Wilderness Expeditions

Expeditions into the wilderness are designed to take teens along pre-planned routes approved in advance by the U.S. Forest Service. Students and field instructors function as a self-sufficient unit, responsible for attending to the needs of each student and the group as a whole. Not only do field instructors have considerable clinical training, knowledge of teen substance abuse, outdoor experience and safety certifications, they also have extensive experience working with adolescents in a wilderness environment.

To live comfortably in the mountains of North Carolina, students are equipped with state-of-the-art camping equipment including lightweight sleeping bags, ground mats, and an internal frame backpack. Clothing varies from season to season, but typically would include top-quality fleece and wool clothing in winter, rain gear, high-quality hiking boots, and appropriate garments for layering to accommodate the changing climate.

A typical day begins with instructor communication to base camp via cell phones/radios, a hot breakfast cooked over a camping stove, and an activity from the daily curriculum. Depending on the terrain and fitness of the group, teens hike before and after lunch before settling in at a pre-selected campsite. Camp set-up, dinner preparation, therapeutic initiatives, and group sessions around the campfire end the day’s activities.

The safety of our students is of paramount importance to Phoenix Outdoor. Our wilderness therapy experts are certified in backcountry medicine, trained in risk management, and have significant experience in wilderness leadership. They operate under strict medical and safety protocols designed to eliminate risk and create a safe wilderness therapy experience. A small staff-to-student ratio is maintained, with at least one instructor for every three students in the field. Single-gender groups are also maintained to reduce the risk of potentially inappropriate behavior.

Phoenix Outdoor takes a proactive stance to ensure students are not tempted to leave the program prematurely. Field instructors are always within visible sight of each student and are on alert for any safety threats in order to proactively address the situation.

Each student group is equipped with multiple forms of communication tools to stay in close contact with base camp. GPS units verify coordinates of group locations, cell phones ensure regular communication with base camp, pagers allow immediate text messaging, and radios provide reliable communication between groups.