Wilderness Youth Camp

Posted On In Behavior Management, Boarding School Info, Education

Wilderness Youth Camp

If you have a troubled teenager and nothing seems to improve his or her behavioral problems, you might want to investigate the possibility of sending him or her to a wilderness youth camp. “Many troubled adolescents make significant progress during a relatively short time span in wilderness programs. The cost of these short-term programs is relatively low when compared with longer term residential therapeutic facilities or boarding schools.”(1)

The typical wilderness program lasts between one and two months, and often produces dramatic results normally only achieved at longer-term facilities.  In particularly serious cases, however, a child may need further, controlled care.  “Teens with significant behavioral, emotional, and academic problems sometimes then attend therapeutic boarding schools where they can catch up on school credits and remain in a structured, safe environment.” (2)

One such wilderness youth camp, the SUWS Youth Wilderness Program of Shoshone, Idaho, has been handling troubled teens since 1981.  A typical day at SUWS might include hiking, equine therapy, land-stewardship, and trust-building.  Their website reads, “At SUWS wilderness program, we believe that we have an obligation to be good stewards of the land and model gratitude and responsibility for our students. Our groups participate in a variety of service projects with an emphasis on habitat restoration and land improvement. (3)

In addition to the above, students also must learn to overcome challenging obstacles and face deep-seated fears.  SUWS explains that students will “participate in team-building and leadership initiatives on our high and low ropes course. The perceived risk and complexity of some of the ropes course elements bring up mixed emotions in teens, giving our therapists opportunities to help students overcome challenges, build confidence and deal with frustration in a safe, therapeutic environment.” (4)

At a wilderness youth camp, teenagers are yanked out of an environment of fixed responses, and placed in an environment without the usual distractions.  They are then made to overcome powerful obstacles and fears, and in so doing, great strides are made in helping them become mature, self-confident young adults.

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Endnotes

  1. “What is wilderness therapy?” Wilderness Programs Info. 2010. Retr. 22 Mar. 2012 <http://www.wilderness-programs-info.com/wilderness.html>
  1. Ibid.
  2. “Typical Day at SUWS” SUWS Wilderness Programs. Undated. Retr. 22 Mar. 2012 <http://www.suws.com/wilderness-programs/typical-day-suws>
  3. Ibid.