Tag: rooted life adventures

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From Our Founder Program highlights

Rooted Life Adventures wins GoAbroad’s Innovation in Accessibility award!

We are incredibly honored to share that Rooted Life Adventures has been awarded GoAbroad’s Innovation in Accessibility award for 2026! This award recognizes our strategic efforts to expand international educational opportunities to traditionally underrepresented groups. Many of you know that accessibility is something that is deeply engrained into our purpose and business model at Rooted Life Adventures. So, winning this award feels particularly meaningful for our team.

How we make summer & gap year programs more accessible

Rooted Life Adventures expands access to international education by addressing a growing and often overlooked barrier. Many capable students face mental and physical health realities that limit participation. These challenges make traditional travel, gap year, and study abroad programs inaccessible for students who would otherwise thrive.

Anxiety, depression, ADHD, ASD and related challenges continue to rise among adolescents and young adults. Unfortunately, an increasing number of students are quietly excluded from international opportunities as a result. The issue isn’t their interest or ability, programs simply fail to support how these students regulate, learn, and connect. This gap creates an invisible barrier that affects far more students than most people realize. As a result, many lose access to meaningful global experiences they could otherwise succeed in.

Rooted Life Adventures exists to close this gap. Our residential, adventure-based model embeds mental health informed support directly into daily life abroad. Licensed or clinically trained staff live alongside students, providing daily check-ins, emotional coaching, conflict mediation, and consistent structure. Support is proactive and normalized, woven into the program rather than separated into “therapy”. This allows students to fully engage in cultural immersion, service, and adventure.

This same model has also expanded access for students with physical health challenges that typically limit participation in international programs. Because we are a residential program with trained staff on-site, we are able to support students managing health conditions. These include diabetes, epilepsy, recovery from prior surgeries, and other medical or physical considerations. We don’t exclude these students for liability or logistical reasons. Rather, we intentionally design support systems that allow them to participate safely and fully.

Importantly, our goal is not dependence, but skill-building. Our team coaches support students in real time as they build skills in medication management, self‑advocacy, routines, and decision‑making. They learn how to care for themselves while still having the safety net of an adult in the home. This approach supports the development of self-sufficiency during a critical stage of young adulthood, while ensuring safety and inclusion.

The impact is tangible. Students once advised against traveling abroad because of mental or medical needs can now complete meaningful international experiences. They return home with increased confidence, independence, and readiness for college, work, and future travel. Families frequently share that Rooted Life Adventures was the first program where their child could be both safe and fully included.

Accessibility is not only about physical accommodations, it is about removing unseen barriers that prevent participation. Rooted Life Adventures expands access to global education. We reimagine how mental and physical health support can coexist with adventure and cultural immersion. This approach ensures that more students, not just the most resilient, get to experience the world.

Thank you

We are very proud to be the recipients of this esteemed award. With thanks to GoAbroad and award sponsors Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) for the recognition. FEA provides scholarships and ongoing support to students with financial need who face barriers to participation in education abroad. You can find out more about the award and other category winners here.

If you are looking for a gap year or summer program that offers real mental health support without becoming clinical, a Rooted Life Adventures program could be your answer.

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From Our Founder Program highlights

Rooted Life Adventures Wins “Best Integrated Mental Health and Experiential Program”

We are incredibly honored to share that Rooted Life Adventures has been awarded Best Integrated Mental Health and Experiential Program by GHP Global Health & Pharma.

This award recognizes programs that successfully integrate meaningful mental health support into real-world, experiential education environments and we couldn’t be more proud because this is exactly why Rooted Life Adventures was created.

Why This Award Matters

When families begin searching for a gap year program or summer abroad experience for their teen or young adult, they typically find two very different options:

Traditional gap year or summer camp programs with little to no emotional support OR highly clinical programs such as residential treatment or wilderness therapy

For many families, neither option feels quite right. Some students don’t need residential treatment, but they do need more support than a traditional program offers. Rooted Life Adventures was intentionally designed to fill this missing middle ground.

