A what? Glass walk?! Yes, the boys and staff at Fire Mountain Sober Home in Boulder, Colorado will prepare and lead a glass walk for their peers at September High School on March 28th. A glass walk is a safe but thrilling event where participants actually walk across eight feet of glass shards. The goal of a glass walk is to practice watching your step and staying focused in the moment, metaphors relevant to most teens learning to make positive choices.
Some of the Fire Mountain boys have walked on glass before, a few more than once. One resident emphatically pumped his fist in the air when describing the event. "It totally rocks!" he claims. "You really have to stay in the moment and watch your step. It's a natural high, better than drugs because you get something out of it that actually lasts."
Director Aaron Huey is a seasoned glass walker. He has used the event for years in his teen empowerment and rites of passage programs. "The glass walk is a powerful exercise for adolescents. It provides a kind of risk and intensity they seek, while providing a framework for self-assessment and growth."
September High School is a small private school in Boulder, Colorado with a strong emphasis on building community and self-awareness. The glass walk is a featured event for the school's mid-year celebrations. Huey sits on the school's board as a way of deepening his support for teens in the Boulder community. "September School is a special place," he says. "They take kids as they are, meet them there, and support their growth emotionally and intellectually. This event gives Fire Mountain boys a place to interact with other teens and give back through service and leadership."
Fire Mountain Sober Homeis a residential program for boys, age 13-17, who struggle with drugs, anger, family struggles, and school and relationship issues.