Refugee Education & Adventure Challenge

What Refugee Education & Adventure Challenge does

Refugee Education & Adventure Challenge (REACH) is a Chicago-based 501c3 nonprofit organization that delivers experiential learning programs to refugee youth and their families. Founded in 2016 by Shana Wills, REACH operates four integrated core programs — Adventure Camps, Leadership Training, Family-Focused Ecotherapy, and Service & Stewardship — supplemented by a Peer Mentors program. In its most recent reporting period, REACH engaged 1,302 youth and family members from 40 countries, with self-reported participant outcomes of 89% caring more about nature, 85% feeling better about their futures, and 82% improving at making new friends.

The organization's "technology" is fundamentally human and place-based: outdoor adventure activities, nature-based therapeutic experiences, mentorship pairings, and community service engagements, all delivered in person in the Chicago metropolitan area. REACH has no disclosed software platform, no proprietary technical systems, and no digital products. The operating model relies on a small core staff supplemented by board members, volunteers, docents, peer mentors, and partner organizations.

REACH is funded through donations and charitable contributions from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundations, with modest program-related fees. The organization does not disclose financial figures, has no venture capital or institutional investor backing, and operates as an independent founder-led nonprofit. Its go-to-market is community-led: outreach to refugee families through Chicago-based community networks, donor engagement via social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), email newsletters, and earned media (notably a CBS Mornings with Gayle King feature in 2024 and UNHCR public recognition).

Name

Refugee Education & Adventure Challenge

Legal name

Refugee Education & Adventure Challenge

Website

https://reachinchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

REACH is a Chicago-based 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2016 that delivers experiential learning programs — including adventure camps, leadership training, family ecotherapy, and service projects — to refugee youth and their families in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Youth Education Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH), Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

Keywords

• Experiential learning programs
• Outdoor adventure camps
• Refugee youth services
• Ecotherapy programs
• Leadership training

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and charitable foundations
2. Volunteer and Program Participation: Revenue generated through program fees, camp registrations, and volunteer engagement activities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

REACH is a Chicago-based 501c3 nonprofit that delivers experiential learning programs for refugee youth and their families. Its core offerings are four integrated programs: Adventure Camps (outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, and nature exploration), Leadership Training (mentorship and peer support), Family-Focused Ecotherapy (nature-based family therapeutic activities), and Service & Stewardship (community service and environmental stewardship). Programs are offered at no or low cost to participants and are funded through donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

REACH operates as a single integrated program portfolio of experiential learning services for refugee youth and families, comprising four interconnected core programs: Adventure Camps (outdoor adventure activities), Leadership Training (skill development), Family-Focused Ecotherapy (nature-based family healing), and Service & Stewardship (community engagement). The programs work together to achieve impact outcomes, with 89% of participants reporting greater care for nature, 85% feeling better about their futures, and 82% improving their ability to make friends. The organization engaged 1,302 youth and family members from 40 countries in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adventure Camps Outdoor and adventure-based experiential learning program for refugee youth featuring activities such as hiking, climbing, and nature exploration to build confidence, physical skills, and connection to the natural world. Designed for refugee youth and their families in the Chicago area.
• Leadership Training Program designed to develop leadership skills among refugee youth through mentorship, peer support, and experiential activities that build practical leadership capabilities. Targets refugee youth participants in Chicago.
• Family-Focused Ecotherapy Therapeutic outdoor activities that engage entire refugee families in nature-based experiences to promote healing, family bonding, and environmental connection. Designed for refugee families in the Chicago area.
• Service & Stewardship Community service and environmental stewardship program that connects refugee youth with opportunities to contribute positively to their communities and to environmental causes. Targets refugee youth participants in Chicago.
• Peer Mentors Program Mentorship program where trained peer mentors guide younger participants through REACH programs, fostering leadership development and mutual support among refugee youth. Designed for refugee youth participants in the Chicago area.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of participants reported caring more about nature
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNHCR has recognized REACH's programs as essential for helping refugees find belonging and build connections. The UNHCR statement featured on REACH's website validates the organization's approach to refugee integration through experiential learning.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• World Relief: National refugee resettlement nonprofit with offices across the US. Comparable mission to REACH with multi-city reach and broader case-management services; REACH differentiates on experiential/adventure programming.
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): National nonprofit providing legal services and integration support to unaccompanied refugee and immigrant children. Comparable beneficiary population (refugee children in the US) but focused on legal representation rather than experiential programming.
• Catholic Charities USA: Network of diocesan agencies providing refugee resettlement and integration services nationwide. A broad incumbent that overlaps with REACH on beneficiary population and integration programming but at much larger scale.
• HIAS: International Jewish refugee resettlement and advocacy organization with US programming for newly arrived refugees. Comparable on mission and beneficiary population; broader geographic and programmatic scope.
• Heartland Alliance: Large Chicago-headquartered anti-poverty and human rights organization with extensive refugee and immigrant services. Operates a much broader portfolio but overlaps with REACH on refugee integration support in the same metro.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): One of the largest US refugee resettlement agencies, operating in multiple cities with resettlement, employment, and youth programming. Compares to REACH on refugee beneficiary focus but with vastly greater scale and a multi-site footprint.

Emerging players

• Big City Mountaineers: Nonprofit combining outdoor adventure experiences with mentoring for underserved youth. Comparable outdoor-adventure-plus-youth-development model to REACH but with a broader (not refugee-specific) beneficiary population.

Direct peers

• RefugeeOne: Chicago-based refugee resettlement and integration nonprofit. RefugeeOne is the most direct geographic and mission peer to REACH, serving newly arrived refugees with case management, employment, and youth services across the same metro area.
• Re:power (formerly GirlForward): Chicago-based nonprofit mentoring refugee and immigrant girls and gender-expansive youth through year-round programming. Directly comparable beneficiary population (refugee youth in Chicago) and similar mentorship-driven model.

Regional players

• Nationalities Service Center: Philadelphia-based refugee and immigrant services nonprofit providing resettlement, legal aid, and integration support. Comparable mission and youth services model but operating in a different US metro.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfRRDi3qF6OfdZMTTJPpNnA
• Facebookfacebook.com/reach.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/refugee_ed_adventure_challenge
• Xx.com/RefugeeReach
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refugee-education-and-adventure-challenge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Refugee Education & Adventure Challenge