Mission

We use recreation, therapy, and continuing support to give people of all abilities a better life. Together we bridge the gap between disability and belonging.

Our Story

Back in 1999, we were really good at one thing: teaching locals with disabilities how to use adaptive skis. It took special equipment, understanding, and really, really remarkable coaches.

Today, we still take to the mountain with our locals, but now our special equipment and special coaches transforms lives across the country. From the hiking trails of western New York to the mountaintops of Idaho to the surf of Los Angeles, we are deploying the nation's top recreational therapists and mental health professionals to give people of all abilities (especially our nation's veterans) the emotional and social tools they need to feel like they belong.

Military Programs

Recreation Programs

Recreational Therapy 101

What is recreational therapy?

As defined by American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) and National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC):

Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being.

Physical therapy will help you function with mobility. Occupational therapy will help you with your daily living. Recreational therapy helps people get back to being themselves. We can be the glue that holds people together.

Jason Schwab
Recreational Therapist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital

Why do we need recreational therapy?

22 million veterans live in the country.

22 commit suicide every day.

1 in 3 suffers from depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges. And it doesn't just affect veterans: children of people with PTSD are likely to show PTSD symptoms of their own.

Here are a few of the challenges that await our soldiers when they return home:

Traumatic brain injury
Post-traumatic stress
Military sexual trauma
Polytrauma
Homelessness

Recreational therapy empowers our veterans and eases this transition.

What are some results from recreational therapy?

Research has proven that Higher Ground participants experience:

Increased sense of camaraderie
Improved attentiveness and sleep quality
Increased confidence
Decreased depression and anxiety

Our participants and their families also tell us how much Higher Ground has helped them communicate. And we couldn’t be prouder of that. Because when people can talk to each other, they feel understood. And when you feel understood, you feel like you belong.

Locations

From sea to shining sea...and some Idaho Rockies in between

Sun Valley
Los Angeles
New York

This is where it all began...a place of extraordinary beauty with recreational possibilities to match. The Sun Valley community believes that people of all abilities should be able to experience the healing powers of the mountains.
That is why Higher Ground was born.

Alpine Skiing
Nordic Skiing
Snowboarding
Snowshoeing
Sled Hockey
Hiking
Stand Up Paddleboarding

Dance
Kayaking
Equine Therapy
Rock Climbing
Yoga
Biking
The Arts

Fly Fishing
White Water Rafting
Swimming
Tennis
Soccer
Archery
Martial Arts

Director: Kate Weihe
Phone: (208) 726-9298
Fax: (208) 726-0957
Email: info@HigherGroundUSA.org

Office
160 7th Street W
Ketchum, ID 83340

Mailing Address
PO Box 6791
Ketchum, ID 83340

We are here because there are over 300,000 veterans living in Los Angeles County. And they need our support.

Deep Sea Fishing
Kayaking
Equine Therapy
Rock Climbing
Yoga
Biking

Fly Fishing
White Water Rafting
Swimming
Tennis
Archery

The Arts
Gardening
Bowling
Hiking
Basketball

Director: Lauren Terschluse
Phone: (208) 726-9298 ext. 119
lauren@HigherGroundUSA.org

Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, 4th Floor
1816 S Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Western New York is home to another one of the largest veteran populations in the country. It is also a place of great natural beauty and a strong, family-oriented community — the elements that have made our Sun Valley program so successful.

Rock Climbing
Kayaking
Stand Up Paddleboarding

Fishing
Ropes Courses
Nutrition

Wellness
Hiking
Yoga

Military Program Manager HGNY: Natasha Roseboom
Phone: (716) 338-6220
Email: Natasha@HigherGroundUSA.org

Beaver Hollow Conference Center
1083 Pit Road
Java Center, NY 14082

HG Team

We are a tight-knit unit, hellbent on bringing more joy to people's lives through recreation and nature.

Click arrows below to meet the rest of the team!

