High 5 Adventure Learning

What High 5 Adventure Learning does

High 5 Adventure Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 in Brattleboro, Vermont, that delivers adventure-based experiential learning across training and certification, team and leadership development, challenge course services, and its proprietary Edge of Leadership (EOL) framework. The organization's technical core is a facilitator-led methodology built on challenge course activities, structured reflection, and social-emotional learning frameworks; the EOL framework (Connect-Empower-Lead), the certified Navigating Challenging Dialogue® process, the Ubuntu Cards facilitation tool, and a three-tier ACCT-accredited practitioner certification (Level 1, Level 2, Course Manager) form the differentiated content stack.

Revenue is generated through multiple streams: multi-day professional workshops and certification exams at the Brattleboro campus and on-site (the 25+ annual workshops include Adventure Basics, Beyond Basics, and Managing an Adventure Program), district-level programs such as Reset starting at $9,500, full-service challenge course design and installation ($15k–$150k), annual ACCT-compliant inspections ($500–$2,500), a graduate-credit channel via the Springfield College MEd partnership, book and product sales (Edge of Leadership and When in Doubt books at $24, Ubuntu Cards), and a global reseller network alongside donations and the new Lead By Example Legacy Society planned-giving program.

Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led: 25+ public workshops per year on the Brattleboro campus (March–November), on-site customized training, multi-year district deployments (Keene School District as flagship), an e-commerce storefront, Amazon Kindle distribution, and active membership in ACCT, AEE, and AORE. Primary customers are K-12 schools and districts, with secondary segments in corporate teams, adventure/recreation programs, therapeutic and youth agencies, and higher education. Notable logos include Boston Bruins, Massachusetts State Police, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Springfield College, Olin College of Engineering, and the Keene School District. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Jen Ottinger, with founder Jim Grout continuing as Founding Director and Ryan McCormick as Education Program Manager and EOL Program Director.

Name

High 5 Adventure Learning

Legal name

High 5 Adventure Learning Center

Website

https://high5adventure.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

High 5 Adventure Learning Center is a Brattleboro, Vermont–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers adventure-based experiential learning, ACCT-accredited challenge course certification, and its proprietary Edge of Leadership framework to K-12 schools, corporate teams, adventure programs, and higher-education clients across the Northeast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Experiential Education Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Outdoor Training & Team-Building Programs (Experiential Learning) (THAAAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Career & College Readiness Platforms (Guidance, Planning, Scholarships) (EDAJAMAO)

Keywords

• Adventure-based learning
• Challenge course services
• Experiential education
• Leadership development training
• Team building programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brattleboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Workshops & Certifications: Multi-day training workshops (Adventure Basics Level 1, Beyond Basics Level 2, Managing an Adventure Program) and certification testing at multiple levels. Workshops range from 1-5 days with pricing varying by program.
2. Challenge Course Design & Installation: Full-service challenge course design, installation, inspection, and repair services. Courses range from $15k to $150k depending on size and scope. Annual inspections range from $500-$2,500.
3. Books & Products: Sale of published books (Edge of Leadership, When in Doubt...Give Them Your Heart) and proprietary products like Ubuntu Cards, facilitation tools, and climbing equipment through online store.
4. Graduate Credit Partnership: Strategic provider partnership with Springfield College MEd in Adventure Education program, offering workshops that count toward graduate credits (up to 9 credits).
5. Donations & Fundraising: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting donations through PayPal, securities, IRA charitable distributions, bequests, and beneficiary designations. Launched Lead By Example Legacy Society for planned giving.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

High 5 Adventure Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers adventure-based experiential education programs, including multi-day practitioner training workshops, ACCT-accredited challenge course certifications, customized team and leadership development, and full-service challenge course design, installation, and inspection. Its proprietary Edge of Leadership (EOL) framework (Connect, Empower, Lead) and the Navigating Challenging Dialogue framework anchor K-12 student leadership programs, educator retreats, and corporate team development. Auxiliary revenue comes from published books (Edge of Leadership; When in Doubt...Give Them Your Heart), proprietary products such as Ubuntu Cards, and donations.

