Avid4 Adventure Named Colorado's Healthiest Small Business

This was the inaugural award presented by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

Emily Williams //February 14, 2018//

Avid4 Adventure Named Colorado's Healthiest Small Business

This was the inaugural award presented by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

Emily Williams //February 14, 2018//

Honoring one small business for making a positive and lasting impact on the health and wellness of its team and community, Avid4 Adventure received the Governor's first-ever Healthy Small Business Award, presented by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT).

The 14-year-old company, with wellness at the forefront of its mission, seeks to advance the lives of children by encouraging young people to maximize their time outdoors. By promoting summer camps, school programs and community events in Colorado and California, Avid4 serves approximately 10,000 kids annually.

"To best serve our mission, we need to walk our talk and empower our staff to be healthy and active as well," says Paul Dreyer, CEO of Avid4 Adventure. "Our retention of full-time staff is near 100 percent, which points to employees feeling healthy and well."

In its inaugural year, the Governor's Healthy Community Award is part of OEDIT's statewide initiative, "For Colorado: For the Health of It!" The program focuses on integrating health and wellness into all aspects of Coloradans lives. 

The staff at Avid4 feels this emphasis on wellbeing in several ways:

  • Monthly, required recreational outings
  • Subsidized gym memberships and equipment
  • Covering 75 percent of health insurance
  • Flexible work conditions
  • Unlimited paid time off

Avid4 also draws community members into its community recreation days, providing access and instruction to outdoor recreation from stand-up paddle boarding to kayaking and mountain biking, at reduced rates or no cost. The organization has partnered with nonprofits such as Leave No Trace, the Access Fund, American Whitewater and the Thorne Nature Experience to help increase outdoor access to less privileged families. 

Looking ahead, Avid4's goals include expanding to 50 camp locations, serving 50,000 children annually and encouraging kids to spend at least 50 days outside each year.

"We aim to move the needle on increasing rates of children obesity and child screen time on a national scale by empowering them to be active outside," says Dreyer.


Emily Williams is the Communications Manager with the Office of Economic Development and International Trade 
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