The Wilderness Treatment Center utilizes outdoor experiences to further therapeutic recovery of our clients.  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 life styles and habit patterns. Click here for Wilderness Treatment Center program details.

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.

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.

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.

Trip frequency and length Expedition wilderness trips which are taken twice a month last eight 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)."

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