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July 19, 2010—Second Nature Compass Newsletter
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Please check out the latest edition of the Second Nature Compass Newsletter Second Nature Compass Newsletter! This edition features informative articles by therapists, Drs. J and Willow Huffine of Second Nature Cascades, therapists Mike Hench and Justin Stum of Second Nature Entrada, Program Director, Dan McDougal of Second Nature Blue Ridge, and testimonial letters from Second Nature Uintas Alumni! |
March 16, 2010-Introducing Treeline, Second Nature's Summer Adventure Program!
Second Nature kicks off summer 2010 with an exciting new summer camp option for teens!
Treeline is an adventure unlike any other. Groups explore, learn and share in an unforgettable experience all while traveling in a magnificent wilderness setting. Participants will embark on a 21-day backcountry trek in the High Uintas Wilderness Area, with a goal to summit the highest peak in Utah!
Treeline is designed to offer teenagers an alternative to traditional summer camp-an alternative that will provide participants with opportunities to develop self-confidence and challenge their limits under the guidance of highly trained Second Nature staff. Although Treeline will incorporate aspects of Second Nature's clinical wilderness programming, Treeline will operate as a summer adventure program. Treeline is not appropriate for children in need of significant therapeutic intervention.
Our participants will travel in small groups through some of Utah's most beautiful and pristine wilderness learning essential backcountry skills along the way. They will learn about minimal impact camping, natural history of the High Uintas, and how to cook a gourmet meal on a campfire. At the end of the trip, the group will have a chance to put their skills to use. With staff's help, participants will plan, organize, and lead the final leg of the trip.
Though much attention will be given to the skills required for wilderness travel, Treeline is an emotional development program that uses the wilderness as a metaphor and setting for personal growth. Participants will work with staff to explore their thoughts and emotions and to learn some of the basic skills present in the infrastructure of a healthy person. The sound of the wind as a backdrop and a breathtaking view of peaks, ridges, streams, and lakes in the distance provide the ultimate opportunity for self-reflection.
Unlike other wilderness experiences that concentrate only on group dynamics, Treeline has a distinctly different focus. Treeline features a clinically designed curriculum that helps participants explore their thoughts and emotions. Participants will learn about basic principles of psychology and how to apply lessons to themselves. Tools such as the Feeling Statement, Feedback, and Assertive Communication will be a daily part of participant interaction. Journaling and written assignments will guide participants to insight in their personal process as well as explore dynamics that have impacted their lives.
The goal of the program is to educate young people in ways that will help increase self-esteem and confidence. As participants work together, they'll develop the awareness needed for participating in mutual relationships. The work and accomplishment inherent in backcountry travel will serve as a metaphor for the resiliency required to thrive as life deals out its inevitable hardships. Participants will have plentiful opportunities for quietude as well as meaningful connection with others.
Two sessions are scheduled for this summer: June 27-July 17, 2010 and July 25-August 14, 2010. The trips are coed and are open to participants 14 to 17 years old. The price for each 21-day adventure is $4700, which includes all costs except gear and travel to Salt Lake City. For more information, or to register, please contact Jess Jewell at 801-633-6094.
Look for more, information including a complete program description on our website www.snwp.com beginning March 26, 2010!
March 15, 2010—Introducing Empowering Education!
An educational partnership with Second Nature Wilderness Programs
Andy Wilfong is a Second Nature parent. When his son was young, he never envisioned needing the support of a wilderness program, but the path his family would take would inevitably bring him to Second Nature Wilderness Programs. Many parents can identify with Andy. Second Nature was the only option that remained; an apprehensive plea for help, an intervention. But with the help of the team at Second Nature, apprehension turned to awareness. Intervention turned into insight. Andy's family broke through walls of miscommunication and dysfunction through the process that Second Nature had carefully sculpted. New levels of understanding, interpreting, and reflecting feelings, fostered deep, meaningful change in his family.