Winning Best Integrated Mental Health and Experiential Program validates the innovative model we have built, one that provides structured, preventative mental health support inside an adventurous, confidence-building international experience.

What “Integrated Mental Health” Means at Rooted Life Adventures

Integrated mental health support does not mean therapy sessions all day.

It means:

  • Live-in therapeutic coaches who travel, cook, and adventure alongside students
  • Real-time coaching during real-life moments
  • Support when students need it and space when they don’t
  • Skill-building in emotional regulation, independence, communication, and resilience
  • Optional telehealth continuity with a student’s therapist at home

Our team lives with students 24/7 during the program. That means support happens naturally while navigating friendships, planning meals, hiking glaciers, surfing waves, or exploring new cities.

Growth doesn’t happen in an office. It happens in real life. And that is what makes our model different.

Adventure, Confidence, and Bragging Rights

One of Rooted Life Adventures’ most powerful aspects is that students leave with pride not stigma. Our programs in New Zealand, Australia, and Costa Rica are filled with bucket-list experiences:

  • Surfing and sea kayaking
  • Exploring waterfalls and jungles
  • Hiking near glaciers and world-famous landscapes
  • Cultural immersion and community service
  • Deep friendships and shared adventure

Students return home with stories they are excited to share. They feel like they did something bold, global, and life changing. That shift from shame to confidence is transformational.

A Gap Year or Summer Program With Mental Health Support Without the Clinical Feel

Many parents searching online type things like:

  • gap year with mental health support
  • therapeutic summer program abroad
  • supported gap year for young adults
  • non-clinical mental health program for teens
  • summer camp for teens struggling with anxiety

If that’s you, you’re not alone. There is a large population of young people who need structured support, but not an intensive therapeutic setting. Rooted Life Adventures was built for exactly that student.

We provide:

  • structure without restriction
  • support without smothering
  • community without pressure
  • growth without stigma

And now, that model has been recognized internationally.

Innovation in Preventative Youth Mental Health

Winning this award is not just a milestone for our team, it reflects a larger shift in youth mental health. Preventative, supportive, real-world mental health models matter. Not every student needs treatment. Many simply need:

  • a reset
  • a confidence rebuild
  • real-world practice in independence
  • healthy friendships
  • supportive adults who believe in them

Rooted Life Adventures is proud to be paving the way for this “middle-ground” approach, and we are deeply grateful to be recognized for it.

To the Families Who Trust Us

To the parents who take a leap of faith and send their child across the world…

Our students who show up nervous but willing…

The therapists and consultants who refer families to us…

This award belongs to you too.

Because what we see every season is growth, courage, resilience, and connection.

And that’s why we do this work.

Looking Ahead

As we continue expanding our programs in New Zealand, Australia, and Costa Rica, our commitment remains the same:

Adventure.
Community.
Support.
Confidence.

All integrated into one life-changing experience. If you are looking for a gap year or summer program that offers real mental health support without becoming clinical, we would love to connect with you.

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Program highlights

One of the Best Gap Year Programs for Young Adults—Especially If Your Kid Isn’t Ready for College

Is Your Young Adult Not Quite Ready for College?

They’re Not Alone—And There’s a Real Solution

If you’re here, chances are your young adult is in a bit of an in-between place.

Maybe they graduated high school and just… stalled. Or they tried college and burned out. Perhaps they’re floating—unmotivated, unsure, or overwhelmed—and you’re watching them slip deeper into their shell. You’ve been patient. You’ve tried encouragement. Maybe even some tough love. And now, you’re looking for something—anything—that might actually help.

You want something that will:

  • Move them forward
  • Build confidence and skills
  • Surround them with positive peers
  • Teach them to live more independently
  • And yeah… give them some joy, too

That’s exactly what Rooted Life Adventures was built for.

Not ready for college?
A Gap Semester Program for the “In Between” Years

We’re not a huge company offering dozens of travel programs in every corner of the world. We offer one program—because we poured everything we believe in into making it right.

