Are you looking for a wilderness therapy program for a teen in your care? Use this listing of programs by state to find the treatment that is best for your family.
- What is Wilderness Therapy?
- Who is Adventure Therapy For?
- What is Wilderness Therapy Like?
- Is Wildness Therapy Effective?
- How to Find Wilderness Therapy Near Me
- What is the Cost of Wilderness Therapy?
- Wildness Therapy for Teenagers and Young Adults – Listed by State
- Wilderness Therapy in Arizona
- Wilderness Therapy in Colorado
- Wilderness Therapy in Georgia
- Wilderness Therapy in Hawaii
- Wilderness Therapy in Idaho
- Wilderness Therapy in Illinois
- Wilderness Therapy in Maine
- Wilderness Therapy in New Mexico
- Wilderness Therapy in North Carolina
- Wilderness Therapy in Oregon
- Deschutes Wilderness Therapy in Bend
- Wilderness Therapy in Utah
- Wilderness Therapy in Vermont
- Wilderness Therapy in Wisconsin
- Wilderness Programs Outside of the United States
What is Wilderness Therapy?
Wilderness therapy is a type of psychotherapy for youth that takes place in the natural environment to help teens and young adults manage mental health and behavioral issues. Wilderness therapy has been in use since the 1970s.
A wilderness therapy program typically lasts for 2-6 weeks. It usually starts with an introduction to the natural environment and teaches the skills needed to survive in it. The program also offers group support, individual counseling, and family therapy in order to help clients heal from their past experiences.
Who is Adventure Therapy For?
Nature therapy can be very beneficial for people with mental health issues. It helps them by providing a physical and psychological break from their daily life, while also getting them out into nature and giving them a sense of independence.
Most wildness programs are for teens and young adults ages 11-21 years old. Some programs allow younger children (ages 9-10) for programs of a shorter duration and intensity.
What is Wilderness Therapy Like?
Wildness therapy aims to engage youth in outdoor activities that challenge them to develop maturity and personal growth.
Common activities in wilderness programs include:
- camping
- rock climbing
- overnight solo experiences
- cooking
- outdoor skill building activities
- wagon trips
- hiking
- backpacking
- individual and group therapy
Is Wildness Therapy Effective?
Yes, adventure therapy has proven to be effective in improving behavior outcomes for delinquent youth.
How to Find Wilderness Therapy Near Me
Use the listing below to find an outdoor therapy program near you.
What is the Cost of Wilderness Therapy?
According to AllKindsofTherapy.com, “The average cost is currently $558.00/per day and the average enrollment fee is $3194.”
Is wilderness therapy covered by insurance? Most insurance companies do not pay for wilderness treatment programs, but it’s possible that some provide reimbursement.
Click here for more information on funding treatment options.
Some listings below are adventure programs that are non-profit and will not exclude a student due to financial need.
Wildness Therapy for Teenagers and Young Adults – Listed by State
The following is a list of top rated wilderness programs in the United States.
Listings are for information purposes only and not a recommendation.
Wilderness Therapy in Arizona
Anasazi Foundation
Anasazi serves adolescents ages 12-17 and adults 18+ with 49 day (minimum stay) expedition-based treatment in remote Arizona high country, with single-gender adolescent groups and coeducational adult groups.
The wilderness-based treatment services are effective for adolescents and young adults with behavioral concerns, mood disorders, attachment disorders and/or adjustment difficulties. The organization’s charitable purpose is to make these services available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Its core mission is to help parents and children turn their hearts to one another, begin anew, and walk in harmony in the wilderness of the world.
How much does the Anasazi Foundation cost? The average length of stay is about 56 days and the cost per day is $595 per day. This includes everything plus two spots in their parent seminar, a half-day family class after discharge, and seven weeks of follow-up from their Alumni Services Team. There is also a $2750 admission fee which covers all the gear needed.
Contact Anasazi through their website or by calling 800.678.3445.
Wilderness Therapy in Colorado
BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy
BaMidbar offers immersive, wilderness-based, residential treatment programs for Jewish young men and women (ages 18-28) struggling with mild to moderate emotional, behavioral, and social challenges.
