Adolescent residential treatment center for adolescent addiction treatment and teen substance abuse, a wilderness treatment center.

The wilderness program at Wilderness
Recovery Center is a wilderness treatment
center, an adolescent residential treatment
center for adolescent addiction treatment
and teen substance abuse for adolescent
males 14-18, focuses on outdoor
experiences to further therapeutic
recovery of our clients. Implementing
outdoor wilderness experiences in the
counseling of our clients increases the
therapeutic process at the wilderness
treatment center. Self-reliance,
assertiveness, a spirit of cooperation,
trust in peers, and learning
responsibilities are actualized on a daily
basis. Healthy risks are encouraged to
confront fear and self-doubt. Within our
adolescent addiction treatment program
we actively encourage respect for
physical fitness, health and adopting
responsible attitudes and actions.
Individual personal counseling and
instruction on wilderness skills and ethics
are provided in a natural and isolated
environment. Underlying personal issues
that are often difficult to detect and deal
with in confined clinical settings,
surprisingly unfold during wilderness trips.

The majority of our clients in our
wilderness treatment center, come from
home environments where dysfunctional
families, teen substance abuse, and
criminal deviance are tragically a part of
everyday life. Some have spent much of
their young adult lives incarcerated. Some
have never been outside the confines of
an inner city. Most have never
backpacked, gone rock climbing or skiing,
or rafted down a raging white water river.
Neither have they spent the night at
8,000 feet, gazing at a billion twinkling
stars, with only the sound of a rushing
river or the rustling of the wind through
pine trees for company. It is through
experiences like these, coupled with an
intensive residential therapy component
at the wilderness treatment center
facility, in which we hope to make a
difference in our client's futures.

At the wilderness treatment center, our
wilderness instructors/therapists strive to
spend the time helping clients understand
the meaning and relevance of their
wilderness experiences. The end result of
the wilderness therapy program shows
that clients have feelings of personal
empowerment and a sense that others can
be trusted. Increased self-knowledge is
often apparent, as is alterations in one's
sense of values. Through the wilderness
experience clients commonly resolve to
change certain aspects of their lifestyles
and habit patterns.

Client Training and
Instruction
Before participating in any outdoor
wilderness experience at the wilderness
treatment center, clients go through a
regimen of training and instruction at the
wilderness treatment center facility. From
map and compass reading to low impact
camping skills to survival techniques. The
wilderness treatment center facility is
home to an indoor rock climbing gym,
where clients are instructed in belaying,
rappeling, rope handling and care, knots,
anchors and protection placement. Further
trainings and education include cold
weather preparation, avalanche and snow
conditions, nordic skiing techniques,
wilderness first-aid, and hazard
evaluation. Before participating in
activities such as white water rafting or
spelunking, clients receive instruction in
water safety and caving techniques.

Staff to client ratio
There will never be more than three
residents per staff ratio during a
wilderness trip. This ratio of staff to clients
provides adequate and safe supervision of
the residents. Average group size is six
clients with two wilderness guides. While
participating in certain activities such as
white water rafting or rock climbing, it is
necessary to include additional trained
personnel.

Trip frequency and length
Expedition wilderness trips which are
taken once a month last ten to twelve
days. Specialized activities such as white
water rafting and rock climbing last from
a day to five days.

Instructor Qualifications
Wilderness Recovery Center employs
trained wilderness instructors. Each
instructor has to meet specific
qualifications in order to hold the position
of Wilderness Instructor. Emergency
medical training is included, our
Wilderness Instructors are trained and
certified as "Wilderness First Responders
(WFR)."