The driving instructions to get to Summit Preparatory School just outside of Kalispell, MT are conveniently accurate for those wishing to visit this beautiful, remote campus for at-risk teenagers.

As I neared the top of the hill and pulled into the visitor's parking lot, it was quiet and overcast. When I opened the door to the main building however, the scene quickly changed. Inside it was bright and warm. I could hear kids and staff talking, laughter and the click of a dog's feet on the floors. Just outside the Administrative office was a plaque with pictures of the school dogs. Several dogs live on campus part time creating a feeling of comfort.

Barb Cunningham, Guidance Counselor, walked me through the entire main building, the class rooms, both those in session and empty ones, administration offices and then down another almost identical hallway of counseling offices. During our walk, Barb explained the architecture of the building, how it had been built specifically with therapy in mind. Every 'wing' was created equal so that each would be the same as the next, but also that it also created an open-air garden in the middle of the school for kids to go into if they needed time to center themselves.

I saw an art class in session in the hallway outside the art studio and quietly slipped in behind the students to observe for a few minutes. On the wall in front of them were sketches they'd done during another lesson, each using his/her own unique style. The teacher was discussing not only the similarities and differences in each student's depiction of the model, but also relating it to perceptions and real life situations. The kids definitely got it.

We visited a Spanish class where three students were working on an anti-drug campaign. They had created a video of fellow classmates working or playing a sport, explaining (in Spanish) how it would keep them away from drugs. They were excited to show me how they'd taken the separate recordings, spliced them together and created the video. They were very interactive with me and I could see how much fun this project had been for them.

After Spanish, we went to a History class where the students were taking semester finals. I was impressed with the level of academics in the History class. The students were doing projects that were at or above college level Anthropology classes in my experience, and they had to do it independently. The students were allowed to be on the Internet, using Google while they researched their project. Barb explained that students didn't try to abuse the freedoms given to them because they knew if they lost privilege, they would have to do manual research in the library.

All the classes felt like those in a "normal" school and all of the kids wore their own appropriate clothing. The girls were allowed moderate makeup and small, non-flashy jewelry.

The rest of the main building consists of a full library, a cozy lounge area, a roomy cafeteria with a complete industrial kitchen, a full sized gym with a climbing wall and a swimming pool for athletics. In the lounge is also a staircase leading up to an office called the "Tree House," where the Learning Resource Specialist, Steve Gessler, works. Students appreciated the opportunity to visit Steve in the Tree House once they realize this is a stress free privilege.

After touring the school, I met with Rick and Jan Johnson, founders of Summit Preparatory School. My goal never being one of typical marketing, I asked them about their backgrounds. How they got started. Why they decided to start a school. I learned that they've both worked with children and families in many areas of the mental health profession for many years, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to Summit Prep.

Barb took me to the Academic office after meeting with Rick and Jan, where I met the heads of academics and planning. Shelley Eberhardy, Academic Registrar and Tom Kallay, Educational Director, explained the extreme level of education offered at Summit Prep. They discussed that each student's academic plan includes at least 15 months of planning, although it may be amended as the student progresses and as needs change. The list of Comprehensive Course Offerings at Summit Prep lines out three years of highly competitive, college preparatory courses.

At lunch I sat with three students, all of whom had been there different amounts of time. Each student shared their favorite parts of the school with me, but then also explained some of their struggles. Their body language was indicative of how long they'd been at the school. The cafeteria was filled with students and staff yet there was no chaos. The food served was both healthy and tasty.

After lunch a couple girls showed me their dorm. I'd seen the boys' before lunch, which was at the other end of the campus. Walking into the dorm, there is a mud room where all shoes and coats are left. Inside that is a community area separating each wing of the dorm. Each dorm has its own smaller, more family style kitchen where all the students eat breakfast. The students are responsible for keeping it stocked and taking care of their menus. There is also a laundry facility, an office for night staff, and a separation room connected to the night staff office where students can choose to go if they have an emotional blow out and need a night alone to process. The rooms were fairly tidy and each student had their own personal decorations to make their space more comfortable.

The last part of my visit included an impressive meeting with the therapists and counseling staff at Summit Prep. The staff we met included the Jon Worbets, Clinical Director, and the Clinical Therapists: Emily Krock, Kathryn Clements, Jason Calder, Joanna Legerski, and Marc Ruggiero. The most impressive aspect was the level of diversity in this department. Summit truly has a counseling team for so many different issues or co-issues that they can offer something for everyone. Students are broken into single-gender groups based on their needs, which may range from addictions, to abuses, to mental health issues and mood or anxiety disorders. In addition to their weekly meetings, the counseling staff participates with students in special focus groups, independent, family and group therapy, as well as Challenge Trips and family workshops. The school uses Best Notes for each staff member to log student happenings allowing all the staff to know what's going on with each student at any given time during the student's process. This enables the staff to work within the aspects the child needs them the most.

For anyone who is looking at placing a child at Summit Preparatory School, I recommend you not only read the admissions criteria and information on their website, but definitely schedule a visit.

Although Summit Prep has quite an impressive photo gallery on their site, here is a gallery of the pictures my photographer took on the day of our visit.