There is much discussion about the benefits of sending students to a wilderness program. The industry has been facing significant challenges over the years identifying these benefits, in measureable terms, leaving some programs to close. While many consultants sucessfully placed students in these programs, their have been many parents who also question the validity of these programs. Many have been compared to "boot camps" while others have a sometime vague description.
Many wilderness programs have made significant changes to the length of stay comparing the actual cost of the program. This has made this type of placement more affordable, but it also has lead to asking questions by parents of the value of these types of progams. This is particulary true when there have been not well documented information on the value of these programs over the years by stafff not familar with documentation.
Many wilderness programs have made significant changes to the length of stay comparing the actual cost of the program. This has made this type of placement more affordable, but it also has lead to asking questions by parents of the value of these types of progams. This is particulary true when there have been not well documented information on the value of these programs over the years by stafff not familar with documentation.
While several programs have offered complete information on the value of these programs, professional associations have just taken a look at the requirement by accrediting associations and standards which has changed the way businesses like wilderness programs have operated in the past.
Organizations, like TheNational Assocation of Therapeutic Schools have taken serious look at both state to state, and federal or health care guidelines of these programs exploring with legislators the reason these programs even exist. Much of the criticisn in the industry, has come from parents who have had children in wildereness programs and complained of not having trained professionals to insure safety in the industy.
While there are a range of topics on this issue, many programs like Red Cliff, Second Nature, Open Sky and SWSU have either changed their program to be more safer or developed well documented data so support their programs. Our tours and speaking to program directors or staff, have been many are moving to a medical model in their programs.
This method is to identify the better programs, and to help families. These programs may also vary philosophy and in cost. Safety, which becomes the concern of most parents, has been a greater concern for parents and the industry is now monitering safety in programs, using very clinically based monitering, from taking routine check of students in the field, both medically and keeping the kind of information needed to show weight loss and gain to showing improved physical strength and endurance.
Whille helping these families is what educational consultants do best it is also clear programs are now doing their best to improve the outcome measures of wilderness programs. Not having professionally trained staff to provide adequate traiing is certainly a concern of mosst parents sending their child to a program.
Many programs now have increased their Master Level clinicians in the fielsw and are doing therapy in the field. An example of this model is Red Cliff Accent. The not only have equipment which is safe, but staff monintering the ue of this equipment in the field. Also, dietary concerns, as mentioned earlier are of great concern for adolescents with low body weight or even overweight conditions.
While many children these days remain overweight and in poor condition, wilderness progams are moving in a direction to looking at obesity in chlidren and certainly looking at methods to improve this condition. It is estimated that many children living in the United States are overweight.
The cost versus the safety in any programs or the length of staying out of the field seem to vary. This is a concern for many parentsw and having adolesecent or children who are overweight or underweight engaged in outdoor activities of this kind is of growing concern to programs.
We have determined therapy is not always being done in all programs neither are there measures clear to a parents. However, The Associations like the National Association of Outdoor Wilderness has done more documentatin with programs like Red Cliff as well as SUSW and Second Nature.
Sucessful wilderness programs, are usually taking data and collecting this information offering more information to families. A family portal is also being used in some programs to allow parents to see the sucess of the programs using photography or even jouraling.
Parents are unlikely to go to associations like the Rehabilitation Facilities or other associations unless there is neglect. Even when parents are concern about the length of time their child spends in a wilderness program is often is a matter of simply not communicating with their child until after graduation from a program.
The largest part of why the industry has had so many challeges, is its not taking steps to collect data or due to the lacking in outcome measures which have to be document similar to doing medical record keeping. Insconsistency in the industry has lead many insurance companies not to pay for these programs.
At one time, many of these programs were seen as very benefical, using behavioral management terms, now, these terms are either unclear or not aw well document by non profesisonally trained individuals. Documentation simply did not exist, until residental programs or similar program were made to be more accountable by agencies. The question many consultants may have to answer with parents is: Why do consultants and parents send their children to a wilderness programs? Who is responsible for these programs? What outcome measures have been established after leaving the program, and what follow up is being done.
These questions have been quite varied, among programs and depending on the program, this might leave the consultants with unanwered questions too. While many consultants with great experience working with families may have significant knowledge of the program, they may not understand the outcomes of these programs. In many cases, a consultant familar with wilderness program will make the best assessment based on the child's behavior. Not exclusivley measure of what the program will do.
The real meaure of the any therapeutic program is to identify the specific outcomes or interventions used by the clinican, not by the staff trained in outdoor recreation, as many types of interventions may be used in a wilderness program.
However, a educational consultant must be familar with these intervetions to keep parents informed of these benefits. Consultants likewise can help families by placing students in the correct programs to measure outcomes, rather than simply saying "a wilderness program is our first step".
Wilderness program may have several components. Some focus on teaching daily living skills and other work on areas of leadership, responsiblity, working together, therapy or cooperation, and some are specfically designed to be focused on behavior modification.
Wilderness program may have several components. Some focus on teaching daily living skills and other work on areas of leadership, responsiblity, working together, therapy or cooperation, and some are specfically designed to be focused on behavior modification.