BaMidbar’s mission is to ensure that Jewish youth and adults have the confidence, skills, and community support to navigate life’s challenges and thrive in the face of adversity. BaMidbar supports Jewish young adults struggling with mental health challenges through immersive, wilderness-based Therapeutic Expeditions. BaMidbar supports all Jewish teens and young adults, regardless of their mental health history, through Wellness Programs focused on building resilience through increased self-confidence, skill-building, and healthy relationships.
How much dies BaMidar Cost? BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy in Colorado is a 40-day program that runs from 6/30/22-8/8/22 and the cost is $12,600.
Contact BaMidbar through their website or by calling 720-835-2937.
Open Sky Wilderness Therapy
Open Sky provides therapy programs for teen boys and girls ages 13-17 and young adults ages 18-28. With an average stay of 9 to 10 weeks, this expedition-based treatment runs single-gender adolescent groups and coed young adult groups.
Open Sky assists teens, young adults and families struggling with difficult challenges and life circumstances. They provide a life-changing opportunity to discover and create a healthy life that is an intelligent and authentic expression of one’s true nature.
What does Open Sky Wilderness Therapy cost? The daily rate is $725. They have a $4950 enrollment fee, and the average length of stay is 10-12 weeks.
Contact Open Sky through their website or by calling 970-382-8181.
Outward Bound USA
Outward Bound USA is the leading provider of outdoor education programs that allow young people to explore their personal potential. Since 1962, Outward Bound provides expeditions in some of the most remote locations in the U.S. to programs in local schools and neighborhoods.
Outward Bound is the leading provider of experiential and outdoor education programs for youth and adults. Regardless of who you are or where you are from, there is an Outward Bound course at an Outward Bound School that will fit you. Outward Bound leads backpacking trips, mountaineering trips, whitewater rafting trips, canoeing trips, dog sledding expeditions, sailing trips and many other offerings.
People of all ages can experience the life-changing transformation at Classic Outward Bound wilderness expeditionary courses. They also offer 30+ day gap year expeditions, an award-winning program for Veterans, courses for grieving teens, as well as programs for families with struggling teens.
Outward Bound is a non-profit organization with courses ranging from four-day programs to several weeks-long expeditions. The average program lasts for 15 days.
How much does Outward Bound Colorado cost? Outward Bound programs in Colorado are 15-22 days and cost between $5000-$6500 for 2022.
Contact Outward Bound through their website or by calling 866.467.7651.
Wilderness Therapy in Georgia
Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness
Blue Ridge provides 8-12 week nomadic and expedition-based treatment with single-gender adolescent groups.
They work with students ages 10 to 18 with a range of emotional and behavioral issues including Depression, Anxiety, Learning Differences, Oppositional Defiance, ADHD, Attachment, Grief and Loss, and Substance Abuse Disorders. Many of their students have failed to respond to limits and rules, struggled with entitlement, chosen the wrong friends, underachieved, have experienced low self-esteem and a decline in academic performance, and may be experiencing parent-child conflicts.
Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness is a flexible outdoor program designed to create an intensive initial impact to identify coping skills, teach behavioral responsibility, and improve family relationships. The family program guides parents through an individual and family change process that parallels student’s growth in the program and is integrated with the students experience. Families have weekly calls with their child’s therapist, additional weekly support through a Parent Therapist, weekly telephonic support group, and a parent workshop and field visit.
How much does Blue Ridge Wilderness cost? The standard daily rate is $645 and the enrollment fee is $4,950. The minimum initial payment for 28 days is $23,010, and the average stay is typically 2-3 months.
Contact Blue Ridge through their website or by calling 706-212-2037.
Wilderness Therapy in Hawaii
Pacific Quest
Pacific Question offers outdoor-based, integrated therapy programs for teens and young adults. Their mission is provide the tools and skills teens and young adults need for lifelong, sustainable, and positive change.
Pacific Quest provides the following programs:
- Age 13-17: Helping kids realize their potential. A strengths-based approach to help our students get to the roots of their challenges, learn sustainable skills, and realize their resilience and ability.
