NEW ADMISSIONS FOR BLACKWATER
(January 2000) Dr. George Bright, founder and owner of Blackwater Outdoor Experiences, Midlothian, Virginia, 804-794-8900, announced Judith Dahlheimer will be handling their admissions.

OAKLEY PERCENTAGES
(January 2000) Jared Balmer, Ex. Dir. Of Oakley School, Oakley, Utah, 435-783-5001, reported their student body population statistics showed approximately: 50% had graduated from a wilderness program, 30% had come from a longer more highly structured program, and 20% were enrolled to prevent the behavior at home from becoming worse.

NAYLOR RESIGNS FROM CEDU
(February 29, 2000) Mike Naylor resigned as Chief Executive Officer of CEDU Family of Services, 800-990-2338, effective on this day. Rae Ann Knopf is the interim Chief Operating Officer during the search for a permanent CEO.

EQUINE-ASSISTED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE HANDBOOK
(March 2000) The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), Santaquin, Utah, 877-858-4600. announced the second printing of their Equine-Assisted Mental Health Resource Handbook. Though the advertising deadline has passed, there may still be time for qualified personnel to be listed.

UNIQUE SUCCESS AT FLYING H
(March 2000) Pete Smith, Administrator for the Flying H Youth Ranch, in Naches, Washington, 509-658-2990, a Christian boarding school, announced that as the result of conducting their standard enrollment interview, in one family the “mother resolved to tear up the pending divorce papers, the father purposed to stop his drinking, and the boy promised to be obedient and submissive!” The family then got in the car and returned home and reported several weeks later all of them had successfully implemented their promises at home, using the daily grade sheets and system of rewards and consequences they had seen at Flying H.

CEDU UPDATES
(March 2000) The new CEDU Middle School’s dorm is expected to be completed by late April. John M. Norris, Ph.D. joined CEDU as Regional Academic Director of CEDU Schools of North Idaho. Ascent reported 1999 as the most successful year yet, largely because of an increase in the number of professional referrals. Their Milestones program, for young adults over the age of 18, has 14 students.

CHRIS KOCUREK & CAROLYN FINAN EXPECTING
(March 4, 2000) Chris Kocurek, who is taking over operations of the SageWalk Wilderness Program in Bend, Oregon, 800-877-1922, and Carolyn Finan, Academic Answers in Austin, Texas, 512-306-8567 are expecting their first child in October. The Doctors have assured them it will be a little boy.

COOKE OF ECHO SPRINGS VISITS
(March 20, 2000) Mike Cooke, with Echo Springs Transition Study Center, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, 208-267-1111, a transitional program for young adults ages 18 and above, stopped by to introduce himself. Mike is helping out with the program and is also helping Rhea Verbanic, Admissions Director, with admissions.

JANE SAMUEL (STEWART) JOINS NEW LEAF ACADEMY
(March 29, 2000) Jane Samuel (known to most of us as Jane Stewart over the years) announced she has joined New Leaf Academy in Bend, Oregon, 541-389-6065, a small school for pre-teen girls. Jane’s first major project will be to help establish their second school, which is planned to open about a year from now. Jane has been Program Director at Northstar Center, also in Bend, Oregon for the four years after it was acquired by Aspen Youth Services. Before that she was Admissions Director for Northstar Center. Bill Riley, from Montana, 541-385-8657, will replace her as NorthStar Center’s Program Director.

OBHIC QUOTED IN WILDERNESS JOURNAL
(April 2000) The Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Council (OBHIC) was quoted in the International Journal of Wilderness, April issue Volume 6, Number 1, p. 39, as committing to a statement of philosophy regarding the use of public lands. “OBHIC believes that the use of public wildlands by outdoor treatment and therapeutic programs is a legitimate use of these lands, is compatible with the practice of multiple use, and lies within the scope and purpose of the concept of public lands.”

WHITE & TREADWAY FROM CRATER LAKE VISIT
(April 4, 2000) Mona Treadway & Glenn White, from Crater Lake School, Sprague River, Oregon, admissions phone number 888-774-8724, instructors for the school, stopped by Woodbury Reports to explain a renewed emphasis on using the wilderness as a tool by the school. White and Treadway also discussed the possibility of running independent wilderness expeditions at some point in the future as an adjunct to their work at Crater Lake School.