To say that Andy was grateful understates the obvious. Gratitude was not enough. He was overcome by a desire to give back, to provide this unique and life-changing opportunity to all adolescents as a preventative method rather than that of an intervention.
Public schools are doing all they can to meet the needs of students in an environment where there are more than enough good intentions but not enough money to support those goals. For all the good intentions schools may have, they simply don't have the resources to follow through. Andy and his partner, Kathryn Houston, founded Empowering Education (EE), a nonprofit organization, with the sole purpose of giving schools this opportunity.
To meet the changing needs of the 21st Century student, Empowering Education partnered with Second Nature Wilderness Programs to create an engaging and experiential curriculum for Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) as a classroom based model.
The course, titled Realizing Empowered, Achieving Lifestyles (REAL) is focused on motivating positive change in adolescents via these five goals:
- Increased self-awareness
- Increased social awareness
- Improved self-management
- Improved relationship skills
- Responsible decision-making
As those who have first-hand experience with wilderness therapy know, encouraging these goals allows adolescents to become empowered and accomplished in their lives. The course is based on Second Nature's philosophies and has been adapted into a classroom based model that will inspire renewed interest in students as it will be a class unlike any other they have experienced before.
The REAL curriculum seeks to partner with school systems and to serve as an adjunct to support systems already in place. It is an academic and experiential exercise that will teach the concepts and life skills that will build a foundation for success.
EE and Second Nature recognize that a particular set of challenges face young people. Teenagers are confronted with an increasingly complex young life and are often initiated into the experiences of adulthood long before they are developmentally equipped to understand these added responsibilities. The transition from youth to adulthood is a challenging stage in life, now compounded by a broadening network of technology, peer relationships, and adult expectation. Furthermore, as this network expands, young adults are too often left without the support and guidance needed to thrive in this new set of circumstances. REAL will provide a new pillar in this support system for young people and serve as an adjunct to support systems already in place.
The first REAL course will be taught at Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, CO beginning August 2010 with approximately 150 students enrolled for the semester. A Colorado state certified instructor will partner with an experienced former Second Nature senior level instructor. This partnership will allow for a collaboration of knowledge and experience and provide a richly positive experience for students.
As a nonprofit organization, Empowering Education depends solely on the generous donations of those who share our mission to bring this opportunity to adolescents across the nation. In order to fulfill our promise to provide this to schools at no cost, we must continue to seek new avenues of funding via private donations, grants, and fundraising opportunities. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation directly through the website of Empowering Education.
We thank you. And our children thank you.
Kathryn "Katy" Houston, President
Empowering Education Inc.
www.empoweringeducation.org
719.487.8696 office
719.331.7556 cell
Winter and Holidays in the Wilderness
November 2, 2009—IECA Community Safety Protocols
We have recently been asked by a number of Educational Consultants to provide specific information on some of Second Nature's standard safety protocols.
At Second Nature, all incoming clients (meaning adolescents and adults and will otherwise be noted if not both) receive an Intake Physical before entering the wilderness that includes a physical exam and interview. The physical exam includes a stress test where heart rate, breathing patterns and physical abilities are observed. The doctor determines the client's ability to perform the expected exercise while at Second Nature and also considers the need for detoxification. When the need for "detox" is determined, the doctor will dictate the client's necessary treatment, i.e. specialized detox facilities, supervised rest out of the wilderness, restricted hiking in wilderness for first week, etc. Lab work (CBC Panel, Metabolic Panel, drug test, etc) is also completed during the physical exam to determine overall health and nutrition by testing for levels of hemoglobin, electrolytes, glucose, protein, potassium, sodium, and carbon dioxide to name a few. These and other factors help to determine a client's capacity for exertion. Some clients are given additional tests (EKG's, MRI's, etc.) to confirm their appropriateness for Second Nature. Clients are drug tested to screen for: Amphetamines, Cocaine, Marijuana, Benzodizepines, Tricyclic Anti-Depressants, Barbiturates, Methylenedioxy and Methamphetamine, Opiates, Phencyclidine, Oxycodone, and Propoxyphene.
