Cherry Gulch Family Workshop A Huge Success

Hope bloomed and relationships blossomed at the quarterly family workshop at Cherry Gulch, a therapeutic boarding school. A record number of parents braved the Idaho winter conditions to participate in the three day event. The workshop sought to emulate the learning environment and therapeutic experience the program provides for the boys, by utilizing the same blend of group, experiential and instructional techniques.

The activities and experiences were all tied in to elements of the theme for this workshop, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens." Families were encouraged to approach the weekend with a "win-win" mindset as they set goals and expectations for their experience. Learning initiatives such as, "Evolution" and "M&M Thumb wrestling" fostered team work and cohesion, while allowing the families to mingle and become acquainted. These budding relationships between parents gained strength and depth as they shared their fears, feelings and successes about parenting in supportive groups. The parents of boys who were new to the therapeutic boarding school found strength and solace in the words and convictions of parents whose sons were further along. In an appreciative e-mail one such parent stated, "I arrived searching for confirmation that I was doing the right thing for my family and son by sending him to Cherry Gulch. I received that confirmation abundantly throughout the weekend. I left with a renewed sense of purpose and hope."

Parents were able to view and participate in further aspects of their boys experience during part of this family workshop through a Judo demonstration by the local Sensei and the boys most advanced in Judo. They were able to join their sons on the mat to learn and practice the fundamental art of falling. The boys were excited to share some of their academic activities by launching rockets they had designed and built and entertaining their parents by performing a humorously adapted play of "The Prince and the Pauper."

The parents continued to bond while sharing further insights and wisdom during instructional segments including: Family Rules, Parenting Traps, Coping Skills and Resiliency. Other popular events were an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy activity wherein families lead horses through an obstacle course with pieces of string and an art project in which they designed and painted Mandalas on river rocks the boys had selected from the nearby river. After an emotional closing group for families to review and discuss their goals and progress for the weekend from this family workshop, great fun and friendship was had at a nearby snow tubing hill.

Cherry Gulch is a small private owner operated, award winning ranch-style therapeutic boarding school designed specifically for 10 to 14 year old boys.