Reduce the sense of isolation cancer survivors and caregivers often feel. Reduce anxiety and depression among survivors and caregivers. Improve physical functioning and fitness among cancer survivors and caregivers. Reduce recurrence among cancer survivors. Encourage survivors and caregivers to adopt healthy lifestyles that include walking or hiking in natural surroundings. Reduce anxiety and depression exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and sheltering in place.

We combine the camaraderie of shared experience, the proven physical and emotional benefits of exercise, and the solace of nature to provide survivors and caregivers with new tools to address the many challenges that cancer diagnosis and treatment present. Our programs create a safe, supportive space for survivors and caregivers to enjoy the benefits of exercise in nature with others who understand what they have been through. They span a wide range of difficulty, so there is something for everyone, from a short, level walk on a paved path to climbing a 14,000' high mountain. And now, with the Covid-19 pandemic, we have begun offering on-line programming to help people connect virtually, and to practice anxiety-reducing techniques like mindfulness and yoga. There is substantial evidence that exercise reduces anxiety and depression among cancer survivors. There is also substantial evidence that being in nature also helps reduce anxiety and depression. Our own surveys of retreat participants provides further evidence that exercise in natural surroundings helps to reduce anxiety and depression.

We have 11 years of experience leading hikes, walks and retreats. To date, we've held 82 retreats and over 600 walks and hikes. Our assistant director is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate, and LBL staff are Wilderness First Responder certified.

We track the number of events and participants. We administer before and after surveys for our retreats and our Cancer to 14K conditioning program. Survey results form both programs indicate they have been effective in reducing anxiety and depression among participants, as well as increasing feling of connection to nature and to others. We plan to collect before and after biometric data on Cancer to 14K participants when we re-launch the program after Covid-19 is behind us.

We've held 82 retreats with over 1200 participants, and over 600 hikes and walks with over 3600 attendees. In 2 seasons of our Cancer to 14K conditioning program, we've had 12 cancer survivors from the advanced cohort summit Gray's Peak, a 14,270' high mountain, and another 15 from the intermediate cohort have completed a different "14K metric" -- 14,000-step long hikes with over 1,000 feet of elevation gain. We've expanded our hikes and walks to Iowa and Illinois. We've initiated outreach to Colorado's Latinx population, and have held a 2-night retreat for Latinx survivors and their caregivers. Next up is more outreach to underserved populations in Colorado, and more expansion to other states.