Kate Weihe

Higher Ground Executive Director

A Florida native and flip flop lover, Kate offers her sociological and cheerleading expertise to the Higher Ground crew. She has worked her way through many roles with the organization, starting as volunteer coordinator in 2008, where she was able to experience the power of recreation therapy on a regular basis, and also connect the Higher Ground mission to the local community. She is incredibly proud of the positive impact we have on participants through therapeutic recreation and the outdoors. A beachcomber turned mountain lover, Kate revels in the high altitude lifestyle, but is pretty much freezing all of the time.
Rich Cardillo

Higher Ground Director of Expansion

As the leader behind our national expansion, Rich inspires us all with his drive and commitment. He came by his strong work ethic and willingness to go the extra mile through his time with US Army where he served in leadership roles for more than 30 years. In addition to a soldier’s sense of duty and mission, Rich also brings a warm sense of humor and a quick smile to his work at Higher Ground--traits that make our days, as well as those of our participants, brighter.
Erin Rheinschild

Higher Ground Director of Philanthropy
Lili Hansen

Higher Ground Sun Valley Office Manager
Monty Heath

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Director of Military Programs

Monty was honored to serve our nation as a US Navy SEAL. After years in the defense contracting and executive protection arenas, he has landed back with the population he believes deserves the most respect and attention – our nation’s men and women who have voluntarily chosen to protect the freedoms some take for granted. When Monty isn’t working with veterans, he’s most likely skiing, dirt biking or creating general mischief with his two young boys.
Jean Seymour

Higher Ground Accounting Manager
Justin Safley

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Logistics Coordinator

Where would we be without Justin? Justin is our heavy lifter, literally and metaphorically. Where there’s a task to be done, Justin checks it off the list! His favorite part about being on the Higher Ground team are his interactions with our participants, whether they're veterans from across the country or local kids and adults. When he’s not at work, Justin takes advantage of the stellar ice hockey and mountain biking in the Sun Valley area and whenever possible, he rocks out at metal concerts. Oh yeah, and guess how many tattoos he has! We dare you!
Aly Tolles

Higher Ground Financial Controller
Neil Crowson

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Recreation Program Coordinator

Neil is the Yoda of our organization, bringing patience, understanding, and compassion to any situation whether he's on the mountain with a participant or at the office managing program logistics. Neil encourages people to not to take things too seriously and, he admits that he’s gained this level of humility through typically being the butt of the joke. Neil's ability to embody calmness and support has helped countless participants to face their fears and experience triumph. Neil is also not opposed to conquering his own fears so if he’s not skiing or climbing, he’s off trying something new like driving across Mexico, an adventure he’d love to tell you about.
Cara Barrett

Higher Ground Sun Valley Director of Recreation Programs

Cara can basically claim that all HG programs are her brainchild. As the very first intern and then employee of Higher Ground, she is known throughout the office as the “grandma” due to her tenure since 2001. Cara has known she wanted to work in the outdoors since middle school, and her driving passion in the organization is not only the time she gets to spend with local kids with disabilities, but also in demonstrating to all local kids that having a disability does not limit what is possible in life. She cherishes time outdoors with her husband, two boys, and dog, Billy. I bet you can’t guess what sport she took home the Long Island regional championship trophy for?! (Hint: it’s race walking)
Elyse Smidinger

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Volunteer Coordinator

Elyse is the smiling face who matches our volunteers to our programs. Her continuous support and energy is immensely impactful for our participants and volunteers. So what powers this ginger’s engine? People. Elyse trusts in the power of relationships and being able to inspire and motivate one another--and that goes for participants and volunteers. On another note, one of Elyse’s personal goals is to meet and pet every dog in Sun Valley and by all accounts, she’s doing quite well in her quest.
Mose Duchano

Higher Ground Sun Valley Recreation Program Manager

Playing where’s Mose is like a game of where’s Waldo? In fact, he may just have the best job here at Higher Ground. Mose appreciates this and loves taking participants through an array of adaptive activities, from back country skiing to adaptive cycling on the single-track trails of the Sawtooth Mountains. Mose brings his unique ability to bring people out of their comfort zones while never impeding on their personal space and keeping the mood positive. If Mose isn’t he guiding people through the back country, he’s out there pushing his own limits on a new adventure!
Kirstin Webster