Product overview

High 5 Adventure Learning Center offers adventure-based education programs organized around four core service areas: Training & Certification (workshops and ACCT certification exams), Team & Leadership Development (customized experiences), Challenge Course Services (design, installation, inspection, repair), and Edge of Leadership (EOL framework for schools and educators). The portfolio includes multi-day training workshops (Adventure Basics, Beyond Basics, Managing an Adventure Program), certification exams (Level 1, Level 2, CCM), professional learning programs (Reset, Navigating Challenging Dialogue, EOL Foundations), books (Edge of Leadership, When in Doubt... Give Them Your Heart), products (Ubuntu Cards), and podcast content. The EOL framework serves as an umbrella philosophy connecting Connect-Empower-Lead concepts across all offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adventure Basics Level 1 Training Five-day, 45-hour workshop providing foundational technical and facilitation skills for operating low and high challenge courses, including spotting, knots, belay, risk management, icebreakers, cooperative games, and reflection techniques. Audience: aspiring challenge course practitioners.
• Beyond Basics Level 2 Training Four-day advanced workshop for practitioners reinforcing and improving technical skills, including self-belay techniques, risk management, emergency action plans, rescue procedures, and specialty element operations.
• Managing an Adventure Program (CCM Training) Three-day workshop for program directors, risk managers, and lead training staff covering design, safety, risk management, staff development, industry standards, and program operations.
• Advanced Technical Skills: Level 2 Review Two-day intensive for skilled practitioners to review and add to technical skills, developing quiet competence as an adventure practitioner.
• Spotters Ready: Low Challenge Course Elements Programming Two-day workshop focused on low challenge course elements programming and spotting skills for practitioners.
• 2-Day Belay Skills and Climbing Structure Training Two-day workshop covering belay skills and climbing structure operations for practitioners.
• Edge of Leadership: Foundations of Support Workshop One-day workshop introducing the EOL framework focused on support as the base of connection and culture; includes a copy of the Edge of Leadership book. Audience: educators and leaders.
• Navigating Challenging Dialogue Essentials Workshop One-day workshop (also available as team sessions) building skills in honest, productive conversations using the NCD framework; includes access to the NCD Essentials Library and Online Learning Center.
• Level 1 Challenge Course Practitioner Certification One-day certification exam (written and practical) for practitioners facilitating low and high challenge course elements. Requires 40+ hours of training and annual renewal.
• Level 2 Challenge Course Practitioner Certification One-day advanced certification exam covering specialty skills, rescues, written and practical testing. Requires 80+ hours of training and 200 hours of program experience; renewed every 3 years.
• Challenge Course Manager (CCM) Certification Half-day certification exam for program managers covering written and practical elements. Requires Level 2 certification, 30+ hours management training, and 500 hours experience; renewed every 5 years.
• Edge of Leadership Book Book by Ryan McCormick providing a practical guide to EOL models, language, and experiences, including a digital Activity Guide for implementation.
• When in Doubt... Give Them Your Heart Book by Jim Grout on leadership rooted in connection. Available in paperback ($24) and Kindle; all profits support High 5 programs.
• Reset: Reflection and Community for Mid-Career Educators Two-part professional learning series for educators with 5+ years of experience; two full-day retreats spaced 5-7 weeks apart, with facilitated dialogue and structured reflection. District pricing starts at $9,500.
• Professional Learning for Teams Customized team development experiences for organizations covering Connected Team, Navigating the Unknown, Pace/Presence/Attention, Supportive Leadership, Emotions at Work, and Managing Ourselves and Others (DiSC). Delivered on-site or at the Brattleboro campus.
• Challenge Course Design & Installation Full-service challenge course design and installation, including program design, element selection, custom design, and ongoing support. ACCT Accredited Vendor Member since 2002. Courses priced $15K-$150K.
• Challenge Course Inspection & Repair Services Annual inspections and repair services for challenge courses, including detailed written reports on element conditions, operational safety, and repair recommendations. Annual inspections range $500-$2,500.
• EOL Summer High School Program Three-day immersive summer leadership experience for high school students and educators attending together. 2026 dates: July 21-23 and July 28-30; scholarships of nearly $4,000/year are available.
• Keene Laboratory Program Site (District EOL Implementation) District-wide EOL implementation in Keene, NH schools in partnership with Keene School District and C&S Wholesale Grocers, covering elementary (grade 5), middle school (grades 6-7), and high school Student Leadership Team programs.
• Ubuntu Cards Multi-purpose connection cards (54 cards per deck) with more than a dozen activities that encourage group interaction, conversation starters, and reflection through metaphor and creative play.
• Graduate Credit Program (MEd in Adventure Education) Strategic provider partnership with Springfield College allowing eligible workshops to count toward a Master of Education in Adventure Education (up to 9 graduate credits).

