There are countless organizations that believe in the power of the outdoors.

Rocky Mountain Ascent believes everyone deserves the opportunity to experience it.

Based in Colorado, Rocky Mountain Ascent (RMA) is a nonprofit dedicated to providing free nature-based experiences for youth, families, and young adults facing some of life’s greatest challenges. Their programs serve children in foster care, youth living in group homes, families experiencing homelessness, survivors of abuse, and young adults in crisis, removing the barriers that often prevent people from accessing the healing power of the outdoors.

For many of the people RMA serves, spending a weekend in the mountains isn’t something they’ve ever had the opportunity to do. Transportation, outdoor gear, meals, and program costs can all stand in the way. Rocky Mountain Ascent removes those barriers by providing experiences at no cost to participants, making nature more accessible to those who need it most.

But RMA’s work is about much more than getting outside.

Every retreat and day trip is intentionally designed to build confidence, strengthen relationships, encourage personal growth, and create meaningful connections through adventure. Guests may spend the weekend hiking, kayaking, navigating a ropes course, practicing wellness activities, or simply enjoying time in nature alongside caring mentors and volunteers.

Their philosophy is simple:

Connection is the foundation of healing.

Connection to the Earth.

Connection to other people.

Connection to yourself.

It’s a mission that recognizes the outdoors as more than a place to recreate, it’s a place where people can rediscover confidence, belonging, and hope.

Rocky Mountain Ascent’s roots trace back to the Knights of Heroes Foundation, an organization founded in 2007 to support Gold Star children through outdoor mentorship. As community needs evolved, the organization expanded its focus and officially became Rocky Mountain Ascent in 2022, carrying forward the same belief that adventure can be a powerful catalyst for growth and healing.

Why This Matters to Us

When we began planning the Rest & Play Retreat, we knew we wanted it to be about more than spending a weekend in the mountains.

We wanted to create an experience where people could reconnect with nature, challenge themselves through adventure, slow down, build meaningful relationships, and leave feeling refreshed. Those same values are at the heart of Rocky Mountain Ascent’s mission, which is why partnering with them felt like such a natural fit.

This October, retreat guests will spend three days immersed in the Colorado mountains with opportunities to hike, mountain bike, challenge themselves on the ropes course, practice mindfulness, enjoy chef-prepared meals, and connect with a community of people who simply want to step away from the demands of everyday life. Throughout the weekend, there is space to adventure, space to rest, and space to simply be present.

What makes the weekend even more meaningful is knowing that your participation helps create opportunities for someone else.

A portion of every Rest & Play Retreat ticket sold is donated directly to Rocky Mountain Ascent, helping them continue their mission of providing free, nature-based experiences for Colorado youth, families, and young adults facing adversity. Every ticket purchased helps remove barriers by supporting transportation, meals, outdoor gear, and transformative experiences for people who might not otherwise have access to the outdoors.

When you join us this October, you’re investing in your own well-being while helping someone else experience the confidence, connection, and healing that nature can provide.

If you’d like to learn more about the Rest & Play Retreat, meet the hosts, explore the accommodations, or reserve your spot, we invite you to click here. Together, we can create a weekend that not only changes our own perspective, but also helps make the outdoors more accessible to those who need it most.