Wilderness Therapeutic Programs & Camps

At Abundant Life Academy, exceptional Christian boarding schools for troubled teens, a separate program for boys and girls, is an alternative to the Wilderness Therapy Program. Although, at Abundant Life Academy we believe in the concept and value of what the Wilderness Programs offer, they fail to deliver some very important components that cant be dismissed. Troubled teens are acting out, that is obvious. But why? To know why a teenager is acting out is the first step toward restoration. Wildernesses Therapy Programs are one option that parents have available as an assessment and evaluation process, getting to the bottom line issue. Below, we present valid and pertinent information about the wilderness therapy camps and compare those services with the services offered by Abundant Life Academy.

Wilderness therapy programs, better known as “wilderness therapeutic programs”, are sometimes referred to as Outdoor Education Camps with a therapeutic assessment, have proven themselves to be exceptional catalysts for change in troubled boys or troubled girls. Wilderness Therapy Programs are exclusively designed to assess and then begin the treatment of the troubled teen. A troubled teen is a girl or boy who is “acting out”, is “at-risk”, or otherwise in trouble (alcohol or drug use, failing school, social dysfunctions, and general rebellion and opposition to authority).

The better-known wilderness therapeutic treatment programs, such as Second Nature Wilderness Programs, are clinically driven. Meaning, the reason the program is in the wilderness is the unique opportunity for a clinician to evaluate and assess the participant without all the distractions normally associated with troubled teenagers. During the clinical portion of the therapeutic camp the student/camper is evaluated by a licensed mental health professional. Student/campers are essentially in the wilderness where the unique environment allows the therapist to gain a more genuine look at the underlying issues that are causing acting out behavior.

Abundant Life Academy, a Christian boarding school for gifted troubled teenagers provides the same essential type of clinical evaluation as does the Wilderness Camps, but without the dangers of the wilderness. Abundant Life Academy has created a unique therapeutic environment, which is perfectly conducive to capturing the real cause of the youth’s underlying issues. The ALA therapeutic treatment program, referred to as the ALA Leadership Camp, evaluates the struggling teens in order to uncover the deeper reasons for the behavioral problems such as; low self-esteem, poor school performance, defiance of authority, ADD/ADHD, depression, bipolar, and drug or alcohol abuse. ALA is the equivalent to the Wilderness Therapeutic/Therapy program, and we succeed where they fail.

Besides the danger associated with a teenager being out in the “wild”, the main drawback to the typical Wilderness Therapy Camp, such as Second Nature Wilderness Programs, is the fact that students do not earn high school credit during the camp experience. Basically, during the wilderness trek the camper is out of school for 2 to 3 months. Upon their return home, they are that much more behind. This can cause a student to be more angry and hopeless than ever before. Their already bad academic problems have gotten that much worse.  Sometimes this academic setback is more than the student is willing to tackle, and they simply give up.

Through the ALA Leadership Camp, ALA’s equivalent to the Wilderness Camp, our program helps the struggling youth by teaching them to take accountability for themselves, assume responsibility for their past and future actions, and to set forth a pro-social path toward adulthood. The ALA student gains emotional intelligence, enjoys the reward of credit repair and grade recovery, and has a sense of hope toward their immediate and long-term opportunities. These formerly troubled teens understand what led them astray, and they stop looking for someone to blame for his/her unhappiness. The ALA Student Camper learns that they’re not a victim, but that they are a victor! Troubled boys and girls will develop boldness, a sense of purpose and destiny, upon the completion of the ALA program.