An Open Letter to Parents Researching RedCliff Ascent

 By Stephen C. Schultz

"We will forever be known by the tracks we leave."

Having been raised in Oregon, I spent the majority of my free time during my childhood and teenage years steelhead fishing the coastal waters, climbing the Middle Sister in the Cascade Mountain Range, drifting the McKenzie River, and hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.

I have mentioned to friends, family, and colleagues on many occasions:

“From a therapeutic standpoint, there is no better place to have a student’s issues manifested quickly than in a wilderness setting.”

The question then becomes, “Why do therapeutic issues rise to the surface in an Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare program like RedCliff Ascent?”

Throughout the years of teenage development, most teens spend a lot of time with friends. These friends think the same, dress the same, act the same, listen to the same music, and sometimes get into the same types of trouble. Some teens also develop patterns of communication and manipulation while simultaneously avoiding the tasks of adolescent development. They engage in an effort to gain and maintain as much influence as possible over their parents—often interacting with them more as peers than as authority figures providing love, care and benevolent structure. Parents considering RedCliff Ascent are likely dealing with some of these challenges.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Perspective

With issues of physical health, when a child approaches a parent with a toothache, broken arm, or stomach ache, the goal is to help them resolve the pain. They may need a filling, a cast, or an appendectomy.

With issues of mental health, there is generally emotional pain that needs to be addressed. However, this pain is usually demonstrated through avoidance, relationship issues, or destructive behaviors, including addictive or compulsive acts.

When entering treatment for mental health issues, emotional "pain" is rarely relieved immediately. In fact, it often intensifies before improvement occurs. In almost all treatment settings, when someone leaves a program prematurely—whether from outpatient therapy or two days into a 30-day rehab center—it is not due to physical distress but rather the struggle of facing emotional pain.

If a child exhibits patterns of behavior that become emotionally or physically dangerous, parents step in and seek treatment. However, for treatment to be most effective, these unhealthy patterns must be disrupted. Disrupting harmful thought, behavior, and relationship patterns is crucial, as these patterns will not serve the individual well in adulthood. These are the very patterns that prompted parents to seek intervention in the first place.

The RedCliff Experience

Students at RedCliff often attempt to maintain control over their surroundings in unfamiliar settings. However, the only skills they have are the same manipulation and avoidance techniques that led them to RedCliff. For example, when a student writes a “Pull Me” letter, they carefully craft their message to appeal to parental concerns. If a mother is concerned about cleanliness, the student will highlight sleeping on the ground. If a father has specific meal preferences, the student will mention rice and lentils—despite the diet being reviewed by a dietitian and providing 3,000 daily calories. If a parent dislikes bugs, mice, or snakes, these will be emphasized. A student with a history of avoidance may refuse to hike. In rare cases, a student may refuse to eat or drink, leave camp unaccompanied, or attempt to run away. Ultimately, students continue using the same coping mechanisms they relied upon at home—because it is all they know.

All of these behaviors are anticipated and prepared for. RedCliff is equipped to handle these situations as they arise. Parents must understand that these behaviors represent a student's attempt to maintain influence over the family—albeit from a distance. When these behaviors occur, and they always do in some form, parents begin to recognize how their child shifts attention and accountability away from themselves. These situations become highly diagnostic, allowing parents to assess their child's level of commitment to reintegrating into the family system. This awareness helps parents determine the extent of work required moving forward.

This is one of the most difficult times for parents. While they know their child needs treatment, feelings of worry, frustration, and guilt often arise. Additionally, disrupting these patterns is challenging for parents as well. Over time, despite its dysfunction, their situation has developed a sense of normalcy. Change is difficult for all involved.

Accreditation and Safety

RedCliff Ascent holds operational permits and is regulated by the BLM and the Utah Department of Human Services, Office of Licensing. RedCliff is accredited through The Association for Experiential Education (AEE) and is a founding member of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council (OBH).

A portion of the BLM fees paid by RedCliff Ascent contribute to local projects, such as a campground on Beaver Creek and visitor structures at Parowan Gap, funded through the fees paid by RedCliff.

Is RedCliff Ascent Safe for Students?

Because RedCliff serves students and families struggling with mental health, family relationships, and emotional concerns, the organization has invested in a private plot of land. RedCliff owns 168 acres in the middle of its field of operation. Safety is a top priority. The facility has permanent shelters, fresh well water, emergency supplies, and food. RedCliff has trained with the St. George Life Flight Helicopter to establish a landing site, and it possesses a snowcat for winter emergencies. Staff members are trained as Wilderness First Responders.

Additionally, RedCliff maintains a radio system with a repeater tower to ensure reliable communication, as well as GPS, satellite phones, and a drone. Immediate access to motorcycles, four-wheelers, and other equipment is available for emergency situations. The Director of Special Projects is a master tracker, trained by experts from Quantico and experienced in teaching tracking courses.

These measures ensure that RedCliff is well-prepared for any challenges that may arise. The safety of students remains the highest priority.

Learn more on their website: www.redcliffascent.com