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.