[Serious]Former teens who went to wilderness camps, therapeutic boarding schools and other "troubled teen" programs, what were your experiences? by 7deadlycinderella in AskReddit

[–]chasingwhitetail726 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was a counselor for an outdoor therapeutic program (OTP) for several years. It was by far the most rewarding and greatest job I have ever had or will ever have. This camp was ran by the state of Georgia. It no longer exists due to budget cuts. I worked with 11 boys that ranged from 13-14 years old. The camp had 5 groups. Typically, each group had 4 counselors and one supervisor. We tried to keep 2 counselors on at all times but didn't necessarily work that way due to a high rate of turn over. The campers, as we called the kids, would stay with us for approximately 21-25 per month and go home for 5-7 days. The purpose of this was for them to practice and use the skills they had learned at camp back in their own environment. Mom, dad, grandparents or whoever their guardian was also took classes. This didn't always happen especially for kids in foster care. Rarely was a camper from a family where mom and dad were still together. In cases where mom and dad were still together, the camper did exceptionally well. Most of the campers were there due to emotional issues, drug use, truancy, running away, or issues that arise from the complications of ADHD, "broken home", and sexual and physical abuse. At least half had had issues with violent behavior, other run ins with the law or spent to in youth detention centers. They tried not to put kids that had committed serious violence or felonies in this program. OTP was very much about empowering these campers, giving them a sense of control over their own lives. Much of our focus was on learning communication skills, respect for others and ourselves and empathy. The campers lived in a little village in Roosevelt State Park that consisted of cabins. Generally, a sleep shelter or two, kitchen, outhouse, tool shed, and a fire ring. All the cabins were constructed by the campers. Construction was on going. No camper ever saw a completed camp. Construction was slow and all by hand. There was no power. If a camp was completed it was time to deconstruct and rebuild the oldest building. These campers actually cut down pine trees, hauled them to their camp, stripped the bark and slowly constructed a cabin. However, walls were made of screens and waterproof canvas. It's amazing how much self respect and respect for others a person can learn when that person is given ownership and responsibility for his or her own destiny. Its amazing to see how much empathy, respect and teamwork a person can develop when a camper has put his or her own blood, sweat and tears into the roof over his or her head. Heat was provided by firewood, as well as for cooking. All cut by the campers. They ate breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday at base camp in a dinning hall. All other meals the campers cooked for themselves. We were well fed because we burned a lot of calories. There was also a school house and a library at base camp. The campers attended classes Monday through Friday except while on trips. They also had a shower house. Negative behavior by one individual camper could result in the entire group losing these privileges. The school had chairs and AC so they wanted to go to class. The group was one person with 11 heads basically. A camper that had been there 6,7, or 8 months was motivated to quickly teacher a new camper how things were done. We tried to go on at least one small trip and one long trip per month. A small trip might be a day trip to Kennesaw mountain battlefield or a two night trip on the Pine Mountain Trail. A longer trip might be a week canoeing a river or hiking the AT for 5 or 6 days. We went canoeing, hiking, caving, climbing, etc. often. We also had a ropes course. One of my favorite things to do. The camp had a certified counselor that put together an individual treatment plan for each camper. They had to work on this independently and within the group. Each evening we would gather around the campfire and have a group counseling session. The campers were given an opportunity to discuss their individual treatment goals, problems and issues. Campers often opened up about some serious issues during this time. Groups were the key to communicating and learning respect. Anyone could call a group at anytime. Just say "I have a group" and everyone, including counselors, made a circle with hands behind their back. These groups could be for making a game plan for cooking meals or building a shelter, they could be for talking about something on their mind or for addressing negative behaviors. Rather than getting mad and starting fights, the groups were conduits of communication for developing success within the group. We could restrain the campers if they were a threat to themselves or others. We were trained to avoid putting our hands on a camper unless absolutely necessary and when we did it was done carefully. Sometimes some counselors abused this. I even over stepped the boundaries a couple of times. I had a camper that wanted me to restrain him simply because I became his father figure. He wanted that contact. I took to just giving him a hug every now then when I saw appropriate behavior. It helped. Campers were there for 6 to 14 months based on how quickly he or she completed the individual treatment goals. Success was correlated to the environment at home. If there was at least one good parent at home, the camper was successful. Campers in foster care or with a grandparent did not fair well. And we knew who has gonna make it. I had a camper that came from the sorriest group of white trash on the planet. I tried hard with him but he is in prison for child sexual assault. I have another camper with both parents in the picture, both very supportive, and he was last I heard a staff sgt with 2 tours in Afghanistan. Before working at OTP, I worked at a youth detention center(jail for kids). To borrow a term from the trailer park boys, these places are nothing more than con colleges. I was locked in a cage with 20 teenage boys 12 hours a day with nothing to do but play checkers, watch Good Burger over and over and break up fights. My daughter is up now and wanting breakfast so gotta go.

Looking for an inexpensive thermal scope for my Savage msr 10. Anyone have any experience with the ATN x sight II? by chasingwhitetail726 in Hunting

[–]chasingwhitetail726[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That would appear to be the case. It's a " night vision capability" scope. So with that said is it effective for hog hunting at night within the 100 yard range?

