Wilderness Experience

The wilderness experience, commonly delivered in a corrections context as a wilderness program, is considered a therapeutic intervention for juvenile offenders. Wilderness programs provide residential placement, education, and a therapeutic component for delinquent youths that are alternative to the more conventional, secure detention institutions of juvenile corrections. These programs, described as rigorous outdoor activity–based programs, combine residential living with outdoor adventure–based programs to engage youths in a series of physically challenging activities that use a group approach to problem solving. Teamwork is often necessary for day-to-day success. Some wilderness programs offer youths an alternative to arrest or a diversion from formal court oversight by intervening at the preadjudication stages. Because of this approach, wilder-ness programs operate under both a community corrections model (such as focusing on reintegration of the youth into the community) and a residential placement model (such as focusing on prevention of recidivism).

History of Wilderness Programs

In the 1930s, forestry camps were established with the intention of rehabilitating male youth offenders in Los Angeles County, California. The original programs recruited delinquent youths to work on community-based, outdoor projects. For example, youths worked to preserve nature (such as developing parks in the community) or provide other benefits to the community (such as constructing roads).

Therapeutic wilderness programs involve rigorous outdoor activity, residential living, and physically challenging activities in a group setting with the goal of reducing recidivism among juvenile delinquents by improving self-esteem.

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During the 1960s, the Outward Bound model, a different program but also based outdoors, was introduced to the United States. This program was originally intended to teach soldiers in Europe military survival skills during war. The fundamental tenet of the program was to build cohesion among soldiers and instill in them the self-discipline necessary for survival. When Outward Bound came to the United States, the program was redesigned to serve the general public rather than the military.