Wilderness camps are designed to help troubled teens who are struggling with relationships, and are having trouble building good moral character. These camps take teens out of their everyday routine, and teach them life skills and hard work ethics. Camps can be co-ed or single gender and some have a religious basis.
Wilderness Way Girls Camp is a religious-based camp for girls who are suffering from depression, have behavioral problems and issues with authority. The camp has been in operation since 1991in the Appalachian foothills near Fair Play, South Carolina.
The camp accepts girls between 8 and 16 years of age. The girls usually stay between 14 and 20 months and are allowed visits home every six weeks. The camp offers some academic classes through the Oconee School District that allows high-school aged girls to earn credits toward graduation. While some formal education is available, the focus of Wilderness Way is to get girls to overcome their behavioral issues so that they can return to their life and succeed.
Wilderness Way Girls Camp
175 Camp School Lane
Fair Play, SC 29643
864-972-0611
wwgirlscamp.org
AMkids Piedmont, formerly known as Piedmont Wilderness Institute, specializes in helping boys between 14 and 18 years old who would otherwise be incarcerated in juvenile prison. The program works on a system called the Personal Growth Model, that consists of treatment, education and behavior modification.
The boys attend classes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and receive psychological care and medication if necessary. The AMIkids program uses a behavior modification program based on the theories of B.F. Skinner, Abram Maslow and William Glasser that reinforce positive behavior with a point system. The boys also participate in community services in the local area by working with Meals on Wheels, the YMCA and other community projects.
AMIkids Piedmont
20238 Hwy 72 East
Clinton, SC 29325
864-833-4505
pwi-sc.org
Yahweh Wilderness Expeditions specializes in family wilderness expeditions that are meant to bring parents and children closer. The program works to build trust and communication between parents and children through the teachings of Jesus Christ. By removing the family from everyday distractions and taking them to the wilderness, the program seeks to educate children on the grandness of nature and their place in it. The group also has service expeditions on the Appalachian Trail and offers family counseling during expeditions.
Yahweh Wilderness Expeditions
1736 Carolina Drive
Aiken, SC 29801
803-215-7378
yahwehwildernessexpeditions.com
