Safety

Second Nature has an impeccable safety record. Second Nature’s administration has advocated at the national and state levels for greater safety guidelines in wilderness therapy.

Each adolescent Second Nature Wilderness Program is state licensed and is subject to state reviews, state licensing supervision and extensive onsite audits. Contact state officials to confirm Second Nature's impeccable and unblemished safety record.

Students are pre-screened by Second Nature’s clinical team during the admissions process. Acceptance is based on consultation with parents and Educational Consultants and/or home clinicians, a thorough review of the student’s current and past history of behavior, and psycho-educational testing when appropriate.

  • Second Nature Blue Ridge is one of a select few wilderness programs accredited by AEE (The Association of Experiential Education) online at www.aee.org. Programs that have earned AEE accreditation have been reviewed and demonstrated compliance with the standards set by AEE for adventure programs. Attaining accredited status is evidence of an organization's commitment to quality, belief in professional standards, and allocation of resources toward ongoing improvement.
  • All Second Nature students receive a complete physical prior to entering the field.
  • Students receive on-going medical assessments every 21 days by an  M.D.
  • All staff are screened and background checked (State and Federal).
  • Staff-to-student ratios meet or exceed state minimums.
  • Each Second Nature group is comprised of Field Staff with CPR, Wilderness First Responder (WFR) exceeding the state’s requirements for medical training, and Positive Control Systems (PCS) certification.
  • Staff members attend regular training on crisis intervention and emergency preparedness.
  • Second Nature employs a Medical Director at each location.
  • Field Instructors are taught to use conservative judgment when determining group activities—keeping student health and safety as first priority—before all other program and clinical agendas.
  • Each student is properly outfitted from head to tow with the highest quality gear and clothing.
  • Each student is provided a diet rich in fresh fruits, meats, vegetables, grains, nuts, and safe water.
  • Regular attendance at workshops, conferences and seminars in wilderness medicine, risk management and search and rescue techniques are provided and required for staff.
  • Second Nature uses satellite phones, two-way radios, GPS units, and two-way pagers for twice-daily call-ins, emergency contact and safety consultations with field management.
  • 24-hour on call support staff are available to groups for emergency services 365 days per year.
  • In emergency situations, Second Nature has access to support from EMS (Emergency Medical Service).