Our New Zealand semester is designed specifically for young adults who:

  • Need a break from the pressure cooker of academics
  • Aren’t sure what’s next
  • Are struggling with motivation, confidence, or social connection
  • Might have ADHD, anxiety, or depression—but don’t need a therapeutic program
  • Need some support—but not too much

They’re capable. And smart. They just haven’t found their footing yet. And they need something structured, supportive, and forward-moving—but not rigid or overwhelming.

That’s us.

Consider a New Zealand Gap Year Program before, during or after college
Why Parents Keep Telling Us: “This Was Exactly What They Needed”
24/7 On-the-Ground Support

Our students are supported around the clock by trained staff who genuinely care. We also have a full-time wellness director in-country—someone your child can talk to about the little things and the big stuff.

Therapeutic Coaching (Without the Pressure of Therapy)

Every student has access to coaching. Think: someone who helps with life skills, social dynamics, emotional regulation, and decision-making. It’s a trusted adult in their corner—not a therapist, but a real guide. Someone who can help them in the moment to get through their stuck points.

Life Readiness Is Front and Center

They learn how to cook for themselves. Budget. Plan outings. Manage time. Navigate group living. Communicate better. Take time each week to plan their own futures and tangible next steps. We focus on the stuff school never really teaches—but life always demands.

Adventure That’s Actually Safe and Intentional

New Zealand is the backdrop, and yes—it’s epic. But it’s not a free-for-all. Our group-based program includes glacier hikes, mountain biking, exploring glowworm caves, and cruising through Milford Sound. It’s designed to push comfort zones in healthy ways.

A True Reset

Most students arrive tired—emotionally, mentally, socially. Many leave with a spark in their eyes again. They rediscover joy. Gain momentum. And finally feel proud of themselves. That’s what this is about.

New Zealand Gap Year hiking through National Park
This Isn’t Just “Time Off.”

It’s Time That Moves Them Forward.

Choosing a gap year program isn’t just about giving them something to do. It’s about investing in their growth. That’s why everything we do—every staff member, every activity, every moment—is designed to support real development.

“This program was a gift—not just for our son, but for our whole family. He found his confidence, he made friends, and for the first time in a long time, he felt proud of himself.” – Parent of Spring 2025 Participant

“This was exactly what our daughter needed. We didn’t want a therapeutic program—but she needed support, structure, and guidance. Rooted Life Adventures gave her all of that—and she came home more grounded, more confident, and ready for what’s next.” – Parent of Fall 2024 Participant

The Bottom Line

If your young adult isn’t ready to jump into college—or needs a break from college—they’re not broken. They don’t need fixing. They just need a new path forward.

Rooted Life Adventures is that path.
One unforgettable semester.
One beautiful country.
One tight-knit group of young adults figuring it out together.

Let’s help them reset. Regroup. Rebuild.
And move forward with confidence.

Want to Talk? We’d Love That.
 → Schedule a Call With Our Team
→ Explore the New Zealand Program

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Program highlights

Looking for a Summer That Supports Your Teen’s Mental Health?

Costa Rica Summer Program with mental health support
Know That You’re Not Alone

If you’ve found yourself Googling “summer camp for teen girls with anxiety or depression” or “mental health summer camps for teen girls,” you’re not alone. What’s more, you’ve found yourself in the right place. Many of the parents we work with are looking for a program that strikes the perfect balance: something that supports their daughter’s mental health without being a full-on clinical program. For example, maybe your teen struggles with:

  • Anxiety or depression
  • Low self-esteem or social isolation
  • Technology or phone addiction
  • A recent life disruption — like changing schools, friendship shifts, or a tough year
  • ADHD or executive functioning challenges
  • General mental health imbalance

What you want is a short-term, structured program that’s emotionally safe, uplifting, growth-oriented, and — let’s be honest — actually fun. Understandably, you want her to gain confidence, find community, and come home with more direction and more joy. Welcome to Rooted Life Adventures.