- Age 18-24: Giving young adults a new beginning. On the Big Island of Hawaii, a safe space is created to practice new, sustainable life skills under the supervision of an integrated team of clinical, therapeutic, and wellness specialists.
How much does the Pacific Quest Wilderness program cost? The enrollment fee is $4900 which covers clothing, equipment, academic credits, and toiletries. The daily rate for the program is $895. Some services such as psychiatry and formal educational testing are billed separately. The average stay is 10-12 weeks.
Contact Pacific Quest through their website or by calling 808-937-5806.
Wilderness Therapy in Idaho
blueFire Wilderness Therapy
blueFire Wilderness Therapy is for troubled teens and young adults struggling with emotional, social and behavioral challenges. They utilize a comprehensive approach to teen treatment based on research and decades of experience. Pre-Teens (ages 11-14), teens (ages 15 – 17) and young adults (ages 18-28) receive a leading and comprehensive adventure experience that can help them and the entire family.
blueFire wilderness adventure therapy for at-risk youth helps teens overcome their challenges to become the best versions of themselves.
How much does blueFire cost? blueFire has an average length of stay of 10 weeks, with a daily rate of $635/day. The enrollment fee is $3900.
Click here to read more about the Bluefire history of abuse allegations.
Contact blueFire through their website or by calling (208) 494-8564.
Wilderness Therapy in Illinois
Adventure Works
Adventure Works is a non-profit, community-based outdoor behavioral healthcare organization serving at-risk youth in Northern Illinois. The program serves youth up to age 26 and utilizes the natural environment and adventure-based experiences to promote positive changes in behavior and overall well-being.
Adventure Works offers outpatient, group-based counseling services aimed at encouraging healthy risk taking.
Working in partnership with the community’s homeless shelter and other organizations serving families with at-risk youth, Adventure Works’ non-profit status allows youth to participate regardless of their ability to pay.
Adventure Works operates with an open-ended model of treatment with rolling admission and discharge. Youth can access the services when the need arises and stay as long as needed to meet individual goals.
How much does Adventure Works cost? The cost per participant is based on a sliding scale. All youth in DeKalb County are welcome regardless of ability to pay.
Contact Adventure Works through their website or by calling 815-517-0825.
Wilderness Therapy in Maine
Summit Achievement
Summit Achievement serves teen boys and girls ages 13-20 who are experiencing difficulties with their family, school or personal lives.
- Summit Achievement is a six to ten week adventure-based therapeutic wilderness program, offering an expedition model with a residential campus where students attend school 3 days per week.
- Summit Traverse is a flexible-length therapeutic boarding school designed to help prepare students who are transitioning from wilderness programs to more traditional environments, offering school 5 days per week and off-campus activities.
What is the cost of Summit Achievement? Tuition is $685 per day with a $3000 enrollment fee. The average length of stay is 8-10 weeks.
Contact Summit through their website or by calling 207-697-2020.
Wilderness Therapy in New Mexico
The Mountain Center
The Mountain Center provides a wide variety of programs including single day, multi-day adventure based and experiential programming.
They serve all youth in need, including:
- adolescents
- young adults
- adults
- LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning)
- POC (Persons of Color)
- substance use issues
- mental health issues
Their programs include:
- Adventures in a Caring Community provides bullying and substance abuse prevention to elementary school students.
- Emergence Program provides community mobilization and training programs focused on Native American communities.
- Courage to Risk Program serves trauma survivors.
- Adventure Out provide HIV/AIDS prevention services serving high-risk populations.
- NM Gay Straight Alliance Network provides resiliency building and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people.
- Harm Reduction reduces risk of drug overdose and HIV/Hep C infection for Northern New Mexicans.
- Healthy Transitions serves youth and young adults, who are disconnected from social and other community supports and may not be working, in school, or in vocational or higher education program.
- Counseling Services provides adolescent outpatient programming that meets multiple times per week for group therapy.
Contact The Mountain Center through their website or by calling 505-983-6158.
