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Sonlight
Shelter and Sonlight Wilderness Experience Program
(SWEP)
Cody,
Wyoming
Jim
Stockberger, Executive Director, 307-587-3167
The Sonlight
Wilderness Experience Program (SWEP), for youth
12 to 17 years old who are in a downward spiral, is part
of the Sonlight Shelter and also
is associated with the Foster Family Agency.
In addition to the wilderness program, they operate two
non-profit, residential group homes in Cody,
Wyoming, working closely with the Wyoming
Department of Family Services. Rob & Risee Poole,
are the houseparent trainers and administration supervisors
for the Sonlight Shelter, and also run the Sonlight Wilderness
Experience Program (SWEP).
SWEP
offers trips both for girls and for boys that are an appropriate
“intervention when the regular process of accountability
has not generated a significant change in the student’s
attitude. Routine, structure, and group accountability
are key elements of SWEP” with the burden of changing an
attitude and lifestyle resting upon the student’s shoulders.
“Initially the staff demonstrates the set up of camp and
the routine. After the initial demonstration, the students
are responsible for carrying on the tradition and routines.”
In addition
to their various adventure activities, SWEP also offers
a 5-day Family Week, where they take a child and their
parent into the wilderness to help with family reunification.
Their goal is to teach the family unit how to deal with
each other by using courage, integrity, leadership, curiosity
and concern, while helping the family learn basic skills,
develop strong teamwork, and enjoy the beauty of the wilderness.
No experience
is necessary for the white water rafting, canoeing and
backpacking adventures, though each student needs to be
in good health. SWEP provides all necessary equipment,
that is “first rate,” and their safety equipment is also
“top of the line.” All their staff has current training
in First Aid and CPR, as well as canoeing and white water
rafting experience. Applications for SWEP are processed
by the Sonlight Shelter within two weeks.
Sonlight
Shelter’s two non-profit, residential group homes offer
a temporary home that gives a child the opportunity to
live with adults and peers in a Christian family
environment with caring and consistent discipline. At the
shelter, the child experiences an individualized program,
which fosters self-respect, personal responsibility, and
self-discipline. They are dedicated to the preservation
of the family, and seek to help and reunite families, while
helping the children grow morally and emotionally, helping
them to develop educational and social skills.
The
children of Sonlight Shelter are of all races and creeds
and are between 10 and 18 years old with problems ranging
from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse to emotional
disturbances, the absence of parent(s), dysfunctional family
interaction, difficulties in school, and delinquency.
The
Foster Family Agency became state certified in October
1994, seeking to nurture and support children who have
experienced the pain of abuse or family dysfunction. They
work closely with the Wyoming Department of Family Services
and are dedicated to supporting and ministering to the
child and the entire family, providing support, therapeutic
intervention, and guidance as needed. They also involve
their clients in therapeutic recreation activities such
as camping, fishing, downhill skiing, cross country skiing,
swimming, rafting, hiking, and scenic tours. Both their Boy’s
Home and their Girl’s Home are
state certified and cultivate a family atmosphere that
is clean, wholesome and safe.
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