Costa Rica Summer Program, supporting mental health
How We Build Confidence Through Experiential Learning

Our 6-week Costa Rica Summer Program for Teen Girls (Ages 14–17) is designed to create real, lasting growth. Not through lectures or worksheets, but through immersive, hands-on, confidence-building experiences that fosters overall positive mental wellbeing. Therefore every week is built around a purposeful structure:

  • Internship Experience: Students teach English as a Second Language at a local elementary school, play soccer with kids, and receive a certificate of completion — real experience, real impact.
  • Spanish Language Immersion: 30+ hours of casual, conversational Spanish with local staff and during cultural outings — no prior experience required.
  • Life Skills in Action: Shared living means learning to plan meals, cook, clean, grocery shop, budget, and manage roommate dynamics.
  • Volunteer Project: 30 hours of service toward a meaningful legacy project in the local community.

Moreover, we don’t just “talk about” life skills — we live them. Most importantly, our students go home with stories, skills, and self-worth.

Costa Rica Summer Program, ESL supporting mental health
Therapeutic Support That’s Built Into Every Day

This is not a clinical program — and we don’t want it to be. But we do provide robust wellness and coaching support that supports mental health, including:

  • A live-in therapeutic coach onsite 24/7 for in-the-moment guidance and group dynamics
  • A personalized coaching and care plan developed in collaboration with your teen’s at-home therapist
  • Weekly 1:1 coaching sessions for each participant
  • Wellness and psychoeducational workshops throughout the program
  • Optional telehealth sessions with home therapists
  • A weekly parent support call to help you stay involved and supported
  • An end-of-program summary written for each student’s home team
  • We ensure every student feels seen, supported, and celebrated — not pathologized. After all, this is a strengths-based, growth-focused experience.
RLA waterfall climbing! Physical exercise is proven to support positive mental health
Our Model: Take the Tools That Work and Make Them FUN

We’re not here to fix your teen. In fact, we’re here to remind her how powerful, capable, and joyful she can be. Therefore, we take the therapeutic tools that work — routine, connection, reflection, responsibility, structure — and we infuse them with summer camp energy and slumber party vibes. For instance:

  • 🌊 Surf lessons & white-water rafting
  • 🎪 Flying trapeze & jungle hikes with monkeys
  • 💃 Paint fights & dance parties
  • 🍿 Pajama karaoke nights & movie marathons
  • 💅 Spa nights & bracelet making
  • 🌺 Cultural excursions to chocolate, dairy, and coffee farms
  • 🌴 National Park hikes to see sloths, toucans, and monkeys
  • 💦 Glow-in-the-dark pool parties

Lastly, this is a summer camp where mental health support is woven in — not stuck on. SPecifically, where teens grow because they’re having fun, not in spite of it.

Learn more or enroll now at rootedlifeadventures.com or email us directly at info@rootedlifeadventures.com.

Let’s make this the summer your daughter finally feels like herself again — with confidence and community. In particular, with just the right amount of support.

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Program highlights

A Solutions Focused Program for Your Child

As a parent, you’ve likely spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to best support your child. Maybe they have struggled with anxiety, have low motivation or experienced social challenges. Perhaps your child feels stuck, or maybe they have just been through some tough stuff. And, frankly, so have you. You’re looking for a new, solutions focused approach.

Thankfully, we take a solutions focused approach on our Rooted Life Adventures’ New Zealand and Costa Rica programs. We support adolescents and young adults in gaining confidence, independence, and problem-solving skills that they can apply in the real world. Instead of dwelling on what’s wrong or allowing a diagnosis to define them, we focus on what they want in life and how to help them get there. We focus on solutions.

Our programs don’t promise instant transformation, as lasting growth takes time. But in six or ten weeks, your child will gain hands-on experience and learn new tools. Furthermore, they will have a fresh perspective on their own strengths and capabilities.

Keen to hear more? Read on. Here’s how our solutions focused approach helps your child take ownership of their own life. How they will develop real-world skills and build the confidence they need to move forward.

Solutions Focused Program - Costa Rica dinner

What Does “Solutions Focused” Actually Mean?

Many therapeutic models focus on identifying problems—why your child struggles, what’s causing their anxiety, or how their diagnosis explains their behavior. While that can be helpful, it often leaves kids feeling stuck in their challenges rather than learning how to move forward.

A solutions-focused approach flips the script.

