Adventurer Feature: Janie
Everyone yearns for adventure. We dream of the next trip, the next challenge, the next story we get to earn. For our participants, finding adventure means not only overcoming fears and learning new things but also coping with their disabilities. Our new series “Like Everyone Else” is focused on telling our participants’ stories, discussing how they came to be a part of the Beyond Boundaries community and what it means to them to be able to share in the same adventures as everyone else. Follow along as we meet the incredible people that make our community what it is and help to share their perspectives.
Janie is a 30-year-old adventurer based around Richmond. She’s often referred to as the ‘poster girl’ of Beyond Boundaries because of her shining smile and her incredible ability to be up for literally any adventure, any time. She’s done it all, from climbing to white water rafting to skiing.
As a result of her lust for adventure and incredible personality, she’s expanded beyond our programming, writing articles for Virginia Tourism and speaking at several events about her experiences. She’s a staple on so many of our trips and is always the first to encourage the people around her, using her own experiences to motivate others to take the plunge.
Janie’s story of growth with Beyond Boundaries shows exactly how creating a level playing field can open a world of possibilities for individuals with disabilities.
“We were first invited by my friend’s mom to go on a Beyond Boundaries Rafting trip. We set out from Huguenot Flatwater for a run down the James. Raft occupants consist of three young adults and two moms who knew nothing about rafting and were little help. It had been dry and the water was low. Beautiful day for a fairly quick run-down to Reedy Creek. The low water presented many obstacles that we met personally. Kyle and Shep spent more time in the water wrangling the raft off the rocks than they did in the raft. We decided to redistribute the weight in the raft by asking one person to get in the other raft. That worked well until we attempted to float over a small dam-like structure and we did a bit of a nosedive stacking us like dominos in the bow of the raft. No harm, just a lot of laughter. We still enjoy telling or hearing that story. What a great memory and I personally couldn’t wait to do it again, says Janie.
After that first trip, she was hooked, quickly expanding her adventures into hiking, fishing, and climbing. “Rock climbing is my favorite activity, although I’m truly a water girl,” she says.
Janie attends dozens of trips for a year, bringing her incredible energy to everyone around her. “I like seeing Janie on trips because she’s kind and thoughtful and really funny. I know walking into a trip with her that even if things don’t go according to plan, she’s got the best attitude and we can laugh about it later,” says Beyond Boundaries Program Director Katie McLernan.
Being so willing to take on a challenge or come along on an adventure with Beyond Boundaries has afforded Janie additional opportunities as well. “Beyond Boundaries hooked me up with Virginia Tourism. They hired me to write a 350-word article on accessible adventure for the Virginia 2023 Travel Guide,” she says.
The benefits of outdoor adventure clearly extend beyond just learning a new skill or having an incredible rafting trip. “BB has helped me become more confident in life, they’ve also introduced me to new friends. I feel like I fit in, I can join a conversation about another’s adventure and add to it because I’ve been out there and done it too. No more sidelines for me I’ve been there and done that! And plan on many more adventures,” says Janie.
“What impresses me about Janie is the amount of stuff she does- she’s always doing something cool, whether it’s surfing, water skiing, rafting with us, or catching a big fish,” Katie explains.
Janie is a great example of why we do what we do. Not only has it been a thrill to watch her grow and try new things, but we love seeing doors open for her outside of our space. Make sure to follow along as we feature more participants in the coming months, telling their stories to show how outdoor adventure can help to shape lives for the better.