The Interpreted Rock

By Stephen C. Schultz The dust billowed up around my head. It was so thick it turned to mud on my teeth and the roof of my mouth felt dry and parched. My teeth chattered as I was unceremoniously bounced up and down, side to side, hanging on for dear life to the tailgate of a late model Ford Super Duty as it crawled, scraped and spun through the football sized rocks and sage brush of the high desert backcountry of the Southwest United States. I was desperately trying to keep the $5,000 camera safe, clean and undamaged for this was not a trip of scripted lines, numerous takes and lunch buffets. This was a one shot opportunity to get interviews of Wilderness Therapy Staff working for RedCliff Ascent . After three hours into the backcountry by jeep trail, hiking another mile into camp and peeing beside a juniper tree, my 11 year old son and I finally spotted the red fleece sweatshirts of the students and staff of the “Ravens”. The Ravens were a group of 14-17 year old students from ...

By Stephen C. Schultz The sun peaked over the top of the building as police cars with flashing lights barricaded the street. Spectators had gathered along the curb and small American flags waved in the hands of children. The sky was blue and there was a slight breeze that made the balmy 65 degree weather feel like 62. It was a beautiful November morning in Dallas Texas. On the corner, the old book depository building stood tall. While I could imagine what it must have been like on that fateful day in November of 1963 , I was actually standing on that same corner in November of 2011. The crowds, flags and marching bands were from a Veterans Day Parade making its way down the street. I was in Dallas attending the semi-annual conference of the Independent Educational Consultant Association. IECA members gather from across the globe to interact, learn, network and refine their skill and knowledge in working with families and teens. Educational consultants, schools, universit...

By Stephen C. Schultz We have all heard the old saying, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again, expecting a different result." As I work with teens and families that struggle with a myriad of problems, the one thing that amazes me is the tendency for families to keep thinking and behaving in the same ways and expecting positive changes to take effect. How often do we hope to change our destination in life, but fail to change the route? Here is fun story with a great message! Autobiography in Five Short Chapters By Portia Nelson Chapter One I walk down the street.      There is a deep hole in the sidewalk      I fall in.      I am lost...I am helpless      It is not my fault.      It takes forever to find a way out. Chapter Two I walk down the same street.      There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. ...