Unity in a Shared Purpose

By Lane Brown, Chair, National Alumni Board

Divine Love is what binds us together and drives our actions in embracing the alumni of Adventure Unlimited. The board of the Adventure Unlimited National Alumni Association (informally known as the NAB) was reminded of this truth at its annual retreat held at the A/U Ranches October 14-16. 

Members of the 2022-2023 National Alumni Board met in October for planning that will help connect alumni in the coming year. Pictured, left to right (back row) Virginia Pendleton, Sarah Andrews, Lane Brown, Buff Colarossi, Jennifer Franklin; (front row) Brian Simpson, Howie Bay, Lisle Stigler, Lyssa Winslow, Glenn Grow, Doug Moser. Not pictured: Jennifer Dale, Skip Franklin, Nate Haase, David Kurtz, Lindsay Richards, Heather Shotwell, Vangie Swan, Bill Webster, Holly Valentine.

This unifying Love operates beyond limitations and personal sense. It helps each of us cherish the moral and spiritual lessons of Christian Science and see their impact on the staff, program participants and alumni of the organization.

We are grateful for the alumni who have come to us with their ideas and constructive critiques for ways to continually build our programs and bolster the organization’s foundation. They have shared feedback with a sense of shepherding that a parent would hold for one of their own children.

It is clear that alumni want to see Adventure Unlimited thrive, and to bless the thousands of individuals it serves each year. They want to continue witnessing its purpose, “To provide recreational adventure, leadership, service, education and community activities that foster spiritual growth and healing in an environment where Christian Science is lived.” It is an honor as a board to witness firsthand the passion of our alumni.

What’s ahead

As we do each year, the NAB re-established its focus and built out plans for a year ahead of engaging with alumni in a way that keeps them informed of and inspired by Adventure Unlimited’s progress. Our work in the coming year will include a number of activities, including staying up-to-date on programs to share with branch churches, extending thank you messages to program participants, creating alumni bonds with specific alumni populations and producing more episodes of the alumni podcast, A Thousand Windows. 

The NAB welcomed four new members to its ranks: Howie Bay, Lindsay Richards, Brian Simpson and Lyssa Winslow. Their experiences cover programs spanning a number decades, from the earlier years of camp at the A/U Ranches to taking part in the DiscoveryBound National Leadership Council.

We also celebrated and extended heartfelt thanks to members who rotated off the board this year: Joy Anderson, Skyler Grossman, Rodger Sheehan and Mark Strickland. Each has lent their valuable perspectives and feedback to the organization, embraced alumni in individual ways, and served as ambassadors of the organization. 

The alumni association includes all individuals 18+ years of age who have been (or are currently) staff, participants or volunteers of Adventure Unlimited and its programs. Whether it is a daylong DiscoveryBound Outreach event in your area or an entire summer spent at the A/U Ranches, you are one of us. Find our community online through our Facebook group or Instagram.

Do you want to get involved with other alumni? Volunteer (and participate in the festivities!) at Christmas Camp, join a DiscoveryBound Outreach event, or encourage your alumni friends to help meet our annual goals on #GivingTuesday (and you could win a vintage A/U logo Marmot jacket!).