They Did It: Adventure Days – Community Engagement to Boost Enrichment, Increase Volunteers and Support and Adopt More Dogs

From kennel stress to car rides and couch time, Bitter Root Humane Association’s (BRHA’s) Adventure Day program gives dogs a break and helps shelters connect with new volunteers (and donors), improve behavior insight and increase adoption rates. Here's how they built it, why it works and how your shelter can do it too.

What They Did: Created a Low-Barrier Community Program That Works

Adventure Days at BRHA allow members of the public to “check out” a shelter dog for a few hours or a full day. Outings can include walks in the park, car rides, hikes, drive-thru snacks, or simply hanging out at home.

Participants provide a short “report card” after each trip, noting the dog’s behavior in real-world situations (car rides, seeing other animals, energy level, leash skills, etc.). These notes—along with photos and videos—are added to the dog’s profile and displayed on their kennel to inform adopters and staff.

Why They Did It: Give Their Community and Animals What They Want 

BRHA’s community includes lots of seasonal workers with short-term housing and, often, restrictions on having pets. They do, however, also enjoy lots of beautiful natural surroundings and a high interest in outdoor hiking and other activities. BRHA listened to their community’s interests (and limitations) to launch Adventure Days as a new way to engage animal lovers when adoption wasn’t an option for them. 

Additionally, BRHA offers volunteers a “slumber party” option by recreating the excitement of childhood for their pets and their potential new families. Their "slumber bags" give every pet on an adoption trial a special kit to make their first night in a new home feel like a celebration. Each bag is packed with essentials like food, toys and a toothbrush, ensuring the first night is all about fun and bonding. It’s a low-pressure, high-reward way to see if a pet is the right fit, while giving them a much-needed break from the shelter. 

Here’s some of the benefits BRHA has seen with the Adventure Day and Slumber Party programs:

• Behavioral insight for both the shelter and adopters: Dogs show different behaviors on-leash, in cars or in public.
• Improved adoptability: Outings boost a dog's visibility and calm their kennel behavior.
• Broader volunteer base: BRHA has reached people who couldn’t commit to full-time fostering or volunteering.
• Increased adoptions, donations and brand visibility: Their community saw BRHA as proactive and people-focused – and more dogs found homes.
• Minimal staffing burden: With the right setup, the program runs itself with staff supervision only at check-in/check-out

Now You Try: Replicate Adventure Days at Your Shelter — Scaled to Fit Your Capacity

Here’s a basic launch checklist:

• Planning Phase:
  • Identify a few well-matched dogs for trial runs
  • Create a one-page “how-to” for participants
  • Design a quick “Doggie Report Card” form (digital or paper)
  • Set up a way to collect photos/videos (dedicated phone or inbox)
• Pilot:
  • Start with staff and key volunteers
  • Collect feedback from both participants and handlers
  • Adjust policies based on real experience
• Community Launch:
  • Promote where your target audience already goes — parks, coffee shops, running clubs
  • Emphasize that anyone can do it—no experience needed
  • Use report cards as live adoption tools (posted on kennel cards and online)
• Sustaining the Program:
  • Make it easy to repeat—automate where possible
  • Celebrate participant stories and photos on social media
  • Keep staff updated and involved—they’re your best advocates

Final Tip: Reverse the Ask

Instead of asking, “What do we need from volunteers?” ask, “What does our community want to give?” For BHRA, the answer was clear: time in nature, dog companionship, and flexibility.

When you meet your community where they are, everyone wins—especially the dogs.