NCJ Number
58619
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TULSA, OKLAHOMA WILDERNESS PROGRAM INCLUDING PARTICIPANTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 1978 IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE TULSA WILDERNESS PROGRAM, WHICH RESULTED FORM THE EFFORTS OF MANY PEOPLE AT THE TULSA COUNTY JUVENILE BUREAU, WAS PATTERNED AFTER THE OUTWARD BOUND MODEL, AND BEGAN OPERATION IN NOVEMBER, 1977. ITS BASIC PURPOSE IS TO REACH DELINQUENT YOUNGSTERS THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES OF RIGOROUS PHYSICAL CHALLENGE IN A WILDERNESS SETTING. IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH, AND IS NOT A REHABILITATIVE PROGRAM. WILDERNESS PROGRAM REFERRALS ARE MADE BY PROBATION COUNSELORS; YOUNGSTERS ARE ACCEPTED ONLY AFTER A STAFF MEMBER MEETS WITH THE CHILD AND THE PARENTS. PARTICIPATION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTEER. DURING 1978, 70 YOUNGSTERS PARTICIPATED IN THE WILDERNESS PROGRAM; A TOTAL OF 16 WILDERNESS TRIPS WERE CONDUCTED, RANGING FROM 2 TO 10 DAYS. TRIPS TO SITES WHICH INCLUDED OKLAHOMA, NEW MEXICO AND COLORADO, WERE PARTIALLY FINANCED THROUGH MONEY EARNED BY PARTICIPANTS FROM CHOPPING WOOD. IN ADDITION TO THE TRIPS, WILDERNESS LEADERS CONDUCTED WORKSHOPS ON MANY DIFFERENT TOPICS INCLUDING ROCK CLIMBING, WINTER SURVIVAL, AND SKY TALKS. DURING 1978, THERE WERE 8 WORKSHOPS, 4 CLASS LECTURES, 9 PREPARATION GROUPS AND 38 DAY GROUPS. THE STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE WILDERNESS SETTING SHOULD BE ISOLATED, AND THAT SELECTED ACTIVITIES BE RUGGED AND CHALLENGING; GROUP SAFETY DURING EXPEDITIONS IS STRESSED. DATA PROVIDED. (LWM)