The interview process includes clients being asked about their drug history, diet, fitness level, if they smoke, and any other concerns they may have about their health. All information is relayed to the staff team working with the client in the wilderness. Some examples include physical abilities, mental state, current illnesses, asthma, and details on medications, anaphylactic reactions to meds/ foods/ bees, and dietary restrictions or requests so food is palatable to the client.
All Second Nature locations have a Medical Coordinator (advanced practice clinicians i.e. medical doctor, Physician's Assistant, Nurse Practitioner) on call at all times for field staff to contact regarding medical concerns, questions and/or updates depending upon a client's current status in the field. If the concern warrants a need for a visit to a clinic or emergency room then an evacuation is immediately put into place. Adolescents receive medical checks in the field every 14-21-days (depending upon location) by a medical practitioner.
Recently, during the admission process, Second Nature has begun asking parents/potential adult clients if the potential client has had any flu vaccines. If the client did not get any vaccines before arriving at Second Nature, the client will receive vaccinations during the Intake Physical (with parent/adult client approval) and when/where appropriate vaccines are available. Also, during the Intake Physical interview clients are questioned if they've been exposed to any type of flu recently and the doctor decides if prescribing Tamiflu is necessary as a prophylaxis. In weekly staff trainings staff are educated on hallmark signs and symptoms. Staff are trained to immediately call the medical coordinator and report any signs of the illness where quarantining and/or evacuation is determined necessary.
During Earth Phase, all Second Nature clients participate in an acclimation curriculum in which they are closely supervised and observed by an appointed staff. During this period, minimal hiking takes place. At Second Nature, clients never participate in extended hikes with lower food intake. Second Nature strongly believes that such practices are unsafe, and further; do not enhance the impact of placement in a wilderness program. From day one, staff members begin building rapport with clients, opening up the lines of communication and offering continuous support as the client begins to consider why they are at Second Nature and what they hope to get out of the program.
During the transport to the field office, clients are offered a meal and beverage as standard protocol. Once the client arrives at base he/she is provided a supply of personal food that contains a large bag of trail mix, fresh fruit, a jar of peanut butter, tuna or chicken packets, a bag of tortillas and four quarts of water. Staples are replenished as appropriate (at least twice a week) and are accessible to the client to eat at their discretion. During meal times, staff supervises each client's intake of food provided. Clients must consume at least 8 oz. of food per meal and four quarts of water each day. Food and water intake is monitored and documented. If a client doesn't consume the required food or water intake, staff contacts the Second Nature Medical Coordinator to address concerns expeditiously.
Second Nature conducts ongoing and mandatory staff training for all levels of Field Instructors, Drivers, Logistic Coordinators, Therapists and Administrators. While Second Nature's safety protocols meet or exceed industry standards, protocols address other vital relational aspects of safety. Staff are trained to respond to all complaints even when there is reason to suspect manipulation. If a client attempts to manipulate by "crying wolf" with complaints relating to his/her health, he/she is assessed and treated medically first and any responses to therapeutic concerns are addressed secondarily at a later time. Second Nature staff avoids engaging in power struggles with clients and approach issues related to safety conservatively through established best practices.
In addition, Second Nature has always taken the stance that clients are not engaged in an overly strenuous curriculum. Second Nature never uses deprivation of food, water or nutrition to create a therapeutic change. Second Nature offers more than 3,000 calories per day and utilizes internal frame backpacks for comfort.
Second Nature continually maintains a very high staff to student ratio that helps ensures the safety and well being of all clients in our care. All Second Nature staff are certified in CPR and First Aid. Each group of participants is supervised by at least one Wilderness First Responder certified staff or Emergency Medical Technician. The Wilderness First Responder program (and WEMT) is a nationally recognized certification that certifies our staff to respond to emergency medical situations in remote backcountry situations.
