NCJ Number
101121
Date Published
Unknown
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Based on a May 1984 workshop, this pamphlet examines the goals and operation of wilderness interventions and provides descriptions of five California programs that can be used as adjuncts or alternatives to existing juvenile correctional programming.
Abstract
Wilderness programs combine proven casework interventions with the challenges of wilderness survival to achieve rapid individual growth and behavior change. Such programs help juveniles improve self-esteem, provide immediate feedback, teach responsibility, and improve leadership skills. The five programs offer a variety of wilderness experiences and activities (e.g., backpacking, rope courses, sailing) for angry, troubled, at-risk, and/or delinquent youth. Some are sponsored by private nonprofit and for-profit organizations, others by public-sector agencies. They range in scope from weekend camps and single-day projects to demanding 28-day wilderness experiences. By carefully managing risk, these wilderness/outdoor intervention programs provide immediate feedback on decisions while teaching skills, responsibility, teamwork, trust, and cooperation. The careful management of risk requires that programs develop methods to ensure safety at all program levels, through planning, staff training, codification of procedures, care of equipment, and consideration of potential liability.