We believe recovery exists in nature.
Next Right Thing Adventures, Inc.
History
Next Right Thing Adventures, Inc. (NRTA) was founded in 2021 by me, Ross Sharkey, current Executive Director. NRTA is the non-profit lovechild (mongrel as it may be) of my lifelong love of the outdoors and wild places, and my debt of gratitude owed to the recovery community.
As the father of a recovering addict, I discovered the recovery community, a community I never knew existed before the onslaught of my son’s heroin addiction. Through his journey from active addict to long term recovery, I have witnessed and come to understand the incredible role that the recovery community has played (and continues to play) in his efforts and the efforts of many others to get and stay sober. Without in any way discounting the hard work my son has put in on his own recovery from addiction, there is no doubt in my mind that without the incredible love and support of the recovery community my son would not be alive today.
I asked myself, how could I begin to repay this debt of gratitude? As an avid outdoorsman and backcountry adventurer, I have backpacked all over North America. I have organized and lead numerous backpacking trips both here in the Midwest as well as in the Western states. I am a skilled outdoorsman and a certified Wilderness First Responder. I thought, why not offer these outdoor adventures to individuals who may find recovery in nature? And NRTA was born. NRTA is a qualified tax exempt organization under 501(c)(3) of the IRC.
Mission
To provide those in recovery from substance abuse disorders with the opportunity to increase self-esteem, develop further confidence in both their recovery and their life in general, discover and/or foster a love of the outdoors, and experience additional camaraderie with their fellow recovery community members. In addition, the NRTA Program is intended to provide an introduction to basic backcountry skills necessary for safe backcountry travel and camping.
What the NRTA program IS
The free program consists of pre-trip instruction and a three-day, two-night backpacking or camping trip. Destinations include areas in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Kettle Moraine State Forest in Southeastern Wisconsin. We provide recovering individuals everything they need for their next adventure.
What the NRTA program IS NOT
The NRTA Program IS NOT wilderness therapy or treatment. Participants must be clean and sober at the start of the program, and must remain sober during the trip. NRTA does not promote any one method of recovery or recovery maintenance and each participant is encouraged to practice what works best for them (NA, AA, Smart Recovery, etc.). A true commitment to being sober is important to each participant and to the group as a whole. As such, NRTA reserves the right to take all reasonable steps it deems appropriate to confirm that its participants are and remain sober for the duration of the NRTA Program.
The NRTA Program DOES NOT teach wilderness survival techniques as the primary method of experiencing the wilderness. This program is centered around fundamental modern backpacking techniques and on-trail backpacking. Participants will backpack on trails and camp in tents with sleeping pads and sleeping bags. Participants will be provided training in how to properly set up a backcountry camp using modern backpacking equipment. Although some wilderness survival techniques will be discussed during the instruction, this is not a wilderness survival class.