By Dore Frances Behavior Outdoor intervention programs have been growing in popularity and variety tremendously for the past 10 years. Terms like boot camps, outdoor behavior programs, wilderness programs, wilderness camps, and wilderness boot camps are being used by programs without clear distinction, definition or meaning. Programs are essentially free to call themselves whatever they want. Parent’s understanding of these programs is becoming distorted and uncertain. Parents looking for an unrealistic quick fix to their adolescent’s or teen’s behaviors, especially over the summer months, usually choose and search on the Internet for what are known as troubled teen camps. There are two types of adolescent and teen camps: boot camps and summer or wilderness camps. They usually last from 21 days to 3 months, and while adolescents may shows signs of improvement for days or even weeks after coming home, they most often revert back to old behaviors after the temporary fear of authority disappears. Boot Camp programs trace their origins to the juvenile justice system where they were created as an alternative to juvenile hall and youth authority camps. Adolescents participated in military-like training programs, usually against their will or as a “persuaded” voluntary alternative to the youth authority system. The Boot Camp was embraced and funded by county and state criminal justice systems. As the boot camp appeal and demand grew, boot camps were next used as an intervention for teens that were getting into trouble at home and at school and those who were coming to the attention of local law enforcement. In the two to four years I have noticed a few boot camps claiming to treat adolescents with behavioral, emotional and psychological problems. Boot camps are military-style facilities that use discipline, fear of authority, military exercises, and rigorous physical training to transform a troubled teen into a “good soldier” who follows rules. Unfortunately, most boot camps do not address underlying behavioral or emotional problems. When boot camps left their structural buildings and entered the outdoors they changed their identity to “wilderness boot camps”. Boot camps have always had some attractiveness to parents and the juvenile justice system. Wilderness boot camps not only retained the boot camp appeal but this blending of program concepts advanced their market appeal by incorporating the “healing power of the wilderness”. However, at this point the wilderness boot camp became a new entity that had very little in common with a wilderness therapy program. In my experience wilderness therapy programs and a wilderness boot camp are separate and opposing treatment models. Without experiential therapy which has proven to profoundly affect teens with issues such as ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s, learning differences, obesity, or behavioral problems, long-term effectiveness is very limited. The behavioral and psychological philosophy of a boot camp needs to be understood and appreciated by any parent considering this intervention. Boot camps are designed to quickly achieve compliance, control, and obedience to authority. The tools employed include subjecting people to severe physical hardship as well as emotional and psychological trauma that is intended to strengthen resolve under pressure and break opposition and defiance. Boot camps use psychological punishment including aggressive gesturing and challenges, bullying, intimidation, threats, and verbal abuse. Positive behavior is rewarded and unwanted behavior is punished. Physical punishment might include corporal punishment, depravation, and isolation, loss of privileges, exhausting exercise, and work details. Adolescents in many programs are hazed in a manner that is now (supposedly) forbidden in a military boot camp. Whatever you might think about corporal punishment, these approaches have been shown to produce quick changes in outward behavior. Teens invariably change their behavior in some way when the alternative is frightening or painful. However, the consequences of severe punishment can also include long term psychological and behavioral problems. When parents do chose to send their troubled adolescent to a boot camp, the best chance for long-term success is to follow it with a residential therapeutic treatment program. In my opinion, wilderness camps are seen as a much better option to boot camps, especially for children with ADD or ADHD. Adolescents and teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often benefit highly from wilderness programs. Why is this? The need for focused attention on challenging tasks in a controlled group setting allows ADD kids to hone not only their skills of concentration, but their social skills. The group experience, when facilitated by experienced counselors, allows ADHD kids to learn how to better interpret feedback from their peers and adjust their behavior appropriately. Parents of kids with ADHD know that schedules and structure help these adolescents and teens thrive. Instead of the aggressive approach that boot camps tend to use, wilderness camps are offer emotional growth and self-esteem components while also working with the teen on their particular behaviors while in a safe outdoor program with trained wilderness staff and therapists. They remove city, inner-city, rural and urban distractions so troubled adolescents and teens can reconnect and accept responsibility for their choices. The assurances and integrity of services offered by wilderness programs does vary a great deal. Some programs are licensed and regulated as outdoor treatment and wilderness programs. Others are state regulated as chemical dependency and mental health treatment programs. Wilderness camps are year round and some include an academic component. Their focus is not on academics; however, the adolescent can earn credits that can be applied, which is especially important for those who have fallen behind during the school year. Wilderness therapy, in the purest form, is a positive growth experience where adolescents and teens face natural challenges and adversities that are designed to be therapeutic in nature. Adolescents are not merely thrown into the wilderness and made to suffer hardships. They are removed from their environment, encouraged, challenged and given every opportunity to succeed. Wilderness therapy programming is overseen by licensed medical and mental health professionals who have experience and training in experiential education, behaviorism as well as group and interpersonal therapy. The wilderness is seen as a place of safety. It is a place where they can look at their life and consider what they were doing, what they were thinking, how that made them feel, what they want and what they are willing to do to make that happen. The wilderness is a place to take action where initiative is naturally rewarding. Adolescents begin to change naturally when they are removed from environments filled with harmful and negative influences and triggering events that produce reckless, self-defeating, or self-destructive behavior. They enter the wilderness on a journey of self-discovery. When teens become involved in routines that are logical and necessary in nature, the natural result is to help each other, communicate, develop relationships, reveal their problems, face the consequences of their behavior and discover their hidden potential. They discover their true feelings as well as more realistic hopes and dreams. It is a time of discovery, reflection, and building new skills. Rather than become angry, annoyed, irritated, outraged or mad, adolescents become assertive, self-assured, and self-confident. Instead of hiding their feelings, they ask for help and talk to people they trust. Instead of rushing around, they learn to listen to others and be patient. In those moments when they are alone watching a sunrise or sunset (and not spending hours on the Internet or watching TV), adolescents discover their true self. When they are frightened and scared of their feelings, they become brave and courageous instead of wounded souls. Parents who have teens heading down the “wrong path” will often see dramatic changes in their teen’s attitude, behavior, and motivation after a therapeutic wilderness camp or other alternative summer camp. Wilderness camps are temporary, with three to four months being the longest, so the best chance for long-term success is to follow it with a residential treatment program. This will supplement and reinforce the treatment adolescents and teens receive at camp. The best wilderness and summer camps have a high ratio of field instructors or counselors to students. This makes the experience the most rewarding, because no student can be “lost in the crowd.” Safety needs to be your top consideration when you evaluate programs on your own. Ask the right questions - and many questions - before sending your adolescent or teen to any program. Universities now provide earned degrees in experiential education - a discipline that is becoming a cornerstone in wilderness therapy programs. The philosophical, structural and programmatic differences between a wilderness therapy program and a boot camp program are, in my opinion, worlds apart. (Note* Dore Frances, Educational Consultant does not recommend, support or network with any “boot camps” for adolescents or teens) Experienced, Full-Time Independent Educational Consultants and Special Education IEP Advisors. Finding the right program or school for your daughter or son can be a stressful and time consuming process. While families have traditionally had to orchestrate their own program or school search, we offer a wide variety of professional services to help you find the best school for your child. http://www.guidingteens.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dore_Frances http://EzineArticles.com/?Camps-for-Adolescents-and-Teens&id=174589
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