Amanda joined Beyond Boundaries in Roanoke with a passion for helping people discover that adventure truly is for everyone. Drawing on her background in nursing, CrossFit coaching, and health education, she empowers others to build confidence, overcome challenges, and achieve more than they thought possible.

Some of the most meaningful gifts are shared without recognition or applause. This letter is dedicated to the anonymous donors of Beyond Boundaries—givers whose kindness and quiet generosity create life-changing opportunities for people of all abilities to experience adventure, belonging, and the outdoors.

Andrew believes the outdoors have the power to help people discover unrealized strengths. That belief led the Radford University student to Beyond Boundaries, where he's spending the summer making adventure more accessible while gaining hands-on non-profit experience.

From surfing in four different countries to studying neuroscience and psychology at Virginia Tech, our summer intern Sarah brings a love of adventure and a belief that everyone deserves access to the outdoors. Get to know the newest member of the team and what drew her to Beyond Boundaries.

Learning to ride a bike can be a big milestone for any child. For one family, it was years in the making. Read how the Learn to Bike program helped an 11-year-old gain confidence and achieve something that once felt out of reach.

Meet Taylor, one of Beyond Boundaries' newest interns! As a PhD student in environmental science at the University of Rhode Island, she studies environmental access and disability justice. Learn more about Taylor, her passion for inclusion, and what inspired her to join the our team.

Omar Hassan shares why Beyond Boundaries continues to draw him back. Through experiences on the climbing wall like belaying, building trust, and witnessing quiet moments of confidence, he explores how the program impacts not only participants, but volunteers as well. The piece highlights the power of trust, community, and encouragement, and how those lessons extend far beyond the wall.

Aiden has been part of the Beyond Boundaries community for several years, but one program stands above the rest: fishing club. Sure, it's about catching "fishies" (Aiden's words, not ours), but it's also a chance to get outdoors and spend time with his dad, Jeff, and grandpa, Bill. Read how three generations have found connection, confidence, and adventure on the water together.

The Bonfire Gala is our annual formal fundraiser, this year hosted at Maymont both inside and outside. With live music, silent auctions, dinner, classic cocktails, and friendship, the Bonfire Gala is an incredible event that focuses on gathering together to share tales of our adventures while raising critical funding to support and grow our mission.

Meet Angie, the new Operations Coordinator in Roanoke! With decades of experience in autism services, Angie previously founded and led St. Vincent's Home and the Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center, serving communities across Southwest Virginia. A devoted advocate and mother of three, she brings both expertise and passion to the Beyond Boundaries team.

Abbey is spending the summer with Beyond Boundaries as an intern! She's currently studying environmental science at the University of Mary Washington and has a passion for exploring the outdoors. Make sure to catch her on an adventure this summer. She's learning how to climb and loves hiking. We bet by the end of the season, she may even catch a few fish!

Another year, another R.I.M.B.Y. Festival! This year marked not only another incredible year of celebrations but also our tenth anniversary. While it was a hot and muggy day, it was hard not to smile as we saw our community gather to enjoy live music, an adaptive film festival, and our vendor village.

As we welcome Sims Metal as a title sponsor for several upcoming events, we're celebrating the connections that make our community special. What began through a partnership with the Department of Wildlife Resources grew into a shared commitment to outdoor adventure, inclusion, and expanding access.

Henry and Erica are more than dedicated volunteers. They are making a difference together as a a mother-son team. Through adaptive climbing programs, they've built meaningful connections, encouraged participants, and discovered the power of community, one climb at a time.

For many participants, learning to ride a bike once felt out of reach. Through a new partnership with WeeWheel, Beyond Boundaries is helping riders build confidence, gain independence, and discover the freedom that comes with life on two wheels.

Read this year’s letter from Shep and explore our entire 2024 Impact Report. This has been a huge year of growth and empowerment for Beyond Boundaries and we’re excited to share it with you.

One of the best things about our programming is the new skills that participants learn along the way. From developing as paddlers to learning to belay or fish, our participants can carry the skills they learn into their personal lives. For 2024 Volunteer of the Year, Jennifer Taylor's passion for the water led her to become a fantastic volunteer and partner for Beyond Boundaries.

The Beyond Boundaries Trailblazers are the dedicated partners and volunteers who have gone above and beyond to support our mission. Their time, energy, and resources have been instrumental in shaping the success of our programs, and we couldn’t do it without them. While we appreciate every person who contributes to our cause, we’d like to take a moment to recognize those who truly made a difference in 2024.

Join us in congratulating local legend Dave Swager, named 2024 Beyond Boundaries Volunteer of the Year. Dave is a seasoned climber, raft guide and adventurer, who can often be seen running the James River or on the walls at our local climbing gyms. Dave has been a stalwart supporter of Beyond Boundaries and has dedicated an incredible amount of time to our mission.

This November, we were stoked to create a team for Mustaches for Kids (M4K) once again to raise money to support our programming. Thanks to partners like Ballast Consulting Group, High Point Barbershop, the Hampton Park Mens Club, On Three Photography, and TrailHead Creative, our team shattered our base fundraising record with an all-time high of over $80,000!