AEE Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group (TAPG)

JUMP TO: MISSION | WEBINAR SERIES | ROOTS & WINGS | BEST PRACTICES | CERTIFICATIONS | AWARDS

TAPG Mission

The mission of the Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group is to engage practitioners in the development and promotion of adventure as a therapeutic approach.

TAPG Statement of Purpose

Therapeutic Adventure is the professional group for those AEE members who work within the fields of health, mental health, corrections, education, and other human service fields. Our primary purpose is to facilitate networking for professionals within our various fields and share information, techniques, and concerns regarding the therapeutic use of adventure. We define therapeutic as moving toward healthy change with intentional interventions. We represent the interests of this community to the Board and larger professional communities through workshops, conference and pre-conference activities, and best practices development.

Find us on Facebook

This website is an evolving statement by AEE's Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group (TAPG) aimed at describing our professional group. It is an effort to bring about an open forum for discussion and learning that is representative of this field of practice. We invite a broad range of readers including practitioners, insurance companies, government monitors, other professional organizations, students, teachers, consumers, and the general public. We do not assume that our thoughts are inclusive of every application of adventure therapy across the world or even within the United States. 

Have Questions? Want more information? Email us at tapg@aee.org 

TAPG 2026 Pre-Conference 

November 10-11, 2026 | Estes Park, CO

Interweaving Paths: Elevating Adventure Practices through Diverse Trailheads.

SEE DETAILS & REGISTER HERE

Please feel free to reach out with any questions to the conference convener, Tuesdey Spangler, directly at TAPG@aee.org .

Adventure Therapy has the unique capacity to interweave paths—bringing together practitioners from varied disciplines, identities, cultures, and lived experiences to collectively elevate our work in the outdoors. The theme Interweaving Paths: Elevating Adventure Practices through Diverse Trailheads invites us to honor the many journeys that have led each of us to this field—whether through clinical practice, outdoor leadership, education, community organizing, research, or personal transformation. This gathering is designed for professionals across roles and backgrounds who recognize that our strength lies not in a single approach, but in the richness of our shared and differing perspectives. Through collaborative dialogue, experiential learning, and intentional connection, we will explore how honoring diverse trailheads strengthens ethical practice, deepens cultural humility, and expands access to meaningful adventure experiences. Whether you arrived here through mountains, rivers, classrooms, or counseling rooms, join us as we braid our distinct pathways into a stronger, more inclusive future for Adventure Therapy.  

Roots & Wings Fund

The Roots & Wings Fund was established following a donation of $14,000 from the Lamborghini Car Club of America. The LC (TAPG Leadership Council) has determined to honor the intention of the donation by helping to prepare more practitioners to provide what the organizer of the club found to be life-saving adventure therapy during their childhood.

The Roots & Wings Fund is specifically aimed toward preparing more practitioners to provide adventure therapy services through training, certification, resources and/or supplies aimed at advancing the use of the adventure therapy method of practice. These funds will be used to build strong roots in the practice method, as well as useful wings that will allow practitioners to soar in the practice of well-grounded adventure therapy.

Apply here

Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group (TAPG) Webinar Series

About the Series: The Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group developed the annual webinar series to provide more opportunities for individuals interested in receiving additional training and education specific to working in adventure therapy and therapeutic adventure settings in a more accessible format. Each of these webinars offer two hours of training in the various core competencies required for certification as a Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist or a Certified Therapeutic Adventure Specialist. About the AEE Certification Program

Adventure Therapy Best Practices

AEE's Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group(TAPG) has been engaged in efforts to produce a statement of best practice for adventure therapy (AT) since 2001, with writing beginning in 2007. TAPG has coordinated Adventure Therapy Best Practices conferences that have, and continue, to serve as catalysts for this effort. The intent of this effort is to identify, establish, and promote appropriate AT practices. The following is to be considered a working document in its attempt to provide preferred programming standards for the administration of adventure and wilderness therapy programs. This statement will reside on the TAPG website and be updated as the field grows in knowledge and understanding. Please click here to access the best practices document

Get Certified! 

As the field of Adventure Therapy progresses forward, evolves and gains popularity, professionals from the wide variety of Adventure Therapy settings have come together to express an interest and a need for greater professionalism in Adventure Therapy. After the tremendous efforts of those involved in creating the Adventure Therapy Best Practices, and the advent of specific certification standards that meet the needs of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council programs, a growing need for an adventure therapy certification became more and more apparent. Learn more about the AEE Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist (CCAT) & Certified Therapeutic Adventure Specialist Certifications here. 

TAPG Awards: Mark Ames Scholarship & Heart of Adventure Therapy

Heart of Adventure Therapy Award
The Heart of Adventure Therapy Award is given yearly to either an organization or an individual who embodies the heart of adventure therapy! The purpose of the award is to honor an individual, organization or program that provides exemplary adventure therapy services. This individual or organization should exhibit the mission and vision of the Association for Experiential Education, and should also employ TAPG’s Best Practices. TAPG members will nominate agencies they feel are deserving of the award and TAPG Leadership Council members will vote on this award. Nominations will be solicited in January each year from the Leadership Council.

2025 Heart of Adventure Therapy Award Winner: Terry Williams

The TAPG Heart of Adventure Therapy Award (HOAT) was created in 2014 to honor and celebrate individuals and organizations that provide exemplary adventure therapy services.  The winner of the HOAT award exhibits the mission and vision of the Association for Experiential Education, exercises TAPG’s best practices, and represents the heart and soul of our work.  

Previous Heart of Adventure Therapy Award Winners

2014 Red Top Meadows 

Mark Ames Scholarship 

Mark Ames was a model leader and community member to the Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group (TAPG) of AEE. He contributed much in his time with us, bringing the true heart of Adventure Therapy work to our personal and professional development efforts. TAPG awards the Mark Ames Memorial Scholarship to provide an opportunity to attend TAPG's Pre-Conference workshop to an individual who otherwise could not afford to attend. 

AEE Awards

Many folx in TAPG have been presented with national AEE awards. Please take a look at the list, and if you do not see someone's name there that should be, consider nominating someone for this year.