Second Nature staffs receive continual training from a medical professional on pertinent medical issues. In the field all Second Nature staff has access to medical resources and information including but not limited to a Wilderness First Responder handbook, information about the potential side effects of psychotropic medications administered in the field, and Second Nature policies and procedures regarding the health and safety of our clients.
Second Nature honors requests by our clients to be evaluated by a medical professional. There is no consequence for asking to be seen by a medical professional or for anything said to a medical professional. It is Second Nature's policy to address any medical concern that cannot be handled in the field by transporting the client to a medical facility as quickly as possible. Staff are directed to contact EMS directly for evacuation or consultation in an emergency situation if they cannot immediately access Second Nature medical personnel.
Finally, All Second Nature staffs operate under the mission of safety first. Our clients' physical health and safety is our priority above any other goals. Our staff are flexible with their daily routine and hiking plans in order to address any medical concerns. It is our policy to only hike as fast as the slowest member of the group at all times. If for any reason, a group member cannot continue the hike the group will stop. Second Nature will transport any extra or unnecessary gear (extra layers of clothing or extra food) for any participant struggling with the weight of their backpack. Second Nature will also adjust the diet to provide extra calories and/or electrolytes if needed. For example, we provide extra fruit in the summer and extra protein during the winter.
Please do not hesitate to contact any of us with questions and or concerns. The wellbeing and safety of every child in our care is always, our primary concern. We welcome the opportunity to address this issue with you at any time. Thank you.
Second Nature Wilderness Programs:
|
Brad Reedy, Ph.D. |
Devan Glissmeyer, Ph.D. Partner/Co-Founder devan@snwp.com Tel: 801 201-8194 |
Cheryl Kehl, LCSW Partner/Co-Founder kehl@aol.com Tel: 801 998-8386 |
| Dan McDougal Partner, Program Dr., Blue Ridge danm@snwp.com Cell: 706 490-1427 |
Rick Heizer, M.S. Partner, Program Dr., Entrada rick@snwp.com Cell: 435 669-2539 |
Matt Hoag, Ph.D. Partner, Clinical Dr., Entrada secondnaturematt@gmail.com Cell: 801 201-1776 |
|
J Huffine, Ph.D. |
Willow Huffine, Ph.D. Partner, Executive Dr., Cascades willow@2ncascades.com 541 480-6258 |
June 18, 2009—Second Nature Welcomes Jennifer Graham
Contact:
Second Nature Therapeutic Wilderness Programs
Admissions Team
866-205-2500
www.snwp.com
Please join us in welcoming Jennifer Graham, M.S. to Second Nature! Jenn's extensive experience working with struggling families, particularly in the areas of young adult treatment and family therapy, will further enhance Second Nature's ability to provide the highest level of support and quality programming for families engaged in wilderness therapy.
Jenn Graham earned her Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara and went on to earn her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Dominican University. Jenn worked for 10 years with young adults and adolescents in residential treatment facilities, focusing on addiction, adoption, and legal issues. Jenn also served as Program Director at a treatment facility in northern California and as a Family Therapist in an inpatient program. Jenn developed and instituted anger management courses in juvenile hall facilities in northern California. And for the past 10 years, Jenn has been an Educational Consultant, traveling extensively, visiting more than 300 programs and working with families in need.
Jenn's role will be to enhance Second Nature's Family Services and to further develop client based programming at each Second Nature location. She will work closely with Program Directors and Second Nature clinical staff to develop specialized group niches. Jenn will also write program for Second Nature Family Retreats.
Jenn shares, "I felt it was time for me to get back to creating and implementing programs and services for families. My previous experience has been hugely rewarding and has lent itself to this next step. I am excited to join the incredible team at Second Nature and look forward to further supporting family services, developing niche groups and supporting the strong leadership already in place."
We are thrilled to have a professional of Jenn's caliber on our team and are confident Jenn will continue to assist us in maintaining the most individualized and sophisticated level of care for your families. Jen will be based in Southern California and may be reached at: 310 633-3153 or jgraham@snwp.com Welcome Jenn!
