Summer or Wilderness Programs

Summer camps for troubled youth can be a positive way to keep teens from negative influences during the summer months when they are often less supervised. Summer programs can vary significantly, and there is overlap with the other placement options discussed on this site. For example, a summer program could be a summer juvenile boot camp or a summer Christian program. Summer programs may offer remedial educational options that will allow a student to “catch up” to his or her appropriate grade level. Summer camps for troubled youth may be a good option for teens that do not have serious behavioral problems and simply need a supervised environment for the summer.

Wilderness programs are another short-term option for troubled teens. These programs are typically unaccredited and do not offer an educational component. These programs operate on the premise that time spent in nature, isolated from the distractions of the modern world, will give a troubled teen time to reflect on the poor decisions he or she has made. The benefit of these programs is that many teens enjoy them and they may provide opportunity for self examination. However, despite the popularity of recent television programming, it is unrealistic for parents to believe that a short time in woods will have a lasting effect on a child's serious behavioral problems.