Chelsea Elder

Chelsea is a Colorado native that started her career far from the world of outdoor sports. Chelsea owned and operated a dance studio in Broomfield, Colorado, known in the community for her work with children with physical disabilities. In 2010, she sold her dance studio and pursued combining her passion for serving people with physical disabilities and her love for our nation’s veterans. She began volunteering for Adaptive Adventures, joining the staff in 2014, she served as the Military Operations Manager before accepting the position of Executive Director in 2017. Chelsea oversees all aspects of the organization nationally. She has managed, written, expanded and implemented the organization’s VA Adaptive Sport Grant since 2014. As the daughter of and caregiver to a disabled Vietnam veteran, the importance of Adaptive Adventures Military Operations program could not hit closer to home.

Chelsea serves at the instructor level in programs with experience instructing children, adults and veterans in whitewater kayaking, paddleboarding, rock climbing and cycling. Chelsea is a coach and stern for the Denver based dragon boat teams, Team Blue. Chelsea passionately advocates for greater inclusion in outdoor spaces.

Chelsea proudly serves on the Denver Commission for People with Disabilities, the Destination Stewardship Advisory Council and Inclusivity in Travel Coalition for the Colorado Tourism Office and the Fox31’s Serving Those Who Serve advisory board. Chelsea is also a member of Camber Outdoors, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Nonprofit Leadership Lab and Colorado’s Joining Community Forces. 

Chelsea is married to her high school sweetheart, Chad, a high school counselor, who spends his summers as a super volunteer for Adaptive Adventures. They have a young son named Levi, who is destined to be a future drummer on Team Blue, Adaptive Adventures Dragon Boat racing team.

Chelsea cherishes the “aha” moments when the “impossible” becomes possible for an individual and their family through outdoor recreation.