May 27, 2009—Staff News Second Nature Blue Ridge
Contact:
Second Nature Admissions Team
866-205-2500
www.snwp.com
Second Nature Blue Ridge in Clayton, Georgia is pleased to announce the following:
Lu Vaughn Returns! We are delighted to announce the return of therapist, Lu Vaughn, LPC, NCC to Second Nature Blue Ridge. Lu will return to work with adolescent boys, accepting students June 1, 2009. Lu specializes in addictions treatment, oppositional defiance, adoption issues, behavioral issues and family issues. Welcome Back Lu!
February 06, 2009—Family Services at Second Nature
Contact:
Dr. Brad Reedy
Executive Director
866-205-2500
brad@snwp.com
www.snwp.com
In this new economy, many of our previous assumptions about treatment approaches should be questioned. Wilderness therapy has long been considered a "beginning" to treatment. Whether viewed as a wake-up call or a mix of treatment and assessment, wilderness is always most effective when paired with extensive support for the family.
With recent economic challenges, wilderness therapy may be used more and more as a one-stop intervention, followed by intensive wrap-around services at home. In such cases, it is imperative that we understand how to help families reap the greatest benefit from the Second Nature journey.
Second Nature has long been a proponent and pioneer of "family therapy in the woods." Second Nature offers a comprehensive family support program for each enrolled family, which includes:
• Weekly therapeutic conference calls with a Masters or Ph.D. level therapist.
• Guided reading lists from Second Nature's therapeutic library - tailored to each family's unique circumstances and needs.
• Access to Second Nature's extensive parenting curriculum, which includes; home and transition assignments, parenting therapy, sibling and family assignments
• Family Mentor Program - Second Nature staff carefully select Second Nature Alumni parents to mentor current parents throughout the Second Nature journey. Every family receives a call from an alumni parent offering support, insight and encouragement within the first 72 hours.
• Online, Live-Interactive Webinars - Two hours of online web seminars per week-one topic session and one Q&A open session on a variety of related parenting topics to dovetail with each family's experience.
• Online Parent Portal - 24 access to digital pictures of the students, journal postings, letters and group updates - updated weekly.
• Satellite phone calls with the student and family.
• Mid-program field visits coupled with guided family therapy sessions.
• Parent seminars and transition programming with student in the field.
• National parent support meetings (Bay Area, L.A., Washington D.C., New York) allowing parents access a variety of parenting breakout sessions presented by Second Nature therapists.
• Additionally, Second Nature has assembled the most clinically sophisticated team in the country. All Second Nature staff members are involved in an extensive training program. Second Nature owners are highly involved in day to day programming. Some carry caseloads, working directly with students in the field. Therapists create comprehensive treatments plans for each student and family. Length of stay is determined by each student's individual treatment needs as opposed to program needs or level benchmarks. Second Nature pioneered unique "niche" groups to ensure the best possible fit for each participant's individual treatment needs.
• Families are hungry for ongoing parenting and communication skills and a greater sense of community during the wilderness experience. It is not enough to simply treat the student in our care. Parents strongly desire support and tools to help maintain gains from wilderness therapy.
It is inherent within the culture at Second Nature to ask our families how best can we serve their needs. What else is needed? We will always ask these questions and challenge ourselves to evolve with the needs of the family.
January, 2009—Second Nature Wilderness Program First to Receive Accreditation Through NAAS
Second Nature Wilderness Programs
Tel: 866 205-2500
www.snwp.com
Second Nature is honored to be the first therapeutic wilderness program accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.
The accreditation team conducted an extensive on-site visit and evaluation of curriculum content, academic teachers and staff. The accreditation team commented on the talent and quality of the certified teachers and further noted Second Nature's strong adherence to meeting or exceeding state standards. Second Nature was awarded three year accreditation as a result of the site review.
Additionally, the visiting accreditation team was so impressed with their review, that they have asked Second Nature's Academic Administrator to assist in the on-going development of academic standards and evaluations for all wilderness programs.
