Second Nature kicks off summer 2010 with an exciting new summer camp option for teens!
Treeline is an adventure unlike any other. Groups explore, learn and share in an unforgettable experience all while traveling in a magnificent wilderness setting. Participants will embark on a 21-day backcountry trek in the High Uintas Wilderness Area, with a goal to summit the highest peak in Utah!
Treeline is designed to offer teenagers an alternative to traditional summer camp-an alternative that will provide participants with opportunities to develop self-confidence and challenge their limits under the guidance of highly trained Second Nature staff. Although Treeline will incorporate aspects of Second Nature's clinical wilderness programming, Treeline will operate as a summer adventure program. Treeline is not appropriate for children in need of significant therapeutic intervention.
Our participants will travel in small groups through some of Utah's most beautiful and pristine wilderness learning essential backcountry skills along the way. They will learn about minimal impact camping, natural history of the High Uintas, and how to cook a gourmet meal on a campfire. At the end of the trip, the group will have a chance to put their skills to use. With staff's help, participants will plan, organize, and lead the final leg of the trip.
Though much attention will be given to the skills required for wilderness travel, Treeline is an emotional development program that uses the wilderness as a metaphor and setting for personal growth. Participants will work with staff to explore their thoughts and emotions and to learn some of the basic skills present in the infrastructure of a healthy person. The sound of the wind as a backdrop and a breathtaking view of peaks, ridges, streams, and lakes in the distance provide the ultimate opportunity for self-reflection.
Unlike other wilderness experiences that concentrate only on group dynamics, Treeline has a distinctly different focus. Treeline features a clinically designed curriculum that helps participants explore their thoughts and emotions. Participants will learn about basic principles of psychology and how to apply lessons to themselves. Tools such as the Feeling Statement, Feedback, and Assertive Communication will be a daily part of participant interaction. Journaling and written assignments will guide participants to insight in their personal process as well as explore dynamics that have impacted their lives.
The goal of the program is to educate young people in ways that will help increase self-esteem and confidence. As participants work together, they'll develop the awareness needed for participating in mutual relationships. The work and accomplishment inherent in backcountry travel will serve as a metaphor for the resiliency required to thrive as life deals out its inevitable hardships. Participants will have plentiful opportunities for quietude as well as meaningful connection with others.
Two sessions are scheduled for this summer: June 27-July 17, 2010 and July 25-August 14, 2010. The trips are coed and are open to participants 14 to 17 years old. The price for each 21-day adventure is $4700, which includes all costs except gear and travel to Salt Lake City. For more information, or to register, please contact Jess Jewell at 801-633-6094.
Look for more, information including a complete program description on our website www.snwp.com.