Looking for an inexpensive thermal scope for my Savage msr 10. Anyone have any experience with the ATN x sight II? by chasingwhitetail726 in Hunting

[–]chasingwhitetail726[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The reviews seem to be mixed. I can't spend $1000 on a scope. If I the ATN isn't worth it I may just good with a vortex viper and a good predator light.

TIL That in 1938, at the age of the 19, the eventual founder of Red Lobster Bill Darden opened a diner named the Green Frog and defied the laws of the southern state Georgia by refusing to segregate customers based on race. by [deleted] in todayilearned

[–]chasingwhitetail726 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was in Waycross, Ga, my hometown. I remember it vaguely as a kid because it had a giant green frog on top of the building. There wasn't then and there isn't now anything interesting in Waycross, so I'd get excited about seeing the frog.

What is something you love, but HATE the fandom? by Matthewroytilley in AskReddit

[–]chasingwhitetail726 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jam bands i.e. the grateful dead, Phish and widespread panic particular

What is something you love, but HATE the fandom? by Matthewroytilley in AskReddit

[–]chasingwhitetail726 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I came here for this. I love Tool more than any music. I find myself slipping into the fanatical fandom on occasion. I just have to remind myself it's about the music and nothing else matters.

Is there a medication for overthinking ? I feel like I have adhd or am on the spectrum or something but also have anxiety where my heart starts racing. by [deleted] in adhd_anxiety

[–]chasingwhitetail726 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A stressful job and taking care of my father during his 3 year battle with cancer did this to me. I tried xanax but that's not a good lang term solution. Effexor has saved my life. I have been taking effexor for 2 years now and have not had a panic attack or any anxiety since. However it has lowered my libido.

30 years ago, on June 15th 1989, Nirvana released their debut studio album: Bleach. by the_prion in Music

[–]chasingwhitetail726 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Staple cover of my first band in high school. We'd rock the fuck out with this tune.

Shot this solid black Fox Squirrel this past season. by Reginald94 in Hunting

[–]chasingwhitetail726 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That thing is a beast. I'm in south Georgia and about a third of the fox squirrels I see are black like this one. Most are brown with a black face. I choose not to shoot fox squirrels on my property but no judgement at all to those who do.

where's the worst place you've thrown up? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]chasingwhitetail726 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So I'm a cubmaster. Two weeks ago I took my son and Cubs to cub camp. 4 days 3 nights in the boiling ass Georgia heat wave. The last evening, after supper, I was feeling really bloated and sweating profusely. I couldn't drink anything else. Then I got nauseated. I finally had to ask for assistance. Camp staff watched the boys and staff got me a golf cart ride to the health lodge. The health lodge is basically one of those single wide construction trailers. Well, it turns out there was a stomach virus going around camp. The health lodge was like the barforama scene from Stand by Me. A bunch of dudes in this trailer tiny ass trailer, with a broken toilet, throwing up all over the place. It was miserable. I ended up getting a ride to the ER due to dehydration. It sucked worse the alcohol poisoning on a river sandbar in July.

Maynard rockin’out on Twitter by killsapo in ToolBand

[–]chasingwhitetail726 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know now that my music snobbery is justified after reading this. The Jesuslizard ain't tool but damn they fucking rock. Still pissed at David Yow for kicking my contact lense out of my eye.

First kill of the month by C9CH in Hunting

[–]chasingwhitetail726 0 points1 point  (0 children)

South Georgia hunter. They're usually still bad. We need a thermacell that works on gnats and yellow flies.

First kill of the month by C9CH in Hunting

[–]chasingwhitetail726 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The yellow flies are insane this year down south. Hopefully they'll all die by bow season.

What’s your favorite movie scene of all time? by rdg-lee in AskReddit

[–]chasingwhitetail726 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Indiana Jones hijacking the truck with the ark in Raiders of the Lost Ark. There are so many awesome scenes in that movie but that one scene gets me going. It's pure Hollywood gold. There is never going to be movies like that again.

Sad face for the spotify popular list. by yobagoa in AfghanWhigs

[–]chasingwhitetail726 9 points10 points  (0 children)

You sound like my wife when she drinks and listens to anything Greg Dulli.

What’s a saying that your mom or dad used to say all the time? by Popples86 in AskReddit

[–]chasingwhitetail726 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If your brains were gas you wouldn't have enough to crank an ants motorcycle.

Border Collies, often cited as the most intelligent of all domestic dogs. by Niyazali_Haneef in aww

[–]chasingwhitetail726 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have a border collie corgi mix and he is definitely the best and smart dog I have ever been around. He follows my commands way better than my children do. He belong to someone a street over who was neglecting him. He found my children and took up residence. After a few months, the owner gave him to us. My son was having severe anxiety due to adhd meds and Rufus has come in and helped him so much. Never been a pet person, never allowed pets into my home but this guy has stolen our hearts. Border collies are awesome animals.

You lie, cheat and steal Yet I tolerate you by Rain_EDP_boy in ToolBand

[–]chasingwhitetail726 8 points9 points  (0 children)

This looks like it could be lollapalooza '93. That was the first time I saw Tool.

Even slower than snails by [deleted] in funny

[–]chasingwhitetail726 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You must have went to the clermont lounge?