SUWS youth wilderness program for teenagers from ages 11-17 has come up with a five-day family camp including parents. SUWS therapists send out invitations to parents from all over the country in order to join their teenagers in Shoshone, Idaho for a wilderness experience.
Kathy Rex, Executive Director of SUWS Adolescent and Youth Programs, says "In the wilderness, teens learn dozens of new skills to improve their relationships. But these skills have to translate into real life. At SUWS, we test the waters at family camp. During those five days, our campers are challenged and tested to make sure they understand how to apply these new skills to real-life family conflicts, all under the supervision of a trained therapist."
The main objectives of the family camp are to assist parents in identifying both positive and negative family dynamics, interact with teenagers utilizing new skills, and realize how their teen can use the right tools in order to be capable of success. For others, it may also show how long term treatment can be effective for their teen.
 "By reuniting families halfway through the wilderness program, as opposed to solely at the beginning or end of camp, the child has time to gain a solid footing in treatment and identify his desire for change before reintroducing the family dynamic. Once the teen is completely engaged in the therapeutic process, parents can experience firsthand how the wilderness has changed their child."
The camp begins with a workshop just for the parents. Parents are introduced to the therapeutic tools and wilderness approaches by the trained SUWS counselors through direct therapy sessions and educational seminars. Rex states "At the same time teens are growing and learning new skills, parents are embracing new ways to interact with their child so that the entire family dynamic improves."
The following three days are spent on a wilderness trip with both parents and their teens. Parents get a firsthand experience of wilderness therapy through camping, hiking, cooking by campfire, and forest skills. Exercises are implemented in order to encourage positive communication between parent and teen. Reconnection and healing occur during the process.
"The wilderness portion of family camp helps everyone experience the power of wilderness together, and to start fresh in a new, unfamiliar environment," states Rex. "Once the entire family is on the same plane, they begin to learn new skills and actually enjoy each other's company. For the first time, parents see that their child is capable of immense growth and change. They leave with their hope buckets filled to the brim with all of these new experiences."
For information about the benefits of wilderness therapy you can reach SUWS at (888) 879-7897.
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