Wilderness Therapy in North Carolina
SUWS of the Carolinas
SUWS provides a healing haven for at-risk youth struggling with destructive behavior patterns and psychological disorders. SUWS therapists and staff use wilderness, positive peer culture, and evidenced-based therapeutic methods to challenge the student’s limiting belief systems. Students learn new skills, master personal responsibility, and improve their self-esteem.
SUWS offers 4 distinct programs:
- SUWS—single gender groups for adolescent males and females ages 14-17
- Seasons—coed groups for pre-adolescents ages 10-13
- Phoenix Outdoor—substance abuse treatment and assessment for adolescents ages 14-17
- Approach—wilderness program for students who are on the Autism Spectrum, have Pervasive Development Disorders and/or Non-verbal Learning Disorders
- Family Program—Parent Workshops, weekly skills webinars, phone calls with the student’s therapist and interactive online portal
What is the cost SUWS? The cost for their wilderness program is $615 per day, with a one-time enrollment fee of $3,200. They are private pay only and offer a rolling enrollment throughout the year. The average stay is 8-12 weeks.
Contact SUWS through their website or by calling 828-668-7590.
Trails Momentum
Trails Momentum provides therapy through integrating expeditions with campus programing designed to practice transitioning back to settings that mirror regular adolescent life. Average length of stay of 60-90 days and the programs serve teens ages 10-17.
Developed specifically to address the whole child, their proven methods and clinical therapies help change troubling behavior, guide adolescents up new paths of self-awareness, lead families toward reunification and healing, and re-engage students in an appreciation of academic challenge and learning.
How much does Trails Momentum cost? The cost is $635 per day with an enrollment fee of $4900. The average length of stay at Trails Momentum is 60-90 days.
Contact Trails through their website or by calling (800) 975-7303.
Wilderness Therapy in Oregon
Evoke at Cascades
Evoke Therapy Programs offers wilderness programs for teens ages 13–17, young adults ages 18–28+, and families struggling with difficulties like trauma, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, defiance, and substance abuse.
Evoke provides therapy and healing from these circumstances, following a proven approach that creates lasting positive change.
How much does Evoke Wilderness Therapy cost? At Evoke there is a $4000 admission and gear fee, as well as a daily rate of $625. If your child needs psychiatric care, there is an additional $1800 fee. The average length of stay with Evoke is 10-12 weeks.
Contact Evoke through their website or by calling 866-411-6600.
Deschutes Wilderness Therapy in Bend
Deschutes Wilderness Therapy is an Intermediate Level of Care Program for those who require an immediate intervention and intensive treatment. The programs specialize in treating issues of adoption, trauma, anxiety and addiction.
Therapies center around healing the effects of early childhood stress, particularly with adopted children. Focused attention is given to creating regulation by alleviating anxiety through evidence-based interventions and attunement-based therapies. Interventions include canine therapy, yoga, and art therapies.
How much does Deschutes cost? The daily rate is $695 with an enrollment fee of $4750. The average length of stay is 60-90 days.
Contact Deschutes through their website or by calling 866-934-4118.
Wilderness Therapy in Utah
Aspiro Wilderness Adventure Therapy in Utah
Aspiro programs utilizes a hybrid of traditional clinical modalities including wilderness therapy, adventure therapy, family systems, experiential therapy, and experiential education. They serve adolescents ages 13-17 and young adults ages 18-28, including both males and females.
Students are immersed in therapeutic outdoor experiences seven days a week with round the clock supervision by highly trained outdoor field guides.
Aspiro uses a base camp model. Participants return to base camp two days each week to resupply for the following week.
What does Aspiro cost? Aspiro has year-round rolling admissions and charges a daily rate of $635 per day. The average length of stay is 8-12 weeks. There is also a one-time enrollment fee of $3,900. This includes everything your child will need such as clothing, shoes, food, and toiletries. This does not include prescription medications, neuropsychological testing, or psychiatry services.
Contact Aspiro through their website or by calling 801-349-2740.
Elements Wilderness Therapy in Utah
Elements Wilderness Therapy provides outdoor behavioral therapy for boys ages 13-17. Living in the wilderness with a small group teaches boys to learn how to work together and make each situation better. The program keeps boys safe, allowing them to drop their defenses and have honest dialogue about their lives. The goal of the program is to provide them with the tools they will need to take next steps to health and wellness.
