Asheville TAASC

What Asheville TAASC does

Asheville TAASC (The American Adventure Service Corps) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor leadership education organization serving youth ages 6 to 18 in Western North Carolina. Founded in 1996 in Morganton, NC by Mike Fischesser, it established its primary operating base in Asheville in 2006 and has since added a second site in Brevard, NC. Programming is delivered through age-segmented cohorts — a co-ed track plus a girls-only track (launched 2016) and a boys-only track — combining weekly skills meetings, monthly weekend wilderness trips, and multi-day summer expeditions to destinations such as the Sierra Mountains. All field instructors are required to have prior Outward Bound or equivalent wilderness leadership experience.

The business model is a hybrid of tuition and donations. Core revenue comes from a quarterly subscription of $295 per student for weekly meetings, supplemented by pay-as-you-go trip fees of $97 for day trips and $187 for weekend trips, plus fees for summer expeditions. The organization also runs adult-facing Wilderness First Aid certification courses and conducts community service projects with named partners including Manna FoodBank, RiverLink, Asheville GreenWorks, Brother Wolf, and Biltmore. Tax-deductible donations fund scholarships and subsidize program access. Operational footprint remains regional, with no disclosed national or international distribution, and headcount is reported in the 11–50 employee range.

Name

Asheville TAASC

Legal name

The American Adventure Service Corps

Website

https://ashevilletaasc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Asheville TAASC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers outdoor leadership and wilderness education programs to youth ages 6–18 in Western North Carolina, operating age-segmented cohorts, weekend trips, and summer expeditions from sites in Asheville and Brevard.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Outdoor Adventure Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Educational Support Services (611710), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instructor-Led Skills Academies (Climbing, Paddling, Mountaineering Schools) (THAAAOAI), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK), Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB)

Keywords

• Outdoor adventure education
• Youth leadership programs
• Wilderness education
• Adventure-based learning
• Experiential youth development

Headquarters

HQ city

Asheville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Quarterly Tuition: Quarterly tuition of $295 per student covers all weekly skills meetings and is due at the start of each quarter. Operating on a quarterly system with Fall (Sept 1-Nov 30), Winter (Dec 1-Feb 28), Spring (March 1-May 31), and Summer quarters.
2. Day Trips: Day trip fees of $97 per student for single-day adventure activities.
3. Weekend Trips: Weekend trip fees of $187 per student for full weekend wilderness adventures.
4. Donations and Scholarships: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, TAASC accepts tax-deductible donations to fund scholarships for students who cannot afford participation, equipment, and administrative costs.
5. Summer Expeditions: Summer quarter offers multi-day wilderness expeditions (5-10 days) with different tuition rates than regular quarters to cover extended programming costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Asheville TAASC (The American Adventure Service Corps) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a year-round outdoor leadership and adventure education program for youth ages 6-18. The offering combines weekly skills meetings at partner school venues with monthly weekend wilderness trips and multi-day summer expeditions, with separate co-ed, girls-only, and boys-specific tracks organized into age-differentiated groups. Activities include climbing, paddling, backpacking, caving, mountain biking, navigation, and service projects.

Product overview

Asheville TAASC (The American Adventure Service Corps) is a nonprofit outdoor leadership program that operates as a single unified offering with specialized program tracks. The core TAASC Program serves youth ages 6-18 through gender-specific tracks (Girls TAASC and Boys TAASC), each with age-differentiated groups. These groups participate in weekly skills meetings, monthly weekend adventure trips, and longer summer expeditions. The program portfolio includes co-ed and girls-only leadership tracks with groups ranging from Saplings/Foxes (ages 6-11) through Aspens/Dogwoods (ages 14-18), all focused on developing leadership, outdoor skills, and personal responsibility through wilderness activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Girls TAASC: Girls-only outdoor leadership program with age-specific groups including Saplings (ages 6-7), Oaks (ages 8-10), Redwoods (ages 11-14), and Aspens (ages 14-18). Focuses on building leadership skills in a safe, all-female environment.

