About Peak | About/Directory/News | Heathwood Hall

Founded in 1997, PEAK (Programs for Environmental Awareness and Knowledge) is a trusted provider of hands-on, experiential learning through outdoor adventure, environmental education, and leadership development. What began as an internal program for Heathwood Hall Episcopal School students has grown into a dynamic community resource serving schools, businesses, nonprofits, and civic organizations across the region.

A generous donation from the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation in 2022 allowed the expansion of on-campus PEAK facilities to include the spacious 2000 square foot Boyd PEAK Center, which includes a conference room, a classroom, offices, a kitchen, bathrooms, and storage space, and high ropes course additions and enhancements, all of which allow for a broader range of programming not only for the Heathwood community but also for corporate groups and non-profit organizations across the greater Midlands community and beyond. 

Today, PEAK offers custom-designed programming and event services that help groups build stronger teams, expand leadership capacity, and foster growth through meaningful, memorable experiences outdoors.

Adventure Activity Options

Activities are chosen based on your team’s size, time, and goals. Popular options include:

• Odyssey Course – small group teambuilding experience on high ropes 
• Alpine Tower – climbing adventure with active belay on 50-foot tower
• SkyPark – choose-your-own-adventure style high ropes course
• Initiatives – on-the-ground team building and problem-solving challenges
• Giant Swing – 30-foot pendulum swing
• Climbing Wall – individual climbing challenge with auto-belay 
• Junior Ninja Course – low ropes adventure for young children
• Paddle Adventures – canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and fishing on Heathwood’s pond
• Hiking/Biking – nature trails on and off campus
• Archery – guided instruction and friendly competition
• Orienteering – reading compass and following a bearing
• Wilderness Skills – fire building, establishing campsite, pitching tent, camp stove cooking, and other skills associated with merit badge requirements
• Camping – tent or hammock camping, including offsite options
• Environmental Education/Ecology – lessons/experiences related to habitats, plant/animal adaptations, Leave No Trace, watersheds/water quality, climate and weather
• Off-Campus Adventures – guided hiking, backpacking, and camping, whitewater and flatwater river trips, and more