| Outdoor activities are considered therapeutic for | | | | themselves with other teens. They learn new |
| troubled teens. Teens become troubled when | | | | skills and this increases their self confidence. |
| they feel they are worthless. Outdoor activities | | | | Wilderness camps include many activities like |
| give them a sense of self worth that starts the | | | | hiking, mountain climbing and river rafting. These |
| process of turning their life around. | | | | camps sometimes offer a troubled teen an |
| Outdoor activities with family will help a withdrawn | | | | outdoor interest that endures for life. Some |
| teenager come back to his or her family fold. | | | | camps address specific issues that trouble teens |
| Hiking, biking and gardening are some of the | | | | like ADD/ADHD or weight loss. |
| inexpensive outdoor activities that families can do | | | | Troubled teens turn their life around while |
| together and help their teen get over his or her | | | | participating in group physical activities. They learn |
| problems. Volunteering for charity sponsored | | | | responsibility, cooperation, participation and to deal |
| outdoor activities as a family can help the | | | | with consequences of their actions. They learn to |
| teenager focus on something more than negative | | | | take responsibility for their actions, to overcome |
| thoughts. | | | | hurdles and to solve problems. The instructors are |
| When families are unable to manage the teen on | | | | usually experienced counselors. They help the |
| their own, inexpensive wilderness and other | | | | teen find goals and values at the camp. They |
| outdoor camps specially tailored for troubled teens | | | | organize workshops to increase the |
| will help them change for the better. These | | | | communication skills of the troubled teen. The |
| camps have experience field instructors who | | | | group setting helps teens understand that they |
| teach troubled teens new skills while weaning | | | | are not alone and they have peers who want to |
| them away from negative habits. The number of | | | | change their ways just as badly as they do. |
| teens recruited for these camps are few and the | | | | Before sending their teens to these wilderness |
| instructor can deal with specific problems on a | | | | camps, parents need to check the credentials of |
| one to one basis. Troubled teens work as a team | | | | the organizers and the qualifications of the |
| with other troubled teens. They help themselves | | | | counselors. The organizers should have a |
| and others to change their ways for the better. | | | | reputation of helping teenagers. They should not |
| The camps involve outdoor activities work and | | | | be a vehicle of abuse. Parents should check the |
| discipline that are proven therapeutic methods to | | | | testimonials of those who have attended the |
| help troubled teens. Some camps are sponsored | | | | camps. Parents should also check if there are any |
| by grants and charge a low fee or help teenagers | | | | complaints about the treatment of troubled teens |
| for free. | | | | at the camp. The object of camps should be to |
| Troubled teens are argumentative, defiant, | | | | help teenagers and not demoralize them. |
| disobedient, and unmanageable and lack | | | | Parents should encourage troubled teens to |
| motivation. Outdoor programs like wilderness | | | | participate in outdoor activities to help them focus |
| camps teach them to work against the elements | | | | on activities that have a positive effect on their |
| with others who have the same issues. They are | | | | behavior. |
| cut off from society and learn to fend for | | | | |