One of my father's friends owns a Teen Help wilderness program. The irony of reading this board is that the program supporters believe the posters on this site aren't concerned with the welfare of the children. This is the only reason why they post here is because they know first hand of the negative effects of unnecesary incarceration. I know my father's friend and he could care less about teens, he is a business man. He is in it for the money, and nothing else. I hope parents understand an important fact, this man laughs at you at our dinner engagements. He can't believe why you spend so much money on a glorified summer camp. He laughs about how he gives his staff new age names like 'Forest' and 'Soaring Eagle', gives them the title of life counselor, and how the parents eat it up. Those of us who have seen the industry from the inside in some way know the truth, you are being scammed in most cases. This industry attracts many unscrupulous types because it is completely unregulated. A pedophile, a convicted pedophile, could start a camp. Think about that long and hard before you send your child away. There is lots of money to be had, and the gold rush is on. These modern day forty-niners don't care about the kids. If they did they would leave the job for the professionals -- the people who dedicate their life to helping teens -- not the bottom dollar. Instead these unregulated fly-by-night teen help camps plaster the internet with their websites. They pay thousands of dollars in free tuition and cash to other parents and random people to refer kids to their facility. They use high pressure sales tactics and fear mongering to seal the deal. As I write this I recall the image of this overweight, middle age man laughing with his mouth full, boasting to my father at how much money he is making. It made me sick, and I hope the parents here blindly supporting programs in general recognize the irony of their position. Fornits is the only forum I've read that contains actual truth about these programs. Keep up the good fight!
VERY WELL SAID from the poster who's father's friend has spoken the truth from the inside out.
Those who had a great experience in a lucrative, unregulated wilderness program were lucky!
These programs are only as good as the people selling them...........and they charge WAY too much for lentils, peas, rice, oatmeal and raisins. Wilderness programs are known for hiring transient, poorly trained, underqualified counselors to be out in the middle of the boonies with children who aren't allowed to talk to their parents. By the time the parents receive their first letter (which is read first), it can be too late.