GRAY WOLF RANCH CERTIFIED BY CARF
(April 11, 2000) David Lewis, Ex. Dir. Of the Gray Wolf Ranch Wilderness Recovery Lodge, Port Townsend, Washington, 360-385-5505, a program for young men ages 14 to 25 needing residential help towards a sober lifestyle, reported the Ranch was just certified as a Residential Treatment Facility by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This was awarded after Gray Wolf Ranch was operational only 2 ½ years.

NEW ADDITION TO PRINCE FAMILY
(April 12, 2000) Brigham Prince was born April 12, 2000 to Darren Prince, Admissions Director to Copper Canyon Academy, Camp Verde, Arizona, 520-567-1322, and his wife Angie. A redhead, he weighed in at 10 lbs, 4 oz. This is their third child, and the first one to be born at home with the parents taking the major responsibility, supported by a mid-wife.

DR. HENTSCHKE APPOINTED TO ASPEN BOARD
(April 4, 2000) Elliot A. Sainer, CEO of Aspen Youth Services, headquartered in Cerritos, California, 562-467-5507, announced Dr. Guilbert Hentschke has been appointed to Aspen’s Board of Directors. Dr. Hentschke is currently the Dean of the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California (USC).

HIGH PEAKS INCREASES NUMBER
(April 4, 2000) Troy Bird, with High Peaks Wilderness, Roosevelt, Utah, 435-722-0958, announced their license for the number of co-ed students allowed in their program has been increased from eight to 18.

PROJECT PATCH WEB SITE
(April 5, 2000) Lynette Anderson, Director of Admissions for Project Patch, Oregon, 503-653-8086, announced they now have their web site online. “Project PATCH (Planned Assistance for Troubled Children) provides a Christian alternative resource for young people facing detention, homelessness or a dysfunctional home situation. The program has been in operation since January, 1984.”

VAN BLARIGAN STORY RESURRECTED
(April 5, 2000) Writer Thomas Mournian, writer for the Internet alternative news outlet San Francisco Bay Guardian, described his trip to Tranquility Bay in Jamaica. The date of the trip was not stated but seems to be a couple of years ago since the writer was not aware of David’s statement to People magazine in September, 1998 which is contained on this web site. The writer, Mourniann, went there on a quest to meet David van Blarigan and get the story from him about what he thought about being sent there. David van Blarigan was the center of a court action where a local Bay area prosecutor lost his legal action to force David’s parents to bring him back home. The article traced Tranquility Bay’s TASK seminars back through Lifespring, est, to the Spanish Inquisition, the anti-Papist trials, and Chinese thought control or “reeducation.” As you might imagine, the general tone is hostile.

KING GEORGE SCHOOL WEB SITE ONLINE
(April 5, 2000) Rebecca Plona, Director of Admissions at King George School, Sutton, Vermont, 800-218-5122, announced their new web page is now online. College acceptances for their graduating seniors include Bennington College, Rollins College, Stetson University, Union College, Georgia Tech, Worcester Polytechnical Institute, and Renssalaer.

TALISMAN FAMILY CAMP
(April 5, 2000) Linda Tatsapaugh announced for Stone Mountain School & Talisman Summer Camp, Black Mountain, North Carolina, 828-669-8639, that the Talisman Family Camp is scheduled for August 3-6, 2000. “The program is designed for families interested in exploring their roles and communication styles toward building their strengths as a family. The itinerary includes initiative games, role explorations, camp life activities, and a day on an Alpine Tower.”

CATHERINE FREER ADVENTURE CAMPS
(April 10, 2000) Rob Cooley, 541-926-7252, announced their summer camp schedule for the upcoming season. These are sessions for children needing the experience and growth of wilderness expeditions rather than the intensive emotional growth/therapy of the Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Expeditions. Each camp lasts approximately two weeks, one devoted to Whitewater, one devoted to Climbing, and one devoted to Mountain Biking.

SUWS BEGINS WEEKLY ENROLLMENT
(April 11, 2000) The SUWS Adolescent & Youth Programs, Gooding Idaho, 888-879-7897, announced they are initiating an admissions policy of weekly enrollment for their youth wilderness program, a program for pre-teens.

