Wild Youth Passages
Wild Youth Passages (WYP) is an ecotherapy and adventure based therapy program for youth ages 13-18 struggling with mental health challenges in Summit County, CO. WYP participants are all adolescents with moderate to severe mental health diagnoses, including trauma, anxiety and/or depression, suicidality and self-harming behaviors. This ecotherapy and experiential therapy program utilizes trauma-informed interventions in combination with CBT, DBT, art therapy and mindfulness practices. Weekly activities and retreats include nature walks, art, hiking, cooking classes, teambuilding and leadership activities, rock climbing, forest bathing walks, camping, cross-country skiing, backpacking, gardening, yoga, equine therapy, animal shelter visits, paddleboarding, mountain biking, and more.
Teen groups meet on a weekly basis and embark on weekend retreats on an average of once every two months. WYP focuses on building emotional regulation skills, social skills, healthy communication skills, resiliency, and an increased connection to nature among Summit County youth by incorporating in-society and retreat-based outdoor programming on a year round basis. Teens develop strong, positive peer support networks, increasing their sense of belonging and connection. Program staff encourage teens to move at their own pace throughout the therapeutic process, as WYP participants are never pushed to do more than they’re comfortable with.
Case Management Support and Peer Mentorship
Program participants are able to receive the support of both peer mentors and Case Managers. Case Managers, comprised of Master’s level students from the Graduate of Social Work at the University of Denver, pick students up from school or during weekends to engage them in healthy activities and/or therapeutic support weekly. Through this process, participants develop tailored therapeutic skills and support to match their life challenges, while developing a close mentor and personal connection for resiliency.
Peer Mentors are graduated alumni of the program who have received peer mentorship training. Each participant is matched with a peer mentor who can share wisdom and support from their own journeys and provide a teenage perspective.
For teens with high support needs, our team is able to provide after-school therapeutic support on average of 2-4 days a week. We find that this allows for expedited mental health recovery and the development of resiliency during hard time
Alumni Program
Once teens graduate the program, they have the option to stay connected with the adults and peers they have developed as supports through early adulthood years. This includes quarterly alumni gatherings, ability to meet with familiar therapists and case managers during times of need, opportunity to become a peer mentor, and support to pursue a college or vocational path, including college admissions support.
Who We Serve
Data from WYP cohorts shows that residents from historically underserved populations are receiving care and access to the outdoors through the utilization of this program, comprising the majority of participants who enroll in WYP.
Cost
WYP is free for all participants, creating accessibility for teens that need the program the most. Transportation to and from programming by WYP staff is ensured for teens in need of this service. This program is made possible thanks to Building Hope and Summit County support.
Schedule
Younger Teen’s Group (ages 13-14)
School Year: Saturdays from 3pm - 5pm
Summer: Fridays from 10:30am - 1pm
Rolling admissions accepted for Summer 2024.
Older Teen’s Group (ages 15-18)
School Year: Wednesdays from 3pm - 5:30pm
Summer: Wednesdays from 10:30am - 1pm
Enrollment is now open for Summer 2024 cohort! Rolling admissions often accepted.
Wild Youth Passages article featured in Summit Daily: https://www.summitdaily.com/news/wild-youth-passages-group-therapy-sees-success-as-it-prepares-for-next-cohort/
Testimonials
“Wild Youth Passages has helped me a lot with the stuff going on in my mind. It has helped me get outside. Wild Youth Passages really helps with mental health and meeting new people, and the staff are supportive too. Wild Youth Passages is a good place to both talk about things & camp; have fun.”
-Teen currently enrolled in Wild Youth Passages
“Wild Youth Passages impacted my mental health by connecting me with nature. During COVID, I forgot how good it felt to get outside. When I joined Wild Youth Passages, it opened my eyes up to how beneficial nature can be and made me realize how great winter can be through activities such as cross-country skiing. For me, the hut trips that we would go on were one of the most impactful parts of the program. The process of getting to the hut was hard, but once we got there, that’s when the group really came together. We got to do hard things together as a group, and the conversations and weekly check-ins that we did really help me. I made some good friends through this program and got to practice mindfulness concepts during my time in Wild Youth Passages.”
-Wild Youth Passages alumni
“Wild Youth Passages gave me the time, space, and resources to work on my mental health and get to know myself better. The majority of the program was helpful to me, specifically having to push myself during the group sessions as well as doing check-ins as a group to stay on track.”
-Wild Youth Passages alumni
For program inquiries, please email Melissa Malter at melissa@wildnaturesummit.com.