Instead of focusing only on what’s working, we ask, “What do you want in life? What do you want to do? How do we get there?” They might not know – yet, but we can support them in discovering these answers.

Instead of letting struggles become excuses, we teach students skills to overcome them. Instead of keeping kids in a cycle of frustration, we give them experiences that build confidence. Your child will learn how to problem-solve, take responsibility, and gain real-world experience figuring things out for themselves. All within a structured, supportive, and fun environment.

Rooted Life Adventures summer camp paint fight - solutions focused fun!

How Rooted Life Adventures Helps Your Child Thrive

Strengths-Based Coaching: Building Confidence Through Action

One of the biggest reasons kids struggle is that they don’t feel capable. They may avoid challenges, give up easily, or believe they just “can’t” do certain things because of anxiety, ADHD, or past failures.

At Rooted Life Adventures, we show them they CAN.

  • Our live-in therapeutic coaches provide 24/7 support. They help students recognize their strengths and use them to solve challenges.
  • We help students take small steps toward success—whether that’s navigating a new country, trying a new adventure, or managing daily tasks like cooking and cleaning.
  • Every success, big or small, is reinforced. Oue experienced team support your child in realizing that they are far more capable than they thought.
  • We shif the focus from what they can’t do to what they can figure out. Our team supports the student in building confidence and resilience that lasts beyond the program.
Learning by Doing: Real-World Experiences, Not Just
Talk

Most kids are tired of being talked at. Whether in therapy, school, or at home. Honestly? They’ve heard all the advice before. The problem? Talking about change isn’t the same as experiencing it. That’s why Rooted Life Adventures is 100% experiential. Instead of just discussing independence, responsibility, and resilience, we put it into action.

We provide:

  • Exciting outdoor adventures like hiking, surfing, and white water rafting. These experiences push students outside their comfort zones. It shows them that they can accomplish hard things.
  • Internships and volunteer work that give them real responsibilities, helping them develop work ethic, accountability, and social skills.
  • Chores: Taking on the responsibility of independent living—cooking, cleaning, meal planning, and managing household tasks
  • Group living which teaches them to manage conflict and take ownership of their space. Together they plan meals, budget, and contribute to their team.

Each of these experiences encourages students to problem-solve in real time. It helps them practice decision-making, adaptability, and follow-through. All whilst being supported by our staff.

The Power of Experience: Changing Beliefs Through Action

Your child’s beliefs about themselves are shaped by their experiences. If they’ve faced too many failures, disappointments, or too much negative reinforcement, they may believe they’re incapable of success.
At Rooted Life Adventures, we flood students with new experiences—ones that help them redefine what they believe about themselves.

  • Students will see firsthand that they are wildly capable.
  • They’ll push past fears and discover that they can do far more than they expected.
  • As a result, they’ll develop confidence through action. Not just encouragement.

By giving them opportunities to succeed in real, tangible ways, we help them build new beliefs. Beliefs that they can take on challenges, solve problems, and navigate life with confidence.

What This Means for You as a Parent

You want to see your child succeed, but you also know they need to learn to do things for themselves. Rooted Life Adventures is designed to bridge that gap. We give them the tools, experiences, and support to gain independence without feeling like they’re being pushed off a cliff.

  • As a parent you’ll get weekly updates and parent coaching. This will empower you to support your child’s progress – without stepping in to fix things for them.
  • Your child will return home more confident, capable, and prepared—because they’ve actually practiced the skills they need, not just talked about them.
  • Instead of another “quick fix,” this program gives students real experiences that create lasting change.
Is Rooted Life Adventures Right for Your Child?

If your child is struggling with motivation, independence, or direction—and you want them to gain real experience moving forward in life—our program could be a great fit.

We take them out of their comfort zone.
Our team support them in identifying what they want in life.
We give them the tools and experiences to start making it happen.


Learn more on our website and see how our solutions focused approach can help your child build confidence, independence, and a stronger sense of purpose.

