Challenge Program
Ten days are spent as a group preparing for a four day solo camping exercise. The first six days, participants receive four prep courses: Bear Awareness
LNT (Leave-No-Trace camping practices)
Basic Survival skills and Basic First Aid
High Risk Youth aged 12 to 18 years, referred by the youth’s support persons, are accepted into the Wilderness Challenge program by using the “40 Developmental Assets” plan as our guide. The youth are subject to an application process which does not decide who can or cannot participate but more so how can we adapt our Risk Management Plan to meet their personal needs for a successful solo camping experience.
Groups are kept small, 4 to 6 youth, and gender specific. We also go to great lengths to avoid accepting youth who are familiar to each other as we want to introduce positive peer bonding. Both supported and unsupported youth are accepted into the Challenge and groups are formed according to the level of ‘at risk’ behaviour we are willing to accept for each Challenge.
Risk Management is our main focus and youth not compliant to our efforts in keeping them safe are taken out of the program and returned to Base camp until graduation day. Their individual accomplishments are still acknowledged along with the rest of the group and they are always eligible to return and try again.