How much does Elements Cost? Their program is typically 10-12 weeks in length and the cost is $615/day plus a $3900 enrollment fee.
Elements Wilderness Therapy partner program is Elements Traverse for adults.
Contact Elements through their website or by calling 866-542-2252.
Elements Traverse
Elements Traverse serves adults of all genders who are struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use, trauma, and more.
Elements offers a new beginning to clients who desire to live fuller and healthier lives. The program is a nomadic wilderness therapy model where clients spend 8 to 10 weeks backpacking and adventuring through Utah’s scenic backcountry. The challenge of activities (including rock climbing, rappelling, canyoneering, stand-up paddle boarding, rafting, fly-fishing and low ropes courses) can provide a host of powerful teaching opportunities.
How much does Elements Traverse Cost? Their program is typically 10-12 weeks in length and the cost is $615/day plus a $3900 enrollment fee.
Contact Elements Traverse through their website or by calling 866-542-2252.
Evoke at Entrada
Evoke Therapy Programs offers wilderness programs for teens ages 13–17, young adults ages 18–28+, and families struggling with difficulties like trauma, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, defiance, and substance abuse.
Evoke provides therapy and healing from these circumstances, following a proven approach that creates lasting positive change.
What does Evoke cost? The daily rate for Evoke’s wilderness programs is $625 and the enrollment fee for gear, clothing and equipment is $4000. The average length of stay at Evoke is 9-12 weeks.
Contact Evoke through their website or by calling 866-411-6600.
Expanse Wilderness
Expanse Wilderness is a therapeutic wilderness program which provides individualized treatment to at-risk young adults, ages 18 -28, and their families.
Expanse specializes in aiding young adults who are struggling with anxiety, low self-esteem, substance abuse, day-to-day self-care, loneliness, poor social skills, gender identity, sexual orientation, self-harm and many other difficult situations.
They have a comprehensive approach that is designed to provide help for these struggling young adults, in a compassionate and supportive environment. Their program is aimed to encourage and empower, so that these young adults make lasting change, achieve long-term success, and have fulfilling lives.
What does Expanse Wilderness cost? The cost for the Expanse program is $610 per day, with an initial enrollment fee of $3,800. The average stay for clients is 10-12 weeks.
Contact Expanse through their website or by calling 800-685-3059.
Juniper Canyon Recovery Center for Women
Juniper Canyon is a gender-specific program for women 18 and over who are struggling with substance abuse, trauma, unhealthy relationships, low self-esteem, anxiety and other mental health issues. Juniper Canyon is a hybrid program that integrates the healing power of adventure and wilderness therapy with the clinical intensity of a licensed residential treatment center. The program is designed and delivered by women with years of experience in addressing the specific needs of women.
All therapy and programs are conducted within an environment of mutual respect, empowerment, and trauma-informed care.
What does Juniper Canyon cost? The total cost is $57,000 for their 90 day program. The first month they bill $25,500, the second month $18,000, and the third month $10,000. The enrollment fee is $3500.
What sets Juniper Canyon Recovery Center for Women, and Legacy Outdoor Adventures for Men apart is that they pre-authorize and bill insurance, and have helped many families of patients receive more affordable treatment.
Contact Juniper Canyon through their website or by calling (866) 436-4458.
Legacy Outdoor Adventures
Legacy Outdoor Adventures is a wilderness therapy program for young adult and older adolescent males struggling with substance abuse, emotional and behavioral issues, and lack of motivation and purpose.
Program Offered: The program includes integrate wilderness and adventure therapy with two nights per week in a residential setting.
What does Legacy Outdoor Adventures cost? The total cost is $57,000 for their 90 day program. The first month they bill $25,500, the second month $18,000, and the third month $10,000. The enrollment fee is $3500.
What sets Legacy Outdoor Adventures for Men, and Juniper Canyon Recovery Center for Women apart is that they pre-authorize and bill insurance, and have helped many families of patients receive more affordable treatment.