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of teachers would recommend Reset Professional Development to other educators
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Keene School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership began with pilot program in single Keene elementary school in 2012. Expanded district-wide over nine years to include students and teachers in grades 5-12. EOL educators work in classrooms and on Challenge Course throughout the school year. Part of public-private-nonprofit educational partnership with C&S Wholesale Grocers.
• Springfield CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh 5 is the inaugural strategic provider for Springfield College's MEd in Adventure Education program. Eligible High 5 workshops count toward the degree (up to 9 graduate credits). Students work with program director to identify workshops aligned with curriculum outcomes. All workshops take place at High 5's Brattleboro campus.
• Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh 5 is an Accredited Vendor Member and has been ACCT-accredited since 2002. Their certification testing program was ACCT-accredited in 2008 based on practitioner certification standards. High 5 supports ACCT's mission and adheres to industry standards.
• Association for Experiential Education (AEE)minorOthersActive member of AEE, supporting the experiential education profession.
• Association for Outdoor Recreation (AORE)minorOthersActive member of AORE, supporting outdoor recreation education and professional development.
• DEI OutdoorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with DEI Outdoors and other expert consultants to inform diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Collaboration on social justice aims within the outdoor and adventure education field.
• The Venture Out ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with LGBTQ+ outdoor organization supporting each other's social justice efforts in the adventure education field.
• Out in the OpenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, collaborating on positive change-making in local community and adventure education profession.

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Project Adventure: Project Adventure is a leading nonprofit experiential education organization that pioneered challenge course programming in schools and communities. It is the most direct peer to High 5, offering similar adventure-based leadership curricula, challenge course training, and ACCT-aligned certification pathways serving K-12, higher ed, and community organizations.
• Adventureworks: Adventureworks (Kentucky) is an experiential education nonprofit operating challenge course programs, ACCT-aligned training, and team-building experiences for schools, businesses, and community groups. It is a direct peer in scale and service portfolio, serving as a useful benchmark for High 5's challenge course design, training, and facilitation economics.

Broad incumbents

• Outward Bound USA: Outward Bound is a large, established nonprofit delivering outdoor adventure education and leadership programs for youth, adults, schools, and corporations. It overlaps with High 5's team development and adventure-based learning offerings, but operates at a much larger scale with wilderness expeditions rather than facility-based challenge courses.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): NOLS is a global nonprofit that provides outdoor leadership education and instructor certifications, with deep overlap in the challenge course, risk management, and experiential educator training categories where High 5 operates. It is a broader, more wilderness-oriented incumbent compared to High 5's challenge course focus.
• TeamBonding: TeamBonding is a larger for-profit corporate team-building and team development provider running in-person events for organizations across the U.S. It competes with High 5's corporate team and leadership development line, but is broader in scope and more event-driven rather than leadership-pedagogy-driven.

Regional players

• Cornell Outdoor Education: Cornell Outdoor Education runs challenge course programs, leadership development, and team building from a New York–based university campus. It is comparable in service mix (challenge course training, team development, leadership curricula) but is tied to a single university context, making it a regional/segment peer rather than a national competitor to High 5.
• Adventure Center for Teens and Adults (ACTA) / Life Adventure Center: Life Adventure Center is a Kentucky-based nonprofit offering challenge course programs, ACCT-aligned training, and team building for schools, businesses, and therapy groups. It mirrors High 5's mix of challenge course services, corporate team development, and K-12 leadership programming, and is a useful regional/peer benchmark.

Emerging players

• Mind Gym: Mind Gym is a corporate training and behavior change consultancy that delivers leadership, communication, and team performance programs to enterprises. It overlaps with High 5's corporate team development and NCD-adjacent offerings, but at much larger scale and with a tech-enabled, content-led delivery model.
• Playmeo (Mark Collard): Playmeo is an online activity database and resource platform for group games, icebreakers, and team-building activities. It is listed as a High 5 reseller, indicating direct overlap in facilitation tooling, but competes indirectly via a digital subscription model rather than facility-based delivery.

Others

• Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT): ACCT is the industry standards body for challenge course design, installation, inspection, and practitioner certification, of which High 5 is an accredited vendor member. It is included as an ecosystem peer because it governs the certification framework that underpins much of High 5's revenue and competitive position.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/high5adventure
• Facebookfacebook.com/high5adventure
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/high-5-adventure-learning-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/high5adventure
• Xx.com/High5Adventure

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about High 5 Adventure Learning