ALL FORWARD ADVENTURES

AFA is a comprehensive community resource committed to providing effective services, supports and solutions for children, teens, adults families and groups

 

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Shane Shooter Nelson, EdS Licensed Psychologist and Founder/Executive Director of All Forward Adventures 501(c)(3), moved to Durango in 1992. An alumnus of Fort Lewis College and recent adjunct faculty member of the Teacher Education Department, Shane continues to commit himself to the communities and causes he is most passionate about. He credits his personal journey through trauma and hardship as the source of his gratitude and the drive behind his commitment to be of service to those now on journeys of their own.

Shane is the creator of mental health and character development programs such as the award-winning Project Basecamp, selected as Colorado’s #1 Youth Mental Wellness Program for 2019 by the Colorado Education Initiative. Project Basecamp is a school-based suicide prevention and character development program designed to prevent mental health crises, encourage students to advocate for themselves and build strong bonds with one another. Shane also created Rafting 4 Recovery, a program to enhance, empower and explore recovery in the outdoors. 

 

Shane has been an educator in public schools, wilderness therapist, Outward Bound instructor, Nepalese Surgical Expedition leader, and whitewater rafting river guide. Previously, he was a Television Producer (Discovery Channel, ABC, Animal Planet, The Travel Channel and Nat Geo) and Filmmaker (The Flow We Find and Counter Balance).