Taproot Therapeutic Adventure

If you are interested in learning more about taproot services, please EMAIL LAUREN@HEARTYROOTS.ORG

At a Glance

Group Size: 1-2 | Program Duration: 1 hour per week

Taproot Therapeutic Adventure offers individual outings right at local woods in Lincoln County, Maine. Participants meet with their Therapeutic Adventure Mentor on a weekly basis and have the opportunity to get off the grid and into their hearts with guidance and support.

  • Similar to its namesake—a taproot that acts as the main anchor for plant growth—Taproot Therapeutic Adventure (Taproot) provides opportunities for youth to work on individual growth and development. With a focus on strengthening inner wellness and social-emotional skills, Taproot participants meet with their mentor on a weekly basis. Programming is tailored to individual participant needs, and includes goal setting, skill development, and outdoor adventure.

    Taproot outings start with a strengths-based, holistic assessment of the individual to identify their gifts and challenges, and to develop an action plan with specific goals and targets. Outings are tailored to the individual; activities are scaffolded to inspire positive growth and confidence, and the therapeutic environment is co-created with the participant to align with their goals.


    Our Therapeutic Adventure Mentors have extensive backgrounds working intentionally with young people, and are trained in trauma- informed practices, mental wellness, and child development though they do not provide mental health diagnoses or crisis-based services.

  • Taproot promotes wellness and resilience for youth ages 6-17 who:

    • face challenges related to mental and behavioral health
    • would benefit from experiential and kinesthetic learning
    • respond positively to actively engaging in the natural world

  • Exploring Nature ☀ Hiking in the Forest ☀ Tidepooling ☀ Skipping Stones ☀ Making a Mandala of Pinecones, Acorns, Leaves, or Feathers ☀ Deeply Connecting with nature ☀ Building Fires ☀ Biking ☀ Throwing Snowballs ☀ Paddle Boarding ☀ Practicing Mindful Moments ☀ Practicing Yoga ☀ Building Shelters ☀ Canoeing ☀ Creative Expression ☀ Tracking and Observing Animals ☀ Practicing Leave No Trace ☀ Foraging ☀ Star Gazing ☀ Playing Games ☀ Making Music ☀ Laughing ☀ Building Confidence ☀ Journaling & Reflecting ☀ Anything you are passionate about!

  • If you are interested in signing your child up for Taproot Therapeutic Adventure, here are a few simple steps to starting the process:

    1. Send Lauren an e-mail (lauren@heartyroots.org) to set up an initial consult to ensure Taproot feels like the right fit for your child.

    2. During your consult, there will be a brief interview, an opportunity for you to ask any questions, and time to decide on the cost that feels right for your budget, and a weekly outing time that works for your child’s schedule.

    3. After your consult, Lauren will send you an appointment through our scheduling platform. This will prompt you to fill out the registration form, waivers, and a brief questionnaire. You will also be able to pay for your child’s first outing.

    If you have any questions about the registration process, or would like to learn more please email Lauren at lauren@heartyroots.org.

  • If you are a school personnel, or have a child who could benefit from further in-school support, please contact lauren@heartyroots.org to see about scheduling therapeutic adventure outings during the school day.

  • As we group our team of Therapeutic Adventure Mentors and increase our capacity to reach more kids in our community, we are building a library of resources, tools, games, gear, and more. For those of you with extra resources and/or who are inspired to support our goal to reach kids more intentionally, please check out our Taproot Registry and find an item that speaks to you to donate to our library. Thank you for your support!