JEFF JOHNSON WITH WILDERNESS QUEST
(April 14, 2000) Jeff Johnson, formerly the Admission Director for the SUWS Program, and Admission Director for the Mount Bachelor Academy, announced he joined the Admission Department at the Wilderness Quest Program in Utah about a month ago. Jeff says he is excited to be working for one of the “original” wilderness programs, one that he used for student referrals since his early days in the 80s at Mount Bachelor Academy. Founded by Larry Wells, Wilderness Quest is a 12-step program that recently passed its JACHO review. Jeff can be reached at his office at 208-934-9461.

WOODBURY REPORTS TO BE CLOSED ON MAY 19TH
(April 15, 2000) Lon Woodbury, Educational Consultant, IECA & CEP and President of Woodbury Reports Inc., reported his office will be closed May 19th so all eight staff members can attend a staff retreat at the Ainsworth Hot Springs in Canada.

WARDLE HIRED BY SAGEWALK
(April 15, 2000) Chris Kocurek, Director of SageWalk, in Bend, Oregon, 800-877-1922, announced they have hired Mark Wardle for wilderness operations. Wardle had been Director of OnTrack Wilderness in Texas.

MIKE AND DEBI NUNES TO LEAVE REMI VISTA RANCH SCHOOL
(April 16, 2000) In an e-mail, Mike and Debi Nunes, founders of Remi Vista Ranch School, announced they were leaving the school and the Remi Vista Corporation effective May 31, 2000. They will be contacting educational consultants that currently have children at the school. They regret they will not be able to attend the IECA Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, but they can be reached at the school through May 5 at 530-824-1121, RVRSchool, and at their office 530-247-7685. They also can be reached at these numbers and addresses between May 18 and May 31. Their immediate plans are to launch a 21-day wilderness program for boys. Called Bear Creek Outdoor School, the staff will include Dan Ward, Joe Williams and K. C. Baum. The new contact number will be 877-828-1412 and Mikenunes.com.

PROVO CANYON SCHOOL GRADUATION
(April 17, 2000) Denise Westman, representative for Provo Canyon School, in Provo, Utah, 619-588-7499, reports that 11 students graduated on April 20th. This was the largest number of students graduating together that the school has had for some time.

OBSIDIAN TRAILS AT 19 STUDENTS
(April 18, 2000) Mike Conner, Psy.D., Consulting Psychologist for Obsidian Trails, Bend, Oregon, 541-318-6034, announced the short term wilderness program is averaging 19 kids in the field at any one time. In addition to himself, their staff includes 3 therapists, a psychiatric and holistic nurse, an assistant field director and two full time staff trainers who work in the field. “Our teachers are in the field 3 days a week living with the kids and we have assistant teachers who work in the field for the entire rotation.”

ACHIEVEMENT VALLEY RANCH TO OPEN
(April 25, 2000) Eric & Martha Larson announced their intention to open Achievement Valley Ranch in Westmorland, Tennessee, 615-644-4956, for enrollment July 1, 2000. Licensed as a Family Boarding Home, their goal is to provide the “next step” for teenagers making poor decisions planning “to empower young people to internalize traditional Christian values of accountability, honesty, honor, teamwork, respect of self, work ethics, and service to others. Their web site will be constructed and hosted by Woodbury Reports, and can be found in the Family Style category on our web site starting May 8, 2000.

SELKIRK SCHOOL OF EXPERIENTIAL ED. OFFERS 45-DAY ADVENTURE
(May 1, 2000) Director and lead instructor, Dan Krmpotich, (208-267-8875 or 208-267-7940), Loi Eberle announced a 45-day skill-building and emotional growth adventure, Jun 12 – July 26. In addition to adventure activities of rock climbing, white water rafting, glacier travel, it also includes service projects with U. S. Forest Service scientists.

CORAL REEF ACADEMY
(May 3, 2000) Coral Reef Academy, located in the Pacific Island of Samoa, is looking for a licensed therapist with 2-3 years experience working with adolescents. Resumes can be faxed to 702-233-5544, or candidates can call David Smyth or Rodney Rice at 702-233-0444.

GALENA RIDGE OFFERS 3 – 12 WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM
Galena Ridge, (406-827-4440) Trout Creek, Montana, Paul Clark, Director is currently currently is operating a 3 to 12 week summer program with rolling admissions. They will begin in early June, offering a rigorous outdoor adventure program with strong counseling support. Their philosophy follows a 12-step process model.