Contact Legacy through their website or by calling 866-436-4458.
Outback Therapeutic Expeditions in Utah
Outback Therapeutic Expeditions utilizes a unique philosophy of wilderness therapy with a focus on unparalleled staff training, customer care, and adherence to a warm, nurturing, no-resistance therapeutic program.
With programs for youth ages 13-17, staff feel that the best way to earn respect from teens is by practicing what you preach while challenging the students to initiate positive change in themselves.
Outback’s programs place an emphasis on healthy relationships, increased self-efficacy, and skill enhancement.
How much does Outback cost? Their daily rate is $635 with an enrollment fee of $3750. The average length of stay is 10-11 weeks.
Contact Outback through their website or by calling 800-817-1899.
Redcliff Ascent
Established in 1993, Redcliff Ascent is a therapeutic wilderness program for adolescents and young adults whose emotional and behavioral development and growth are stalled. They lack the coping mechanisms, competencies and discipline that are necessary to manage their lives at an age appropriate level.
Teens engage in challenging therapeutic experiences in nature that disrupt the negative behavior patterns and they discover who they are without the influence of peers or social media.
The program is for adolescents ages 13-17 and adults 18+, both men and women.
What is the cost of Redcliff Ascent? Their daily rate is $625 with an enrollment fee is $3,200. The average length of stay is 8-10 weeks.
Contact Redcliff Ascent through their website or by calling (800) 898-1244.
Second Nature
Second Nature serves troubled teens ages 13-17 and their families through group and individualized therapy in a wilderness setting. Student groups are single sexed and operate on rolling admissions. Students focus on an individualized treatment plan in the field while parents work with the therapist weekly over the phone, supplemented by parent support groups and workshops.
What is the cost of Second Nature? The daily rate is $665 with an enrollment fee of $4600, which includes gear, clothing and equipment. The average length of stay at Second Nature is 9-12 weeks.
Contact Second Nature through their website or by calling 435-738-2040.
Wingate Wilderness Therapy
Wingate provides therapeutic programs for boys and girls ages 13-17 and young adults (men and women) ages 18-28. Programs include hiking and other physical activities, as well as daily routines that build confidence in the ability to do hard things and increase self-reliance. Youth and young adults work through situations that require group effort, allowing them to learn relational dynamics and the power of unifying strengths to accomplish goals.
What is the cost of Wingate? The daily rate of Wingate is $610, with an enrollment fee of $3800. The average length of stay is 10-12 weeks.
Contact Wingate through their website or by calling (800) 560-1599.
Wilderness Therapy in Vermont
True North Wilderness
True North has been offering clinically sophisticated assessment, intervention and transition support for adolescents ages 14-18 and young adults ages 18-22 for over a decade. True North Wilderness program provides a small and supportive group experience as well as a comprehensive integrated parent program with full time dedicated parent therapists, a parent curriculum and an on-site parent workshop. Programs are 10-12 weeks on average.
True North operates a base camp model from October to May on their winter campus which includes an indoor sports arena, culinary arts venue, yoga studio, classroom space, extensive snowshoeing trails and heated indoor sleeping quarters.
From May through October, True North’s program model is expeditionary with students backpacking through national forest areas and participating in a variety of adventure based activities including rock climbing, canoeing, and fly fishing.
How much does True North cost? True North is $695 per day, and generally lasts an average of about 10 – 12 weeks. That cost is all-inclusive except for two things.
- A one-time $3500 enrollment fee, which is essentially an outfitting fee. It covers all of the clothing and gear that your child will use during the program, which is theirs to keep when they graduate.
- A $3500 fee for an in-person outdoor parent workshop about 2/3 of the way through the program. Parents need to complete a COVID test prior to attending. Most parents participate in the workshop.
Contact True North through their website or by calling 802.583.1144.
Wilderness Therapy in Wisconsin
New Vision Wilderness in Medford
New Vision Wilderness (NVW) is an Intermediate Level of Care Program for those who require an immediate intervention and intensive treatment. The programs specialize in treating issues of adoption, trauma, anxiety and addiction.
