By Graham Cook
Chief Executive
Off The Rails Kids Ltd
Northumberland . UK.
www.offtherailskids.com
Mobile - +44 (0) 7872 665022
The following is a journal of my recent trip to the USA where I visited Wilderness Programmes and other Boarding School / Residential Treatment Centres in Southern Utah.
Chief Executive
Off The Rails Kids Ltd
Northumberland . UK.
www.offtherailskids.com
Mobile - +44 (0) 7872 665022
The following is a journal of my recent trip to the USA where I visited Wilderness Programmes and other Boarding School / Residential Treatment Centres in Southern Utah.
Sunday 11th
November – waken to a lovely warm Nevada sunny day, not knowing
that my host (Steve Schultz from RedCliff) had battled through a snow storm the
previous afternoon and stayed nearby overnight so as to collect me and then to
drive me back north up the I15! We travelled in bright sunshine up to St George
where we had an early meal (avoiding the coach loads of New Zealand pensioners
at the Marriott) and an early night to catch up on some much needed sleep.
Monday 12th
November – following a hearty breakfast we drove out west from
St George for the 1 hour journey to RedCliff’s base at Enterprise. After
meeting some old friends and also introducing myself to the new Clinical
Director and some of his team we swapped vehicles for a 4 wheel drive to head
out into the desert. About an hour later we started to look for a couple of
groups who had English kids amongst their contingent.....I was particularly
keen to meet a boy and a girl who had been sent out to Utah following my conversation
with their Parents. Before long we stumbled on an all girl group and I was able
to spend some time with a brave young lady who is finding life hard but who has
now started to open up and be frank with her therapist – I wish her well. Later
in the day I had a long chat with a boy from the UK who was on “solo” at the
time, he is still very angry but has done well in his phase work and he is hoping
to graduate soon. We shall see?
On the way out of the field we met by chance a mature
group of students who were predominantly out there battling with alcohol and
drug related issues...they were very open and honest about their personal
history and the challenges they face. A very humbling experience!
Tuesday 13th
November - after a very early start Steve and I were to be
guests of WinGate Wilderness Therapy at Kanab, Utah we were to tour their
facility and get a better understanding of their ethos and their unique
approach to helping troubled teens. I had met Sheri Gallagher some time ago in
London but it was the first time I had met Shayne....her husband and the
programme Executive Director. After travelling with Shayne through some
breathtaking scenery (they call it little Hollywood) we spent time with a
couple of groups camped out in the bush and my lasting memory is how open and
honest the young people were with the group (and also with themselves) as they
look to address their issues. We wished them well and returned to base via a
private viewing of some native Indian rock carvings ( Petroglyphs ) in a canyon
owned by a local farmer....fascinating!
NOTE: Grateful thanks to the
folks at WinGate for helping with some of the cost of my trip....much
appreciated!
Wednesday 14th
November - Steve and I visited Oxbow Academy a RedCliff
programme where Steve is an “owner” and he has a particular interest in the
operation of what are now two separate campus environments. I was familiar with
the original (west) campus which deals with boys who have deep seated sexual
issues and yet I was keen to determine some of the links these boys had with
earlier electronic gaming addictions....I was not to be disappointed. As always
the boys were very open frank and sometimes graphic in their description of
past event that led to them being placed in this facility.
The new (east)
campus takes boys with very different yet equally complex needs and it was fun
trying to explain to them who I was and why I was there....without constant
interruption. Clearly there is a need for this new facility and the boys were
making good progress with lots of support from some amazing people who provide
a structure a therapeutic mechanism and professional assistance.
Wednesday evening I had dinner with my old mate Dr
Mark Burdick (who flew in from California to see me) along with John Karren and
his wife from Elements Wilderness Programme in Utah. We had a brief but
enjoyable discussion and meal before all had to depart.....lots of work in
progress!
Thursday 15th
November – a welcome return visit to Discovery Ranch where I
was able to renew old acquaintances and tour the new education block before
talking intimately to some girls and boys about their past exploits and their
current experiences. I enjoyed a guided tour of the overall campus facility
where one of the students took the lead and proved to be very informative. Some
great work being done here with help from dedicated professionals. I had
(another) enjoyable lunch but declined the open invitation to get on horseback
again....due to my recent recovery from a broken ankle (my excuse!).
Thursday PM was spent undertaking a little retail
therapy (shopping) in the local Provo mall and then the evening was spent in a
Chinese restaurant with Steve his lovely (long suffering) wife Pam and two of
their great kids.
Friday 16th
November - nearly time to end the trip so it was a brief visit
and tour round Discovery Academy and the new Discovery Connections facility
(great to see Brent Hall and my old friend Matt Hendry again!). Interesting
conversation with the new headmaster Lanny Adamson about the challenges of
trying to keep UK kids up to speed with the British education curriculum whilst
enrolled in the various programmes.....more work in progress!
Following lunch with Steve’s eldest son on the campus
at the University of Utah I had time for a brief tour to see the “lasting
legacy” of the Winter Olympics.....courtesy of Mr Romney. Good job!
My lasting memories of speaking to a great bunch of
kids (across various programmes) as they battle with their issues are as
follows:
1)
Whilst initially the finger is always
pointed at the young person as being the cause of the “problem” it does not
take long for the penny to drop and for Parents to realise that it is nearly
always a FAMILY PROBLEM!
2)
I asked a number of kids what they
would do if they could “turn the clock back” and with the vast majority they
simply wish that their Parents had talked to them more and had warned them of
the dangers of making the wrong decisions!
3)
My major concern at present is the
developing trend for teenage boys to start out with electronic gaming
interests.....that turn to addictions.....that lead to on-line activity....that
leads to viewing adult websites.....that leads to acting out.....that can lead
to crimes of a sexual nature!
Many thanks to Steve Schultz and all my friends and
colleagues in Utah for a great trip....keep up the good work that you folks
do...day in and day out.
Thanks again to the people at RedCliff for your
support in making the trip happen
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