Empowering Teen Girls Through Adventure

A Transformational Experience in Costa Rica. In today’s fast-paced world, many teen girls struggle with anxiety, depression, and the challenges of growing up in a digital era. In response, we’ve witnessed the uprising of teen treatment programs and wilderness therapy institutes. However, many teen girls may not benefit from such intensive care. Enter Rooted Life Adventures’ Costa Rica Teen Girls Summer Camp.

This 6-week adventure offers a unique opportunity for teen girls to disconnect from screens and build authentic confidence. To foster resilience through nature, friendship, and appropriate challenge. Rooted Life Adventures provides structured therapeutic experiences led by skilled wellness coaches. We help teen girls root into their foundation of identity, belonging, capability, and purpose. All while developing meaningful connections with local communities and learning essential life skills.

Rooted Life Adventures Core Curriculum

The Science Behind Adventure-Based Growth

Our program is grounded in evidence-based research from positive psychology, eco-therapy, and adventure-based coaching. Studies show that time spent in nature reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and improves moods. It also enhances cognitive function (Bratman et al., 2019). Adventure activities such as whitewater rafting, hiking, and surfing cultivate resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. These are critical tools for navigating life’s challenges.

According to research in positive psychology, engaging in activities that promote a “flow state”. This is where a person is fully immersed in an activity, it enhances self-efficacy and emotional regulation (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990). Rooted Life Adventures’ Costa Rica teen girls program seamlessly interweaves these principles by offering a balance of exciting challenges. It also provides restorative mindfulness practices, helping students find joy, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment.

Students in orange raft participating in white water rafting

A Camp Designed for Mental Health Support

This is more than just a summer camp for teen girls. It’s a camp with mental health support that fosters deep personal growth. Through mentorship, peer connections, and therapeutic coaching, teens learn practical strategies for managing anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other emotional challenges. Interactive wellness groups, reflective journaling, daily mindfulness, and in-the-moment skills coaching allow students to explore their emotions. In a safe and encouraging space.


For teens struggling with focus and hyperactivity, our fun camp for teen girls with ADHD integrates movement-based learning. It incorporates sensory-rich experiences, which research suggests can improve attention and executive functioning (Taylor & Kuo, 2009). Activities like yoga, mindful breathing, and outdoor adventure create a holistic approach to mental well-being.

Students participating in a yoga class in Costa Rica villa

Why Costa Rica?

Costa Rica’s lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and vibrant culture provide the perfect setting for self-discovery and healing. Research in eco-therapy suggests that direct interaction with nature improves emotional well-being. It reduces symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression (Jordan & Hinds, 2016). Rooted Life Adventure’s eco-adventure programming leverages this by immersing teens in awe-inspiring natural experiences. Students have the opportunity to engage in volunteering and internship projects with the local communities. Leaving the program with a deeper sense of meaning and interconnection (not to mention clocking thirty volunteer hours!) From exploring waterfalls to practicing a new language, every aspect of the Rooted Life Adventures program is designed to foster confidence. In addition to independence, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Our students gather together next to the Parque Nacional Antonio Park sign.

Join Us for a Life-Changing Adventure

Are you looking for a supportive camp for teen girls experiencing emotional instability, blending adventure, personal growth, and therapeutic coaching? Rooted Life Adventures’ Costa Rica program could be the perfect fit. Through challenge, connection, and the power of nature, teens leave our program with a stronger sense of self and community. As well as the tools they need to thrive in everyday life.

Spots are limited—apply today to give your teen the gift of adventure, growth, and empowerment!

If you’d like to find out more, please schedule a call here. Austin and the team would love to discuss whether a Rooted Life Adventures program could be the right fit for you. Or a teen girl in your life.

Written by Mickey Myers

References:
Bratman, G. N., Anderson, C. B., Berman, M. G., Cochran, B., Vries, S., Flanders, J., … & Gross, J. J. (2019). Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Science Advances, 5(7), eaax0903.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row.
Jordan, M., & Hinds, J. (2016). Ecotherapy: Theory, research, and practice. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Taylor, A. F., & Kuo, F. E. (2009). Children with attention deficits concentrate better after walk in the park. Journal of Attention Disorders, 12(5), 402-409.