Expedition Therapy Students Serve Ironman Project

Expedition Therapy students and staff recently performed a service project at the Ironman Race in St. George, UT, held on Saturday, May 5, 2012. The Expedition Therapy group ran a hydration station, providing water and nutrition to runners along the 26.2-mile running segment of the race, which followed the 2.4-mile swimming and the 112-mile biking segments.

"We are pleased to have been able to participate in this world-famous event," said Beth Fogel, Expedition Therapy CEO. "The Ironman is a perfect example of what individuals can achieve when they focus on a goal and thoroughly prepare themselves to achieve it. This is a powerful life lesson for our students to experience firsthand, and the feedback we have received from them reflects this."

Post-race comments from two participating Expedition Therapy students illustrate what they gained from the experience:

"Volunteering for the Ironman was a really interesting experience. The Ironman is the ultimate test of the individual's abilities, yet they still have a support structure of thousands of people. That was the most powerful message to me. It's a really strong metaphor for life in general, and how even the strongest people have a support structure they use when they need it. I have not been willing to use my support structure in the past because I thought it was a sign of weakness. Volunteering at the Ironman really hammered home the fact that it's not a weakness - it's a necessity if you want to keep moving forward. It was also a great example of what you can achieve if you put your mind to it."

"The Ironman competition was an amazing thing to watch and be a part of. It was almost surreal to watch so many incredible athletes pushing themselves to the limit. Something that blew my mind was that all these individuals were doing the Ironman for themselves. They did not need any external gratification to push themselves. In my own football and track experience, external gratification from fans cheering me on was the fuel that helped me push myself. As I look back on this, I realize that I needed that external gratification to feel good about my performances and myself. After experiencing the Ironman, I realized my lack of internal gratification. It will be something I work on while at Expedition Therapy."

Ms. Fogel added, "Service projects like this are an integral part of the Expedition Therapy curriculum. Our other projects include volunteering at animal shelters, cleaning up and maintaining national park sites, and many more opportunities for Expedition Therapy students to "give back" and fully understand what service means, as well as what it feels like. This is an essential part of what it means to be an adult and fully participate in the world."

To refer a student or for additional information, contact Tara Cook, Admissions Representative, by phone at 435-879-9015 or by email at expeditiontherapyadmissions@gmail.com.

Expedition Therapy is a structured, intensive, hands-on, experiential, solution-focused experience that unfolds in the etched mountain pathways, brilliantly carved canyons, and striking topography of the desert southwest. The Expedition Therapy Team specializes in working with emerging young adults age 18+ who have yet to find a productive and intentional path in life. At Expedition Therapy, students learn organizational and time management skills, as well as how to plan and lead an expedition step by step, from route finding to follow through. These skills are readily transferable to whatever happens next. The Expedition Therapy Team takes pride in the process of engagement and relationship building, providing unconditional acceptance in a culturally diverse setting. Our Therapeutic Expedition Mentality� is an empowering option for adults who want to learn how to create a balance in their lives, stay sober, and reconnect with their authentic selves. At Expedition Therapy, we help young adults discover the inner focus, direction and motivation they need to move themselves forward in their lives.