My project joins together two focal points in my life, the outdoors and therapy.  I have a strong belief that the outdoors has the ability to offer an ideal classroom for learning.  I also believe that in order for learning to occur, there must be reflection and an understanding of the experience.  Because of this, I decided to develop a pilot program that would promote therapeutic growth within a wilderness setting.  My project established a step-by-step layout of how to run a therapeutic program in a wilderness setting.  This step-by-step lay out will be able to guide an interested agency or student in launching preparation meetings and a backcountry-backpacking weekend for youth who are at risk of facing limited resources, limited opportunities, and limited views of personal capabilities.

Statement of Need

There are many youth that face limited resources and opportunities and have been exposed to difficult living environment, such as homelessness, drugs, and domestic violence (Hazler & Denham, 2002).  The youth have a greater chance of having a low self esteem and having behavioral problems.  These obstacles prevent the youth from gaining skills for personal growth and have the potential to create lifelong social and emotional disturbances (Dahlberg, 1998; Hazler & Carney, 2000).

Description of the Intervention

Originally I was planning on taking out the backpacking trip, but due to some logistical problems I was not able to pursue my original goal.  There were funding problems, as well as a lack of reliable participation from the youth.  Although I was not able to accomplish the trip, I was able to gain enough information to create a pilot program that will guide an interested senior in completing the trip.  The pilot program is set up to assist with the steps to take and ways to avoid common problems.

The program plan uses the outdoors as a classroom to communicate positive self-esteem and positive progression.  Garst, Scheider, & Baker (2001) suggest that experiential learning in the wilderness can reduce negative youth behavior.  Nature provides a challenge that goes beyond physical exertion and competitiveness.  The activities are designed to enhance the youth’s feelings of personal accomplishment.  The challenges include the understanding that small failures can lead to huge successes.  Areas of focus throughout the trip are knowledge, tenacity and the ability to go beyond self-imposed limitations, acceptance of responsibility, self-reliance, craftsmanship, physical fitness, and leadership.

According to my pilot program, the trip includes two pre-trip meetings.  In these meetings the logistics of the trip, the gear and equipment that will be used on the trip, expectations and goals of the trip, fears associated with the outing, and teambuilding activities will be addressed. 

The participants will leave on a Friday afternoon and return on Sunday afternoon.  The time in the outdoor setting focuses on conquering small battles for the youth.  The teaching topics throughout the weekend are set up to provide skills for the youth.  Also, teambuilding activities are developed that focus on trust and leadership.  The youth will have time to debrief the daily activities nightly before heading into their tents for a well-deserved nights sleep. 

Evaluation of the Intervention

The program, if successful, has the capacity to benefit the participants in two significant ways.  Primarily, the youth would have an opportunity to experience and understand a positive culture away from their high-risk environment.  Second, they would have an opportunity to develop essential social skills by gaining teamwork skills.  Additionally, they would experience feelings of personal accomplishments, an enlarged and empowered feeling of personal limits, a productive role in a group dynamic, and a clearer perspective of the inner connection of all things in the environment.

Reflections on the Project

The project was originally created to not only act as a pilot program but as a program that would be completed. Due to the timing of some events, such as the time it takes to obtain a permit, and youth’s availability, the original hope for the program changed.  The project is now servicing as a pilot program.  The pilot program offers timelines in which to work under.  Also included in the program plan is a potential budget, including the transportation, rentals, permits, and food.  The material developed also advises the interested agency or student on potential participants for the trip and places to obtain the permits, and rentals. 

I have really enjoyed the project; I feel extremely passionate about the topic.  The process of interviewing the youth that I felt would benefit from this program along with a mental health worker and a supervisor associated with the Juvenile Hall system, offered me an insight into needs that I feel could be met with my program plan. 

There are many existing programs that use the wilderness as a classroom that have productive and successful results.  My intent in creating this pilot program was to use ideas from already established programs with the hope of creating a successful and productive program plan for the youth.

References

Dahlberg, L. (1998).  Youth violence in the United States: Major trends, risk factors, and prevention approaches.  American Journal of Prevention Medicine, 14, 259-272.

Denham, S. & Hazler, R. (2002).  Social isolation of youth at risk: Conceptualizations and practical implications.  Journal of Counseling & Development, 80 (4).

Hazler, R. & Carney, J. (2000).  When victims turn aggressors: Factors in the development of deadly school violence.  Professional School of Counseling, 4, 105-112.

Garst, B., Scheider, I., & Baker, D., (2001).  Outdoor adventure program participation Impacts on adolescent self-persception.  Training and Development Journal, 24 (1) 40-48.

Interviews

Licensed Social Worker, Personal Interview, October 2004
Marriage Family Therapist, Personal Interview, October 2004
Juvenile Hall Supervisor, Personal Interview, October 2004
Juvenile Hall ward, Personal Interview, October 2004
Recently released Juvenile Hall ward, Personal Interview, October 2004

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