagan Valley. Her love for the outdoors started as a teen in an outdoor education class, where she experienced the BC backcountry for the first time. Discovering rock climbing, glacier travel, and ocean kayaking were incredibly exhilarating experiences, ones that set her on a mission to ensure everyone has the opportunity to bask in the glory of the Canadian backcountry. Armed with a degree in International Relations and Immigration Law, Nicole blends her knack for navigating complex systems with an infectious passion for nature. She’s all about breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for unforgettable outdoor experiences.
Nicole is learning to sail, dreaming of charting a course for the perfect backcountry ski spots.
Looking for something more… casual?
Not sure you're ready for a full expedition? Our outdoor rec programs are a good place to start - and a lot of people who've done both say the expedition was easier than they expected.