By Cliff Stockton

I am often asked, by students, and their parents, what advice I have to newly enrolled students in a wilderness program. Over the course of 16 years I have had this conversation many times. They often take as many different courses as there are students who have asked, but the gist is the same. I have broken them down into a couple of categories.

• Just what the hell do I have to do to get out of here?


• Really? Because that just ain't gonna happen!


• What if I don't want to do that?


• Can't I just escape?


• One last thing!

"Just what the hell do I have to do to get out of here?"
Most programs are going to have you go through some steps. Some of those steps may or may not involve levels; they might call them phases or steps.
Whatever, they are all essentially the same thing. Some will be therapeutic.
Some will be programmatic i.e.: eating your food, doing curriculum, etc.
Others may growth steps or rites of passage. You will probably have a treatment plan that you will work on with your therapist, case manager, etc.


First find out what is on that plan. Then go ahead and do what they ask.
Honestly, the work you do will probably benefit you in the long run. My experience is that it will, even if it seems like B.S. at the moment.

Here's the trick. How long you are enrolled there will depend on many factors. Two of which will likely be:

• Your parent/guardian's goals for you


• Your progress through the program

The situation you do not want to be in is: Your parent/guardian's goals having been met and they are waiting, for your progress to be at an acceptable stage. My advice is get your stuff done quickly and thoroughly so that the pressure is on your parents, not you!

Really!? Because that just ain't gonna happen! Yes really. Keep in mind that every choice you had prior to going to a wilderness program you will have again. The reality is that for students who are resistant to the program two rather disagreeable things tend to happen.

The first is that the defiance, or resistance, reinforces your parents'
decision to place you in a wilderness program, and validates any decision they may make to choose an out-of-home placement for aftercare.

The second is that the defiance, or resistance, indicates that more time is required in the wilderness program for you to "Get it". Whatever that "it"
is.

Either way, it is not what you want to have happen. I have watched students over the years try different "tricks" to get out of programs. Not only do the "tricks" not work, they almost always only postpone the inevitable. One of the most common ones is:
"I will just wait here and not do anything until my parents take me out."
I have watched kids wait 28-60 days, only to finally realize that their parents were serious, and then start doing what is asked. Ouch!

The other path, embracing what is going on can only have a positive effect; I.e. shortening the amount of time you spend in the program and/or creating the possibility of an at-home aftercare placement, when that might not have been a possibility at the beginning.
The choice will be yours. So, given these choices my advice is to choose to create some opportunities and possibilities for yourself.

What if I don't want to do that? Then don't do it. If your ego, pride, honor or street "cred" are at stake, then honor those things, and accept that there will be consequences for them. If you are determined to not let your parents "win" and define them "winning" as cooperating with the program, then don't cooperate and accept that there are always consequences. You can win every battle of wills you engage in. That does not mean that the outcome will be what you want.
I think this path is silly, pointless and ultimately futile. But for some young people these very important issues. If you decide to go this route I encourage you to be honest with the people, your therapist and field guides, at the program. Tell them exactly what kind of B.S. you think their program is, and explain to them how extremely unfair it is for your parents to put you there. My experience is that they will respect the honesty.
If you do nothing else, eat the food, drink plenty of water. Keep yourself healthy.

Can't I just escape?
Depends on what you mean by "Escape"? If you mean: Can I get away from the program operators for a little bit. Then yes, you can. If you mean: Can I get away and resume the activities I was previously engaged in, without any consequences. Then no, not really. It may even put your friends in danger, harboring a runaway, etc and create legal problems for them.

I have read accounts on-line of students who say they have escaped, and that may be true. In my 16 years doing this several students did manage to leave the programs I was working at. In all the cases I am aware of there were consequences. Most were eventually returned to the program they started from. Some wound up in a more secure (read locked) facility, where they had little chance to escape again. Following the program in many of these cases involved completing the initial program, so back to the wilderness. Several incurred legal charges during the "escape" and wound up under court jurisdiction, which required other steps as well. In the end, for every student who has done this these factors made getting home take even longer.

What I suggest to you is this. Be honest, tell your therapist that you think this is a pile of fresh smelly horse dung, but also say you are willing to do something to get out of here. And do what they ask you to do, even if you think it is stupid. It might not hurt that much, and it might help.
Stranger things have been known to happen.

One last thing!
I am still in contact with several students who had gone through programs I was at. Some even came back and worked with me. They all remember their time as the most impactful, inspiring time in their lives. One even volunteered to come back and re-experience the program because after reflecting on it, realized that he did not open himself up the process and regretted that decision. So, while you might think this sucks right now, I can pretty well guarantee that you will look back at this experience as the one of the best times of your life. Sorry.

Cliff Stockton has extensive experience working in wilderness based therapy in many different capacities. For more information, visit www.cliffstockton.com, or contact him at cliff@cliffstockton.com or 208-308-3166.