Verdun Adventure Bound

VISION

To strengthen the community in which we exist by empowering individuals, communities, and organizations to discover their unrealized potential and fostering impactful collaboration 

MISSION

To realize our vision, Verdun utilizes a multi-faceted challenge course, community partnerships, and natural resources in our area to provide custom experiences that connect people to each other and their community. Verdun promotes individual and collective growth through programs designed to meet the specific needs of our clients and our community as a whole.

History

Founded in 1999 by Dr. David Snyder, for 25 years Verdun Adventure Bound has provided customized programming designed to meet the needs of our clients and the needs of our community. Verdun serves anyone in need; however, our primary audience consists of Culpeper, Fauquier, and Rappahannock County residents. Awarded the 2019 Non-Profit of the Year by the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce, we strongly believe that we have maintained a potent positive impact for both youth and adults in the area. 

Verdun operates on a 67-acre facility in Rixeyville, VA and specializes in teambuilding and leadership development programs engaging participants with our impressive challenge course and zip lines. 

In addition to these programs Verdun hosts events, offers camping, presents live performances, guides off campus excursions on the Rappahannock River and in Shenandoah National Park, and so much more.

Current Notable Verdun Programs

Project SOAR (Success in Overcoming Adversity in Recovery) is a free program designed to provide adults in recovery the support they need to not only remain sober but to grow mentally, emotionally, and physically in their recovery. This is a transition program tailored to fill the gap for individuals who have overcome their addiction and are seeking to remain clean and sober as they transition to daily life.

The Groundwork Project is designed to build both the soft and hard skills necessary for youth to enter the workforce. The program is offered at no cost to youth ages 16-24 with an identified barrier preventing them from entering the workplace. This program engages youth in experiential learning activities where they can learn and practice the skills needed to be successful in a career.

Too Good for Drugs is a program designed to build resiliency in students grades K-8 in our area. This program typically runs the duration of the school year. Verdun staff visit several schools and the Fauquier Community Child Care after school program where they use fun and engaging activities to teach lessons promoting effective communication, self-esteem, decision-making, resiliency, tobacco use prevention, and more. 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES 

Commitment

Verdun will maintain a growth mindset seeking to continually improve in all that we are and all that we offer.

Stewardship

We commit to consistently recognize our role within the world around us. We commit to being excellent stewards of the resources provided to us by donors, organizations, and clients and recognize the responsibility we carry.

Equity

Verdun Adventure Bound is open and accessible to all regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, gender, class, ability, or any other qualifying characteristic.

Humility

We pledge to always put others before self in word and action as individuals and as an organization.

Safety

Physical and emotional well-being is foremost and resolute in all that we do.

Testimonials

"I believe that my experience at Verdun was worth it for many reasons, but primarily because it taught us many leadership and life skills as well as allowing us to explore our ability to work together. Leadership is something that is needed throughout life wherever your path may take you. Whether you're an officer leading 200 enlisted marines or a head physician in an ER code, Leadership is a crucial value. While many can argue that there are many opportunities in school (excluding sports teams) to be a leader, I Strongly disagree. In order to be a leader, I feel you must be put in challenging situations outside of school where you are forced to come outside your comfort zone. And Verdun did just that. Verdun taught us key tips on when to be a leader and when to follow. Verdun taught us not to give up when the going got tough, but to come together and utilize every person to their full potential. From Verdun, I have learned not to overlook my peers' abilities, but to utilize every person and their individual "acorn." This is something that cannot be taught in the conventional setting of a small town high school. but needs to be actually experienced for itself in the real world."

-Fauquier High School Student

THE MUDDY TRACKS EXPERIENCE AT VERDUN ADVENTURE BOUND!