What I Did During Summer Vacation: I Kicked My Drug and Alcohol Habit
The teen years often bring a restless yearning to explore, take risks, and have adventure. That's why there are outdoor programs that cater to those impulses.
Carrying their thirty-pound backpacks, a small group of teens and their instructors may trek ten miles a day in the rugged wilderness of a state like Oregon that is mostly untouched by civilization. By noon, they reach the top of a mountain, and they stop just long enough to take in the grandeur of a vista of sky, rock and wilderness. The vastness and challenge of nature puts their lives at home into perspective.
Their camp guides teach them how to light a fire the Native American way, how to make shelters rainproof and which plants are safe to eat. A month later, when they're home, they're a little taller and a little prouder of their new ability to take care of themselves in the great outdoors. They tell grand stories to anyone who will listen about their adventure of a lifetime.
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Parents often struggle with the decision to send their child to a wilderness program. A Wilderness Field Supervisor at Adirondack Leadership Expeditions helps parents understand the value of taking this step.
Read Choosing a Wilderness Program: Often a Difficult Decision for Teens and Parents
Wilderness therapy - the process of removing troubled teens from their "emotional comfort zone" by asking them to live in a wilderness setting - is now recognized as one of the single most effective treatment solutions for struggling adolescents. By teaching teens to care for themselves and to take responsibility for their personal well-being, wilderness therapy helps participants develop the skills they need to think more insightfully, realistically assess their abilities, improve their communication skills and practice healthy behavioral habits.
Read Healthy Chioces: Wilderness Therapy Helps Troubled Teens Build Smart Life Skillls
Wilderness therapy programs like Aspen Achievement Academy are widely recognized as one of the most highly effective means of helping troubled teens.