Novel Heights Foundation
More ways to experience the outdoors—together.
Expanding access to nature, adventure, connection, and the freedom to explore for children, individuals, and families of all abilities.
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 through meaningful participation in real-world environments.
Novel Heights Foundation exists to expand 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.
The Foundation’s vision is to 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 a separate initiative, and Novel Heights serves as a GRIT Freedom Chair Ambassador.
A statewide vision for Arkansas
What the Foundation supports.
The Foundation centers access, safety, partnership, and meaningful participation.
Park and trail experiences
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
Partnership opportunities with parks, organizations, families, and advocates who share this vision.
Connect with the Foundation.
Questions, partnership ideas, and interest in Foundation opportunities are welcome.