Accreditation from the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) gives Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness a credential to prove that it adheres to the highest standards and regulations in the outdoor and wilderness therapy industry. We hold an accreditation with AEE, and are one of the few programs to have gone through the 5-year re-accreditation process twice. This certification is useful for meeting state requirements for educational organizations, permitting, and ensures families and students that Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness is committed to the utmost safety and care of each student.

AEE has an extensive accreditation process, focusing on areas of operations that aren’t typically covered by the state license alone. Prior to accreditation or re-accreditation, the organization must complete a Self-Assessment Study (SAS). The study is a compilation of answers to 310 questions related to the program model and operating procedures, with references to policies, procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). For perspective, the most recent Self-Assessment study completed by Blue Ridge filled an entire three-ring binder, the Self-Assessment study alone was 97 pages long plus 15 appendices with supporting documentation.

Following the submission of the SAS for review, an accreditation committee comes to the program for several days to conduct a site visit. The purpose of the visit is to essentially get a feel for the place, and ensure that the program is actually doing the things they say they are doing.

The six-year AEE accreditation Blue Ridge obtained in 2023 is the most stringent accreditation available. This accreditation demonstrates that the program operates above industry standards of ethical care, treatment evaluation, and risk-management practices, and that the program is committed to quality and adherence to professional standards.