Higher Ground Sun Valley Impact Manager

The longest tenured member of the current SV military team, Kirstin brings a genuine compassion and heartfelt curiosity to the HG staff. Kirstin can boast a published work among her many accomplishments; she analyzed and published findings about the power and influence through serving veterans in the outdoors. Kirstin is especially adept in helping connect others to the HG mission as she oversees the growing HG internship program. If you don’t catch Kirstin in the hot springs or chatting with local veterans, you may find her recreating in the wilderness through rafting, camping, climbing, or water skiing. Occasionally you might also steal a glimpse of her rocking a headstand on her stand up paddleboard, or speaking American Sign Language with our local participants!
Jeff Burley

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Director of Adaptive Sports
Natasha Roseboom

Higher Ground NY Military Program Manager
Natasha is the pioneer who created our first Higher
Ground program east of Idaho. Using our established
HG model l, she’s built a balanced program in New York
that continues to draw and serve veterans in need.
In turn, she’s found that by growing this new chapter,
she too has grown in her work as a recreational
therapist and she looks forward to continuing to
improve and expand the program so that it will also
become a model for future Higher Ground chapters.
Kayla Pedrolini

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Recreation Youth Program Manager

Our Midwestern charmer from Michigan, Kayla brings a wealth of experience to our staff, including adaptive water skiing, swimming, and a lifetime of working with her younger brother who is on the autism spectrum. She sees nothing but the best in people and programs, and is excited by the potential for growth, innovation, and community partnership at Higher Ground. Kayla loves all things outdoors, as well as dancing, painting and drawing. She is also fluent in Spanish and has an adorable dog, Frida!
Justin Rujawitz

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Military Program Specialist

A current Preventive Medicine Officer in the Idaho Army National Guard, Justin loves being able to serve his fellow soldiers as well as those who have served before him. Justin originally came to Higher Ground as an intern to better himself as an Army Officer, as well as give back to those who have selflessly sacrificed for our country. But the more Justin experienced what we do and saw the positive changes in the participants’ lives, the more he wanted to stay. So he did and is now full time at Higher Ground. Beyond the fact that Justin thinks his co-workers are awesome, he’s also happy to live at the gateway to the Sawtooth Mountains and enjoy all this area has to offer.
Robyn Marrelli

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Office Administrator

Ruler of the nest, stickler for organization, and a positive force, Robyn makes sure our office is running smoothly and efficiently. She originally came upon Higher Ground through volunteering more than 15 years ago. In addition to keeping the office running like clockwork, Robyn also volunteers the Wood River Animal Shelter, putters in her garden and rides her road bike. Bonus skill: Robyn can sing just about any showtune you name!
Chris Dooley

Higher Ground Sun Valley
Military Program Specialist
Kris King

Higher Ground Los Angeles
Military Program Manager

If Kris could be any kitchen appliance she would be a blender
because she like to mix things up. And at our Higher Ground
chapter in Los Angeles, she does just that, combining her grit,
creativity and strong belief in inclusivity as she works with veterans.
When not at Higher Ground, Kris loves being with Karen, her wife,
and adorable pup Patches. She’s also an avid outdoorswoman and
enjoys paddleboarding, camping, hiking and cycling. Kris also
volunteers at a local LGBT Center, an adaptive climbing program
and at an inclusive education group called GenderFwd.
Kris King

Higher Ground Los Angeles
Military Program Manager

If Kris could be any kitchen appliance she would be a blender
because she like to mix things up. And at our Higher Ground
chapter in Los Angeles, she does just that, combining her grit,
creativity and strong belief in inclusivity as she works with veterans.
When not at Higher Ground, Kris loves being with Karen, her wife,
and adorable pup Patches. She’s also an avid outdoorswoman and enjoys paddleboarding, camping, hiking and cycling. Kris also volunteers at a local LGBT Center, an adaptive climbing program and at an inclusive education group called GenderFwd.