Novel Heights Foundation • In Development
T.H.R.I.V.E. in Real Life.
Creating more ways for children and individuals of all abilities to experience nature, adventure, connection, and the freedom to explore.
Welcome to Novel Heights Foundation
Every person deserves the opportunity to experience the outdoors.
Novel Heights was born from the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the outdoors—including the places that often feel out of reach.
Whether a child is building confidence on a wooded trail, discovering new strengths through nature-based therapy, or exploring alongside family and friends, we believe meaningful experiences happen outside the walls of a clinic.
Through Novel Heights Foundation, we are creating opportunities for children and individuals of all abilities to connect with nature, embrace adventure, and discover what is possible.
Because every journey should be filled with curiosity, confidence, connection—and the freedom to explore.
Where the vision began
Novel Heights started with adaptive outdoor access.
In 2019, Dr. Kelsey Adcock completed her doctoral capstone, Novel Heights: Adaptive Camping and Hiking Programming, with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension.
She later developed and implemented a pediatric outdoor camp, strengthening a long-term commitment to helping children and individuals of different abilities experience nature with greater access, confidence, and connection.
Learn more about Dr. Kelsey’s backgroundWhat guides the Foundation
Access that leads to belonging, confidence, and real adventure.
Access
Creating more ways for people of different abilities to reach parks, trails, and outdoor experiences.
Adventure
Supporting meaningful exploration that encourages curiosity, healthy challenge, and discovery.
Connection
Helping individuals, families, and communities share experiences in nature together.
Proud GRIT Freedom Chair Ambassador
Opening new possibilities beyond the pavement.
Novel Heights is proud to serve as a GRIT Freedom Chair Ambassador.
The GRIT Freedom Chair is a manual all-terrain wheelchair designed by MIT engineers. Its lever-driven design is built to help riders travel across terrain beyond pavement, including grass, gravel, dirt, trails, and snow.
Through the Foundation, we are working toward opportunities that open new possibilities for exploration across Arkansas’s parks and trails—and help more individuals experience outdoor adventure alongside the people they love.
The GRIT Freedom Chair is a product of GRIT. Novel Heights Foundation is an independent developing initiative; Novel Heights serves as a GRIT Freedom Chair Ambassador.
A growing vision for Arkansas
What we are working to make possible.
The Foundation is being designed carefully, with access, safety, partnership, and meaningful participation at the center.
Park and trail experiences
Developing guided opportunities to explore outdoor spaces with appropriate planning and support.
Adaptive access
Connecting people with equipment, information, and experiences that help reduce barriers to participation.
Community partnerships
Working toward relationships with parks, organizations, families, and advocates who share this vision.
Help us shape what comes next.
Questions, partnership ideas, and interest in future Foundation opportunities are welcome as this work develops.