Many of these programs are rather vague, when explaing this to families. A consultat might say " a step down from a therapeutic school placement", is better than no placement, but this "simply does not make sense in the managed care model.
When a student's behavior is not reachable or attainable this is simply not the measure of having students in a wilderness program. We have spoken to many parents about their child leaving wilderness programs simply unaware of the purpose they were in the program.
Basically not having specific direction in these program may mean there is limted sucessful outcomes, no matter what the cost. We suggest, some questions we have about any wilderness program or the intervention used in that program be discussed before the placement.
This needs to be address to all parents and consultant need to be prepared for these questions. Peer interaction is not a meaure of outcome for adolescents. Having other adolescent to model behavior is not a sucesful way to determine a change in adolescent behavior.
A consultant working in this area need to know if the program has clear measureable outcomes. Whether these outcome are clincially measured or identified by staff. Who is measuring these outcomes, their qualifications are as important as the program itself. Any intervention can be used and not be the right intervention for adolescents.
Most students, have said to us, "its a whole lot better", entering a therapeutic school after attending a wilderness program, while others say "they did not want to go to wilderness in the first place". Sucessful wilderness programs should be very supervised, but they also need a clinical component. Staff which is untrained in wildereness can be a disaster. Also having staff without knowledge of safety issues or use of outdoor equipment can be very challenging but there are many programs which have clinical knowledge and therapy services. Some programs can damage a student, permanently when the program is developed by untrained individuals.
Many wilderness programs are now making changes to address this issue. Others are still faced with challenges of finding the right fit for the right student. When hiring an educaational consultant, there are many ways a consultant can help a student placed in a wilderness program. Many schools now have wilderness as a component, to moving in a therapeutic school program which might work for a family. The experience needs to be a sound academic program along with clearly defined goals based on outcome measures. The staff also needs to be trained in leadership and safety. The students should be able to demonstrate measureable improvement in behavior by measureable outcome measures, not just behavior which is temporary or not significant to improving the self esteem of the student.
A consultant working with a family should examine all the safety issues in a wilderness program, the cost, whether transition from a wilderness program is even needed, and if it is needed, how long? Where will the student go following this type of placement. These are very important questions to address with a family by the consultant. Does the student have a health risk, that might preclude being in a program. Does the student have a eating disorder, or a managament of health issue, diabetes, poor nutrition, or a health risk, which might be harmful to the student being in a wilderness program. Most students have to have a physical before entering a program. Is it possible to have this done? What resistance would happen from the student if they were not in the program? Are there any legal implications?
Does the student have a substance abuse issue? How long has it been a problem? Will sending them to a program make things even more challenging. What back up plan do you have? What means of getting to the program do you have in place? All these areas need to be addressed? Would it be better for the consultant to make the decision or offer this to the parents? What intervention are consulants providing by making the decision for the family? Does the family undestand these options?
Most students, have said to us, "its a whole lot better", entering a therapeutic school after attending a wilderness program, while others say "they did not want to go to wilderness in the first place". Sucessful wilderness programs should be very supervised, but they also need a clinical component. Staff which is untrained in wildereness can be a disaster. Also having staff without knowledge of safety issues or use of outdoor equipment can be very challenging but there are many programs which have clinical knowledge and therapy services. Some programs can damage a student, permanently when the program is developed by untrained individuals.
Many wilderness programs are now making changes to address this issue. Others are still faced with challenges of finding the right fit for the right student. When hiring an educaational consultant, there are many ways a consultant can help a student placed in a wilderness program. Many schools now have wilderness as a component, to moving in a therapeutic school program which might work for a family. The experience needs to be a sound academic program along with clearly defined goals based on outcome measures. The staff also needs to be trained in leadership and safety. The students should be able to demonstrate measureable improvement in behavior by measureable outcome measures, not just behavior which is temporary or not significant to improving the self esteem of the student.
A consultant working with a family should examine all the safety issues in a wilderness program, the cost, whether transition from a wilderness program is even needed, and if it is needed, how long? Where will the student go following this type of placement. These are very important questions to address with a family by the consultant. Does the student have a health risk, that might preclude being in a program. Does the student have a eating disorder, or a managament of health issue, diabetes, poor nutrition, or a health risk, which might be harmful to the student being in a wilderness program. Most students have to have a physical before entering a program. Is it possible to have this done? What resistance would happen from the student if they were not in the program? Are there any legal implications?
Does the student have a substance abuse issue? How long has it been a problem? Will sending them to a program make things even more challenging. What back up plan do you have? What means of getting to the program do you have in place? All these areas need to be addressed? Would it be better for the consultant to make the decision or offer this to the parents? What intervention are consulants providing by making the decision for the family? Does the family undestand these options?
A consultant can answer most of these questions for a family, adding additional support in this type of placement. Knowing the program is essential to any sucess of this type of placement. Would you send you child to a wilderness program? What have you heard about wilderness programs. Did you know that many sucessful placements start with wilderness programs. How long would be considered a good length of time for a wilderness program?
