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Outback Therapeutic Expedition /Second Nature

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Anonymous:
Outback Therapeutic Expedition /Second Nature

Hello:

I'm new to this forum and looking for info / references on the above locales in Utah.

Not looking for political rhetoric, sales pitches or trolls - just plain info - good or bad

thank you !

Anonymous:

--- Quote from: ""Three Springs Waygookin"" ---Any reason why you want this info?
--- End quote ---

Yes:
I have 2 boys. One has been a source of typical concerns- drugs, car joy riding, money theft from the house, disobedience & disorder, etc . 15 years old going on either 8 or 20, depending upon the scenario.

My wife is adamant about sending the oldest (15) to one of these booy camps in Utah (noted above). I am dead set against it. She has been trying to enlist support via the various psychologits, pschiatrists etc - she has called the police a number of times (3) on him. Lately, as I have been reflecting on many of the issues and taking him thru counselling, I begin to see a different pattern - one of almost sef fulfilling prophecy where my wife seems to have been coerced or is being led down a garden path by some of these advisors, referres, specialty social workers or educationists etc, who all seem to promote a couple camps in Utah.

I ahve been following along as to some of the ins and outs of the "kidnapping" scenarios (escorts) of these teens and the difficulties of etracting them from any given place and some of the difficulties if one paren chooses and commits these children without the other parent's concent.

I understand the referral-for-profit motive also the Troubled Parenrting Syndrome

Looking more for specificis on these two particular locations as they are the ones that seem to reoccur in some of the dialogue she is receiveing and lately her plans as they gain momentum.

thx

Deborah:
Contact Nick. He should be able to give you the inside scoop on SNW.

Hi Alexia. 12/20/04. We are compiling a reader by and for teens on the systematic abuse of children in institutions such as those on your website. Could you please post the following on your website:

Call to submissions for a new reader about abusive institutions for youth entitled Teenage Lobotomy: a Zine about the Institutionalization of Youth.
The reader will consist of:

-An introduction to the abuses that take place at therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment facilities, and wilderness programs
-Personal stories and interviews from students, parents, and ex-teachers
-Disscussion of alternative ways to help "troubled" teens, including art therapy, various forms of counseling (such as utilizing AA outpatient programs or talking to mentors for help), and other programs that encourage healing in positive ways.
-Information about mental health, youth emancipation and "manuevering the system" (such as the prison system and juvenile detention centers)

We need your stories.
This may include:

-Where you (or your child, or your friend) were sent
-Specific disciplinairy techniques used
-Reasons for being sent away
-What the staff was like
-How the experience affected you (or your child, or your friend)
-Approximate relapse rate
-Legal actions taken against the institution (if there ever were any)

These are only guidelines. You may tell your story in words, pictures, or any form of communication that will bring your experience to life.

This reader is being compiled by two teenage artists and writers- Nick, who was locked up in the Family Foundation School in New York, Second Nature Wilderness Program in Utah, and Saint Paul's Prep School in Arizona, and his close friend Sarah.

Contact us at:

Nick- orangescum@yahoo.com
or write to
3706 72nd Street # 5H
Jackson Heights, New York 11372

http://www.teenliberty.org/Dear_Alexia.htm

Second Nature is a difficult search term. I wasn't willing to sift through the thousands of returns, but here's a recent thread.
http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?mo ... t=40&Sort=

Might want to read the Brat Camp forum and ask your wife what she hopes to accomplish by sending your son to be force marched through the desert.

Anonymous:
I don't SNWP or Outback are intrinsically bad, but I also think there are better choices -- better on a lot of levels.

First question is whether or not any away-from-home program is needed.  If yes (and read further before answering), for what purpose (that is, why?).  Without more details, nobody can give a fair opinion, although most posting on fornits will be anti-program period.

Next question, if a program is apropriate, is how to get your son there.  It is clear that you are already so set against the idea that you refer to "kidnapping", which is absolutely not what good escorts do - although again most here may disagree.

Going back, that you are evidently so anti-program, and your wife is so pro-program (and specifically one of two mentioned) and apparently nothing further is being discussed suggests to me that you all have it wrong.  It suggests that what you need is a competent family therapist -- one who can effectively deal with each member of the family individually and as a group.  You won't be doing a good parenting job if you and your spouse aren't even close to the "same page".  Your son (like most teens) is hardly stupid, and at least in part is rebellng against the evident rift between his parents.

I do think that giving him a "break" away may be a great idea, but maybe better to do it like a weekend camping trip -- as a family?!!

Yeah, I think lots of programs do lots of good, but you've got a long way to go before either you or your wife ought to get serious about sending your son away.  (And if you ever do get to that point, be sure to check widely - not just one place.)

Anonymous:
Second Nature is an excellent, non-abusive program. It would be good for most teens, and it sounds like your son could really benefit. After 2N, he might be able to return home if you are prepared to change his environment and your parenting.
I think Outback also has a good reputation.
These programs are not bootcamps in any way. They use the outdoor environment to teach self-discipline.  The distractions of the home environment are removed.  The staff is excellent.

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