Adventure Unlimited History
The name "Adventure Unlimited" was inspired by a line
from Mary Baker Eddy's The First Church of Christ, Scientist,
and Miscellany -- "We live in an age of Love's
divine adventure to be All-in-all," (My. 158:9).
 |
| Marianne and Cap |
The A/U
idea began in the summer of 1955 when John and Marianne
Andrews started Sky Valley Ranch, a summer camp for boys.
In 1959, a camp for girls, Round-Up Ranch, was added.
The Field/Chapter program, providing year-round educational, social, recreational and service activities for Christian Scientists and their friends, began in 1962 and today embraces over 50 communities. This program is now called DiscoveryBound. For a fun and more comprehensive look at A/U's history, order the book, "Opening Windows to God" through our online store, by phone, by regular mail, or come in to our Denver office to get your copy!
We're continuing to collect information about
A/U. If you have interesting stories, background
information, photos or anecdotes you would be willing
to share with us, we will archive them. Let us know!
Adventure Unlimited, Inc. (A/U) was established in 1962 as a nonprofit organization headquartered in Denver. A/U owns and operates the camps in Buena Vista and runs the A/U Field/Chapter programs, re-named
DiscoveryBound.
Timeline
1955 - Sky Valley Ranch for boys founded
1959 - Round-Up Ranch for girls founded
1962 - Adventure Unlimited formed as nonprofit
organization, with a national Board of Trustees
1965 - First local A/U
Chapters were launched; first local A/U
activity, 275 teens attended
1968 - First Chapter chartered outside the United
States in Vancouver, BC, Canada
1971 - First Chapter chartered outside North America
in Durban, South Africa
1974 - Junior High and Grade School activity programs
added to Chapter programs
1975 - Adventure Unlimited Endowment Fund established
 |
| Photos from A/U's Past |
1979 - First International Chapter Worker's Conference
conducted at the A/U ranches;
A/U headquarters building
completed in Greenwood Village, Colorado
1985 - Family and Adult activity program added
to Chapter program
1990 - First Alumni Reunion
1993 - Second Alumni Reunion
1995 - Adventure Unlimited gets Internet access
1997 - New Adventure Unlimited website announced
1999 - Third Staff Reunion
1999 - Five-year Strategic Plan approved by Trustees;
major facilities renovation begins at the Ranches
2000 - First-ever Capital Campaign begins in support
of the Strategic Plan
2001 - Field/Chapter programs made more inclusive and name changed to DiscoveryBound
2001 - New Alumni Bylaws and National Alumni Board
established
2003 - Ranch renovations completed
2004 - DiscoveryBound's National Teen Leadership Conference held at the A/U Ranches "Think Different"
2004 - Ralyne's Rocks climbing tower installed
2005 - National Leadership Council launched with 17 participants
2005 - 50th Anniversary Celebration "Rediscovery the Adventure" attracts 450 alumni!
|
