THE BRECKENRIDGE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER
For anyone who has hiked up the hill behind the Grand Timber Lodge to the path that loops around the Sawmill Reservoir, you have happened upon a Rocky Mountain beauty that exists on a 39-acre parcel of land which boasts magnificent mountain views, rugged trails, abundant fishing and, more importantly, the home of the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center’s (BOEC) Wilderness Program headquarters, the Griffith Lodge. You are invited to witness the magic that BOEC has to offer, knowing that BGV Gives invests in ongoing support of BOEC’s mission and vision to expand the potential of all people, especially those with special needs and disabilities, through meaningful, educational and inspiring outdoor experiences.
Whether it is the activities on the grounds and water surrounding the Griffith Lodge and Sawmill Reservoir in the summer or an adaptive ski experience on the slopes of Breckenridge Ski Resort in the winter, BOEC has been known to be a healing environment for tens of thousands of participants since 1976. This is also evident in the 45-year history of the organization, its founders, partners, staff and volunteers, and the wide range of customizable program offerings which makes BOEC so special.
In the early 1970s, BOEC only existed in the spirit and mind of a former Outward Bound Instructor, and long-time Breckenridge resident, Gene Dayton, who was leading cross country ski trips for people with disabilities in Summit County at the time. BOEC officially started with Dayton’s vision and the perseverance of people such as Olav Pedersen – a prominent figure in introducing Nordic blind skiing in the United States with “Ski for Light” – and a few other instrumental figures including Dr. Aris Sophocles. This vision and action eventually led to Articles of Incorporation and bylaws written in 1976 and the BOEC became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Today, the BOEC provides experiences for those who are routinely excluded from outdoor activity due to a disability or special need, serving more than 3,000 individuals annually, including a large and growing number of veterans and their family members through the BOEC Heroic Military Program. A program of this magnitude annually schedules 10,000 programming days providing over $250,000 in scholarship support for those in need.
WHAT DOES THE BOEC DO?
You can still find the hard working and fun-loving culture that the early creators envisioned for the BOEC today, however the nonprofit has grown exponentially while staying true to its core values. Not only has it expanded to include more individuals with a wider range of special needs, but programs are now offered year-round and include open enrollment courses for individuals and custom designed outdoor courses for groups, agencies and organizations. The increased selection of accessible activities has also grown. In addition to the Nordic/Alpine skiing and “wilderness” activities, programs now include access to snowshoeing and snowboarding during the winter months and paddle boarding, hiking, cycling, high and low ropes courses and team initiatives during the summer months. Truly, everything imaginable is possible and within BOEC’s talented and passionate program staff’s realm. They should know. Some of them have been around for as long as 25 years!
Today, the BOEC offers a robust Adaptive Ski & Snowboard Program based out of Breckenridge and Keystone Resorts, a Wilderness Program that operates year-round, a fully-immersive Internship Program and an amazing Volunteer Program which counts more than 400 volunteers in their support network. Additionally, BOEC’s Heroic Military Program spans across all programs that the BOEC offers, with the unique goal of bringing families together to help America’s veterans with their recovery and healing process.
To learn more about the unique attributes of each of BOEC’s program offerings, please visit their website at https://boec.org/.
HOW DOES THE BOEC DO IT?
As a nonprofit organization, BOEC relies on a dedicated community of donors, partners, supporters and fundraising events to provide these memorable experiences to more than 3,000 participants every year.
BOEC has a range of corporate partners and supporters, including BGV Gives, that has provided support for BOEC’s mission for 16 years. Not only does BGV Gives sponsor two of the BOEC’s annual fundraising events, they provide the team with extra volunteers for these events and help support new and innovative gatherings that arise. And to complete the circle, Breckenridge Grand Vacations’ CEO Mike Dudick is a valuable member of BOEC’s Board of Trustees and currently sits on the Board’s Development Committee. BGV and BGV Gives are honored to support the important programs of the BOEC.
If you cannot make it for a hike around the Sawmill Reservoir to view BOEC’s rock climbing wall, the largest adaptive high ropes course in the country and its historical buildings that line the property, you can participate in one or all of their fundraising events. Approximately 11% of BOEC’s funding comes from three special events, including the Banff Mountain Film Festival, Cinco de Mayo Celebration and Tee It Up Golf Scramble. Check out how you can participate and support the BOEC today!
The BOEC founders had a unique idea that formulated 45 years ago and has continued to stay true to this day. So much so that two of the co-founders, Dayton and Sophocles, still sit on the Board of Trustees and are very active in the BOEC community. Further, four of the 13 core full-time staff members have been working with the organization for over 15 years and BOEC has the highest seasonal staff retention rate in the industry. Additionally, many of the BOEC’s partner agencies have been returning to the organization for more than 20 years. And finally, participants come to the BOEC from all over the world year after year after year.
What an amazing and transformative 45 years it has been. Here’s to 45 more!