Therapies center around healing the effects of early childhood stress, particularly with adopted children. Focused attention is given to creating regulation by alleviating anxiety through evidence-based interventions and attunement-based therapies. Interventions include canine therapy, yoga, and art therapies.
How much does New Vision cost? New Vision has a daily rate of $675/day with an enrollment fee of $4000. The average length of stay is 8-12 weeks. They do have some scholarships available so check out their website below for more information.
Contact New Vision through their website or by calling 866-934-4118.
Wilderness Programs Outside of the United States
Wilderness Therapy in Costa Rica
Pure Life Aspiro
Young Adults; Co-ed; 17.5-30
Program Offered: 2 – 3 month Adventure Therapy Program; Cultural Emersion in Costa Rica, Extension Home Stay Program;
Accreditations: AEE expected in 2018
Pure Life by Aspiro provides a holistic, adventure-based approach to young adult therapy. Adventures provide students with the opportunity to overcome challenges and build self-esteem. The program is designed to help individuals ages 18-30 (will consider motivated 17+ year olds), who are struggling with the transition to emerging adulthood due to anxiety, depression, or personal issues.
The average stay at Pure Life is 90 days. Students participate in weekly adventure itineraries with a group of up to 8 peers. These adventures might include hiking, rafting, surfing, or cultural homestays. The program integrates healthy living principles like exercise, mindfulness, yoga, healthy eating, and personal hygiene, with adventure and traditional talk therapy.
Bilingual programming is available in English and Spanish.
How much does Pure Life cost? Pure Life is an open enrollment, rolling admissions program. They take new admissions every Monday. Their average stay is 80-90 days and the cost is $650 a day with a $3800 gear/admission fee.
Contact Pure Life through their website or by calling (801) 896 9490.
With this helpful listing of wilderness therapy by state, you can find the treatment that is best for your family. Wilderness therapy provides teens and young adults with the option to grow personally and overcome behavior challenges in a nature setting.
Do you have experience with wilderness therapy? Share about it in the comments below.
Click here for a free PDF printable checklist of the 7 steps to take when your child needs residential treatment.
Robin Reber says
Disappointed to see that Star Guides Wilderness is not listed here? It’s the only wilderness program in the nation that holistically treats Process Addictions, Gaming, Technology Addictions, Porn Addiction, Debilitating Social media addictions, Sex Trafficking, even inappropriate Sexual Behaviors along with any co-occurring developmental difficulties the child may be dealing with RAD, ADHD, ODD, ASD, Early Childhood Trauma. Strong family component as well. https://www.starguideswilderness.com/ We service youth ages 12-17; male and female groups. Primitive nomadic style of wilderness. Average length of stay 120-150 days. We also can bill insurances including Tricare for Military families and Veterans. Thank you –
Alyssa Carter says
Thanks for the recommendation. We will look into the facility and consider adding it to our list.
Cora Meredith says
My son was at Star Guides, I was also frustrated to see that they were not on this list. They were the most influential program for my child and were the most educated in treatment services for gaming, sex and food addiction. Doc Dan is phenomenal, and his education and expertise is well known through out the industry as is his developmental vacation theory. Please look into adding them to this list. I cannot say enough about the positive outcome for my children that were in that program.
Thank you
Alyssa Carter says
Thanks for this helpful information!
Jennifer Thompson says
Do any of these camps accept insurance? These prices are so out of our ability to pay. Heart breaking.
Alyssa Carter says
As far as I know, all the programs for wilderness therapy are private pay. There is one that also has a day treatment program so accepts insurance for that aspect of the treatment, and a couple that say they will work with families to help with funding. I know they are a big investment.
Greta Lynn Cuilty says
I thought these camps were outlawed. Are you guys legit?
Your website looks sketchy.
Sara Borgstede says
Hi Greta, we are a website run by fellow parents, offering information to help other parents. We do our best to list programs accurately. As far as we know, these programs are running legitimately. If we hear otherwise, we adjust our listings. Obviously, we do not have the capacity to research or visit every program, so of course check them out and do your research. I hope this is helpful feedback. -Alyssa