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 

JUMP TO: MISSION | PRE-CONFERENCE | WEBINAR SERIES | BEST PRACTICES | CERTIFICATIONS | COUNCIL | AWARDS

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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.

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. 

   Meet The Leadership Council!

The Leadership Council structure affords the most representation of membership possible, supporting the community and mission and purpose of TAPG. The Council coordinates activities and provides direction for the professional group. Leadership Council members serve for a term of 3 years.

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.

2024 Heart of Adventure Therapy Award Winner: Anita R. Tucker, LICSW, PhD, CCAT

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.  

This year’s recipient has been described by her peers and mentors as “one of the most important researchers…”, having an “amazing way of connecting with the field and connecting others within the field…”, “one of the most well-rounded practitioners… as a researcher… professor… teacher…”, having a “passion for student engagement…”, and “an exceptional teacher, facilitator, and mentor.”  She has contributed to countless research articles and several books.  Her work has been cited over 1500 times! Please join us in celebrating the passionate, prolific Dr. Anita R. Tucker as this year’s 2024 Heart of Adventure Therapy Award winner!

Anita R. Tucker, LICSW, PhD, CCAT is a Professor of Social Work at the University of New Hampshire(UNH) where she coordinates UNH's dual master's degree in social work and recreation management preparing clinical social workers for careers in adventure therapy. Dr. Tucker's passion is in helping to bring to life the impact of the work done by the amazing practitioners in the field, while also challenging us to remain critical of our work in an effort to promote best practices, trauma responsive interventions and anti-oppressive practices. 

Collaboration is a guiding tenet of her work, knowing that power is better shared, and the products of collaboration are always stronger. She is a co-author of the textbook, Adventure Group Psychotherapy: An Experiential Guide to Practice, with their second book, Individual Adventure Psychotherapy to be published in 2025. She has over 50 peer reviewed publications and has presented for AEE at conferences since the late 1990s. For 10 years she was the Associate Director of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center whose efforts moved the field of adventure and wilderness therapy forward through research. She is excited to step into her new role as the Co-Coordinator with Dr. Christine Lynn Norton of the Outdoor Research Collaborative for Health, Wellbeing and Experiential Engagement with an increased focus on broadening the scope of their work including increasing interdisciplinary collaborations in health and nature and increasing accessibility to the outdoors for all. 

As a clinical social worker, it is her joy to have taught and mentored over 50 dual degree students and see them develop into amazing changemakers around the globe spreading the power of adventure therapy. She loves this work and is so grateful to be surrounded by the passionate, driven and caring professionals of AEE and TAPG. 

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.