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New Perspectives - June,
2002 Issue #94
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Alaskan
Wilderness Experience
Nenana, Alaska
Laura & Jimmie Hendricks
907-683-8600
Alaskan Wilderness Experience
(AWE) offers three 28-day wilderness courses through the year, which are a ‘unique fusion of wilderness activities, communication
skills and emotional growth processes.’ Through the wilderness challenges, students learn to set and achieve goals, identify and communicate
emotions, take risks, make commitments, be honest and have fun. ‘Rites of Passage’ courses are specially designed to inspire young
adults, aged 18-21, to be leaders, and create a vision for themselves growing into the next phase of life.
The goal of AWE is to ‘safely guide students in the wilderness while promoting positive self-esteem, self worth, and self-confidence
in decision making and goal setting.’ They do this by combining wilderness education, emotional growth philosophies and self- reflection
to provide the framework for a life enriching ‘rite of passage.’
The courses emphasize communication skills, physical challenges, and personal growth. Group sizes are limited to four students per
group and each participant must complete various phases.
Directors, Laura and Jimmie Hendricks, have more than 25 years of combined guiding experience. Ten of those years have
been as staff trainers and senior instructors for several of the leading schools in the wilderness therapy industry. They are experienced
in the instruction of survival, communication and emotional growth skills, veteran mountaineers, sailors, rock climbers and teachers.
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