Any positives for any wilderness program?

[Anonymous]

Anyone have a positive experience with a wilderness program? Even a little bit positive? If not, would the experience have been less negative if it had not been followed by long-term incarceration in a RTC or TBS?

I really want to hear from those who have been to wilderness, and if you don't mind, which one? I don't mean boot camp, VQ or genuinely sadistic places like that.

Go ahead and flame me as a befuddled, clueless parent, but the reality is we ARE clueless unless we can get an honest perspective from those who have done it, or those who used to work at one. Forums like this are one of the few places we can try to get info that's not a sales pitch from either the program itself, an EC or an EC-supported forum.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

A- yes.  Several people I know or have met have had positive experiences at a wilderness program, some but not all followed by a tbs or rtc or the like.

B - The answer to which one, depends on the individual.  Whether or not the program would qualify as "genuinely sadistic" may be in your eyes.  Many posters here regard all as sadistic one way or another.  That said, one program frequently mentioned here happens also to be excellent.

C - "Forums like this are one of the few places we can try to get info that's not a sales pitch from either the program itself, an EC or an EC-supported forum".  True enough.  Instead you get blanket condemnations and attacks on anything positive said (and the poster thereof) about any program.

Actually, there are other forums/boards dealing with adolescent behavior generally, and several can provide both useful and not-so-biased info.  Too often the choices are either rabid anti-program boards or clearly pro-program ones.  This, and sites like those you mentioned are not so neutral, although even "pro" sites can offer excellent evaluations of individual programs.

[wild fig]

Second Nature is a great program.  Both campuses have a good reputation (Utah, GA).

[Troll Control]

On 2006-06-27 07:23:00, wild fig wrote:

"Second Nature is a great program.  Both campuses have a good reputation (Utah, GA). "

Fig, why do you always disappear when asked to link your posts under your username?  What are you hiding, Fig?

A moderator will link your posts together under your username unless you respond.

Thank you.

[mbnh31782]

One program i have found to be a good program is outward bound.  I wouldnt trust in their "troubled teen" side as it seems similar to these programs however most of their expeditions in general last between 18 and 24 days.  Outward Bound is also something you can go on WITH your child as a family experience.  I would have to check with someone i know who works there, but i do believe that at any point you dont feel comfortable, you can call it quits and be "evacuated" to safety.  "getting out" of anything in the wilderness will be considered "evacuation".  look into it.  

Above all, I would suggest that if you consider a program, that you go on the program with your child.

[wild fig]

I've been out of the country for three weeks.  Why are you so worried about me?  I like Second Nature.  I always respond to Second Nature questions...always will.

[wild fig]

Wait,

Is there a Fornits rule that I have to log in?  I don't think so.

[Troll Control]

On 2006-06-27 07:58:00, wild fig wrote:

"I've been out of the country for three weeks.  Why are you so worried about me?  I like Second Nature.  I always respond to Second Nature questions...always will."

So then we will go ahead and link your posts.  Thanks.

[wild fig]

Why do you feel that is necessary?  If I were mouthing off against a program you wouldn't care.  Last time I looked, this thread was unmoderated. I posted anon. for a while and then got a login.  Now, because I'm pro-wilderness (only pro- Second Nature), you want to challenge me.  Why won't you link the threads of the moron who posts pornography?  Oh, I forgot, he agrees with you.

Bottom line:  If Ginger, the moderator and owner of this site, feels it is necessary for some reason to link my posts then she can PM me and we will talk about it.

Until then, ignore me- because, I wasn't talking to you.[ This Message was edited by: wild fig on 2006-06-27 09:05 ]

[wild fig]

Now, I am speaking to you, DJ.  It doesn't surprise me at all that you worked in a program.  Your attempts to intimidate people who disagree with you smacks of program tools.[ This Message was edited by: wild fig on 2006-06-27 09:11 ]

[Troll Control]

On 2006-06-27 08:57:00, wild fig wrote:

"Why do you feel that is necessary?  If I were mouthing off against a program you wouldn't care.  Last time I looked, this thread was unmoderated. I posted anon. for a while and then got a login.  Now, because I'm pro-wilderness (only pro- Second Nature), you want to challenge me.  Why won't you link the threads of the moron who posts pornography?  Oh, I forgot, he agrees with you.



Bottom line:  If Ginger, the moderator and owner of this site, feels it is necessary for some reason to link my posts then she can PM me and we will talk about it.



Until then, ignore me- because, I wasn't talking to you.[ This Message was edited by: wild fig on 2006-06-27 09:05 ]"

Get real, fig.  It's about clarity, like it was with The Who.  This isn't the only login name you use and THAT's why you don't want your posts linked.  I think it's unfair to people reading your posts that don't know about your other "personalities."

The reason you are getting upset over what you say are innocuous posts is that you sincerely don't want anyone to know what you've been doing, so you paint it as "DJ is a bully," but it really has nothing to do with that.  I'm hip to your scheme and it's only fair that others can see the "advice" you've been giving.

If you truly have nothing to hide (you claim not to), then what's the problem?  Only people hiding things (like The Who) get defensive and lash out when confronted.  So, if there's nothing to hide, we'll just roll with it.

[Anonymous]

MBNH wins.

And Wild Fig provides an excellent demonstration of why you shouldn't send your kid to Second Nature or any other similar program.

[Anonymous]

I'm somebody who wouldn't mind having my posts linked, but also doesn't mind if Ginger and friends don't have the time.

I have lingering memory problems from a concussion and can't seem to keep track of a password.  Before you ask, yes, this is inconvenient in daily life.

I don't consider it bullying for DJ or someone else to say they're going to link someone's posts together.  Posting under multiple "personalities" was funny when the internet was new.  Or maybe it was just that when I was new to the internet I was a college kid.  Anyway, nowadays it's been done to death, it's no longer funny, it's just annoying.

If someone isn't trying to annoy others it's no threat.  It doesn't interfere with anonymity, just multiple personalities.  One can be anonymous and still be honest.

Julie

[Troll Control]

I just think that if you're coming on here selling programs, we should know who we're dealing with.  It's only fair to let people know that certain advice comes from people trying to make money.

Fig makes a lot of sales pitches and it's important to know the methods Fig uses to advertise.  It's time to make that information clear to readers.

[Anonymous]

I guess I was asking too much, hoping for helpful responses from former teens who have actually been to wilderness. Thanks for the suggestion on Outward Bound.

As much as I like the idea of the family doing an outdoor program along with my teen, I have to wonder if the therapy aspect would be as effective. One of our goals is to take some time apart from each other and from the usual day-to-day environment stresses and routine. Another goal is detox and building skills toward recovery. Those are my teen's goals too.

We are considering some sort of outdoor program simply because the most likely alternative is to spend a few weeks in a detox type of facility. Seems like for a kid who likes the outdoors, a wilderness program might be more appealing than painted walls.