Should You Choose a Wilderness Camp?

When you have a troubled teen, you will do anything to get them back on the right track. Some parents consider sending their teen to a boot camp, but there is another option, wilderness camp. There are some distinct differences between the two and factors that you should consider before sending your child to a wilderness camp.

A lot of people really don't know what a wilderness camp is or what they do. A wilderness camp is best described as a blend between corrective discipline, camping, and therapy. Their goal is to help teens learn to resolve conflicts, address their internal demons, and improve their self-esteem. They do this through individual and group therapy session and activities that build cooperation, communication skills, and responsibility. Some programs will also give teens the opportunity to earn their high school diploma.

Typically, wilderness camps don't have guards, fences, and other strict military style rules like boot camps. These camps are not all sunshine and roses though. The teens work hard, and the weather is not always good. It can be very demanding physically. For that reason, it is a good idea to have your teen go through a complete physical, including a drug screen, before sending them to a wilderness camp. Surviving the elements can take small physical ailments and make them ten times worse. Make sure that your teen is up to the challenge. Also ask the camp about their medical staff and their emergency procedures. Find out how they treat everything from minor injuries to major illness. You want your teen to learn a lesson, not become permanently injured or even worse, die.

When you are researching wilderness camps, be sure to ask some of the following questions. What is their philosophy? What techniques do they use? How long is their program? What is their success rate? How long have they been in business? What kind of experience or education does the director and counselors have?

Ask for references and call those references. Talk to other parents that have used the wilderness camp and whether or not it was able to help their teen. Of course, it isn't going to work for everyone, but you can get a good indication if you speak to several different people. Regardless of the camp that you choose, do you homework! Leave no question unasked.

The ultimate question has to be – Do these programs work or not? That depends on several factors like the teen, the program itself, and the issues the teen is facing. Some believe that the degree of severity and the length of the program also make a big difference in its success. As I said before, not every program is going to work for every teen. As a parent, you have to make that tough decision whether or not your teen would benefit from a program like wilderness camp. However, if you arm yourself with knowledge and approach using these programs with an open mind, then wilderness camp may be the answer that you have been searching for.

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