Products and services

• TAASC Program (Co-ed Youth Outdoor Leadership) A year-round outdoor leadership program for youth ages 6-18 combining weekly skills meetings with monthly weekend adventure trips to develop leadership, self-confidence, and outdoor competencies through climbing, paddling, backpacking, caving, mountain biking, and service projects. Activities include single-day adventures ($97) and weekend wilderness trips ($187).
• Girls TAASC A girls-only outdoor leadership program with age-specific groups (Saplings, Oaks, Redwoods, Aspens) that provides a safe all-female environment to develop leadership, outdoor skills, and personal growth through adventure activities, cross-age mentorship, and exploration of authentic female leadership styles.
• Boys TAASC

Quantifiable outcome

• Increased student confidence and leadership qualities observed by parents within first year of participation.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Evergreen Community Charter SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner school providing meeting venues for weekly TAASC group meetings. TAASC Adventure Coordinator position located at this school. Group meetings held at Haw Creek campus.
• Carolina Day SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial founding partner school that enabled TAASC programming to begin in 2006 alongside Evergreen Community Charter School.
• YMCAminorOthersCommunity organization TAASC has partnered with for service projects and community programs.
• RiverLinkminorOthersRiver conservation organization TAASC has collaborated with for environmental service projects.
• Manna Food BankminorOthersFood bank TAASC students have participated in service projects with to develop service ethic.
• U.S. Forest ServiceminorOthersFederal agency managing national forests where TAASC conducts wilderness expeditions and backpacking trips in Pisgah National Forest.
• N.C. State ParksminorOthersState agency managing parks including Devils Fork State Park where TAASC conducts Lake Jocassee expeditions.
• Diamond Brand OutfittersminorOthersOutdoor gear retailer recommended for clothing and equipment purchases. TAASC clothing guide references their products.
• REIminorOthersOutdoor equipment retailer recommended for gear purchases including raincoats, hiking boots, headlamps, and water bottles.
• Appalachian Trail ConservancyminorOthersOrganization working to protect the Appalachian Trail. TAASC groups encounter thru-hikers on Grayson Highlands expeditions near the AT.
• Care Partners Inc.minorOthersHealthcare organization TAASC students have participated in service projects with, including deep-cleaning and recreational activities with elderly residents.
• Brother Wolf - Canine RescueminorOthersAnimal rescue organization TAASC has partnered with for community service projects.
• Mountain BizWorksminorOthersLocal business development organization TAASC has collaborated with for community initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• REI Co-op Experiences: REI's outdoor education and adventure programming arm offers multi-day courses in climbing, paddling, and backpacking. Comparable in outdoor skill instruction but more adult-focused and for-profit.
• NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School): Premier U.S. wilderness education provider offering multi-week courses in leadership and outdoor skills. While more adult-focused, NOLS is a relevant peer given overlapping pedagogy and instructor network.
• Outward Bound USA: The national federation of Outward Bound schools. Many TAASC instructors come from this network, and Outward Bound is the closest large-scale analog in experiential outdoor education for youth and adults.
• Appalachian Mountain Club: A long-established outdoor recreation and education organization serving the Appalachian region. Comparable as a regional outdoor education provider with youth programming and wilderness skill-building offerings.

Regional players

• Camp Grier: Western NC-based camp where TAASC instructor Val Carney has worked since 2014. Comparable in geography, outdoor adventure curriculum, and youth audience.

Direct peers

• North Carolina Outward Bound School: The regional Outward Bound school where TAASC's founders (Gillett, Hockman, Rhodus, Ward) trained and worked. Offers multi-day and semester-length wilderness expeditions for youth and adults; highly comparable in pedagogy, activity mix, and target audience.
• Camp Woodson: A therapeutic wilderness program for girls in NC where TAASC instructor Val Carney previously worked. Directly comparable as a residential outdoor education program serving youth with leadership and personal development goals.

Others

• Evergreen Community Charter School: A key TAASC partner school in Asheville that provides venue space and integrated programming. While not a direct competitor, it represents the school-based outdoor education ecosystem TAASC operates within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ashevilletaasc
• Facebookfacebook.com/ashevilletaasc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asheville-taasc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Asheville TAASC