For many parents of adolescents or teens in crisis, a therapeutic wilderness program is the ideal option during the summer months, when the structure and supervision of the school year gives way to extended periods of potentially dangerous free time.

 

But with so many programs to choose from, how can a parent determine which option can help turn a struggling teen into a successful student?

 

One way to evaluate therapeutic wilderness programs is to look for a program that has stood the test of time. And in that category, one program stands head and shoulders above the rest.

 

SUWS Wilderness Programs, the nation’s longest continuously operating therapeutic wilderness program, has been serving young people and their families for an unprecedented 30 consecutive years. 

Clearly, much has changed in the decades since SUWS opened in 1981. But at SUWS, certain elements haven't changed a bit. These bedrock traditions -- namely a  commitment to the highest quality of care and a dedication to helping struggling youth and their families – have provided the program with a firm foundation upon which to grow, evolve, and continue to improve.

 

“We’ve had a lot of changes over the years,” said SUWS Executive Director Kathy Rex, “but our underlying philosophies and our dedication to helping children and families get their lives back on track has been a constant through the decades.”

"In our earlier days, we worked primarily with the child in crisis," Rex said. "Today, we identify the entire family’s struggle, not just the child’s struggle.”

 

Highlights of SUWS's efforts to address the entire family include regular communication with parents throughout the student's enrollment period, and an innovative Family Camp that gives parents a first-hand look at the many benefits of wilderness education.

 

“The Family Camp has been unbelievably successful,” Rex said. “The parents come out to Idaho when their children are about halfway through the program, and they spend five days immersed in the program.. It’s a life-changing experience for the families.”

Studies ahve documented that wilderness therapy has proven effective in helping adolescents and teens who have been struggling with the following challenges:

SUWS offers therapeutic wilderness programs for boys and girls ages 11 to 17 with a focus on clinical intervention and assessment. Based in southern Idaho, the programs use the outdoors as an alternative to conventional treatment environments, while engaging students using traditional therapeutic methods. 

 

Since 1981, SUWS programs have provided guidance and support to thousands of misdirected and at-risk teens experiencing low self-esteem, defiant behavior, attention deficit, depression, substance abuse, and other emotional and behavioral issues.

 

SUWS is a program of Aspen Education Group, the nation’s leading provider of therapeutic education programs for struggling or underachieving young people. Aspen’s services range from short-term intervention programs to residential treatment, and include a variety of therapeutic settings such as boarding schools, outdoor behavioral health programs and special needs summer camps, allowing professionals and families the opportunity to choose the best setting to meet a student’s unique academic and emotional needs.

 

Aspen Education Group is a member of CRC Health Group, the most comprehensive network of specialized behavioral care services in the nation. For over two decades, CRC Health has been achieving successful outcomes for individuals and families.