What Makes a Great Wilderness Camp? by:Jenna Brooklyn

So you have a troubled teen and you have decided that a wilderness camp is the best way to help your teen recover

. Fine but which camp is best suited to your teen?

Well of course that depends on the type of trouble your teen is in and that in turn will determine the type of wilderness camp you should choose. There is a wide selection and here are some tips to help you find what is best for your son or daughter.

Therapy levels. If your child needs a full-on caring program involving therapy then select the camp which provides just that. Some wilderness camps have a limited amount of therapy and allow such things as the great outdoors and the challenging physical routines to bring about healing. Ask for details on the therapy - how much, how often and in what format?

Staff numbers. You should know all manner of things regarding the staff. What are their qualifications, how long have they worked with troubled teens, where did they study and how long have they been on this particular wilderness camp? Then how many staff and how many students are in attendance? Remember a low student staff ratio is usually preferable provided the quality of the therapists and the program are tip top as well.

The setting. A wilderness camp is so named because of its location. Make sure the setting is as good as possible. Your child needs to be far from the madding crowd, in the pristine great outdoors where they can appreciate nature and not be distracted by the people and places they know when at home.

Long lasting benefits. This is not a holiday although it might turn out to be wonderfully enjoyable. A wilderness camp is an opportunity to change the mindset, the attitude and the abilities of your son or daughter. You want them to gain self-confidence and self-respect plus respect for others. And you want these changes to last. The best wilderness camps can show research which demonstrates how their campers become and remain happy campers with long-lasting benefits.

Good balance. The best camps will have the right amount of therapy and outdoor living experiences. Hiking into the wilderness, lighting your own fire and cooking your own meal, surviving in the wild are all part of the experience. But so too is the therapy to help your child become a new teenager. The best camp will have the right balance of the two activities.

Specific programs. There might be a great deal of therapy and most of it could be on a one to one basis. But is it the right therapy? A child with drug problems and another who has ADHD will not be given the same therapy. The best camps will match the needs of the camper with the expertise available.

Don't rush your choice. There is a camp or camps which will have the quality to really make a significant change to the life of your troubled teen. Find that wilderness camp and you could have a new teen on your hands.

About the author

Are you looking for a wilderness program for your teen? Check out http://www.teenwildernessprograms.org/teen-wilderness-programs/. Provides Free tips and advice about wilderness programs and in selecting the right wilderness therapy programs.

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