Adventure Therapy
Our goal is to make lasting change
First Light Wilderness uses a deliberate, strategic combination of therapeutic adventure experiences in conjunction with long-term wilderness therapy and proven clinical interventions with the goal of making lasting change in the lives of students. We facilitate adventure experiences where students have an opportunity to interact with the natural environment that contains risk adjusted by safety controls. Due to the real and perceived risk of the activities and the relationships built through participation, adventure experiences also provide the opportunity for trust, cooperation, communication, compassion, and joy.
The goals of therapeutic adventure experiences are student-centered and dynamic in that they can be based on the needs of an individual student within the group or the needs of the entire group. The primary goal of First Light Wilderness’s therapeutic adventure experiences is to introduce and educate students to various adventure components while always focusing on safety, environmental awareness, and therapeutic objectives.
Elements
Student is a participant in the therapeutic process.
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The experience requires personal motivation in the form of energy, involvement and responsibility.
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The experience is real and meaningful in terms of natural consequences for the student.
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Allowance for failure in balance with potential for success.
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Reflection is a critical component of the therapeutic process.
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Change must have present as well as future relevance for the student and their social network.
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Interventions are constantly reviewed and updated.
Activities
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Camping
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Backpacking
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Group initiatives
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Rock Climbing
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Tree Climbing
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Paddling
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Fishing
Outcomes
