Life at Base Camp
Visiting the wilderness and immersing yourself in all of its teachings is one of the most powerful ways to heighten your awareness of self and how you affect and are affected by your environment. The next step in your journey is bringing these teachings out of the wilderness and applying them to everyday life in the “real world.” Through guided transitions from wilderness to base camp, you will be given the opportunity to “put into practice” the life skills and lessons you developed in the wilderness in a more familiar environment.
The therapeutic benefits of life at base camp are quite different from the field, but are equally, if not more, important. The activities at base will more closely mimic your life when you leave. For example, it is highly unlikely that when you graduate, you will spend the next 6 to 12 months living on the trail. Odds are that you will live in some type of building with electricity and indoor plumbing, and be responsible for keeping your living space neat and clean. You will also have some sort of daily schedule to adhere to whether for work, school, recovery, leisure, or otherwise.
The base camp experience presents an opportunity for you to get a more accurate picture of the feelings that may arise when you live in a comfortable environment with a consistent daily routine. Some of the challenges may include boredom, increased responsibility for your personal space, difficulty with time management/staying on task, as well as adapting to a new environment, new peers, and new staff.
These and other issues that are common in a “home-like” setting can cause old behavior patterns to creep up that were not present in the wilderness. With the support of fellow campers, guides, and therapists, you will be encouraged to discuss those feelings and behaviors and find healthier ways to cope, thus building upon your ability to tolerate uncomfortable feelings without using drugs or alcohol. The lessons you learn at base camp will set the groundwork for an aftercare and relapse prevention plan that is created with input from your therapists, family, and other professionals.
All of the life skills you develop at base camp, including self-discipline and self-care, social skills, community involvement, and communication skills, are essential for sustained recovery and productive living. You will be exposed to these skills as a group, thus learning from each other as you adopt new coping strategies. This unique opportunity to learn beside peers of similar age, experience, and struggles will give you insight on your own process. Pay attention – every experience presents an opportunity to learn something new.