Venture Academy is a residential treatment program in Canada for young men and women ages 14-18 that may be experiencing struggles with drug or alcohol abuse, and/or having problems at school with suspensions or underachieving. In addition, they may have family difficulties or emotional difficulties such as low self-esteem, depression or be clinically diagnosed with ADD, Conduct Disorder or Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

Gordon Hay, BGS, is the principle founder and Agency Director at Venture Academy. Vincent Matlo, BA, is the Program Director and Behavior Specialist for the program.

A unique aspect at Venture Academy is where the students live. Students reside in staffed "Therapeutic Support Homes" with a ratio of one home for each student. Each home includes a clinical team consisting of a parent counselor, youth counselor, substance use counselor, teacher, psychologist, clinical supervisor and medical doctor.

Each student receives an individual service plan outlining the student's goals and objectives, as well as emotional growth support, post-secondary education options and daily living skills. Personal development strategies include communication, anger management, problem solving, conflict resolution and substance abuse prevention.

Venture Academy is located in the Okanagan Valley among pristine mountains and lakes, which offer the students summer activities such as swimming, hiking, camping and sailing. In the winter, outdoor activities include snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and each student receives a season pass to Big White Ski Resort.

[The information for this New Perspective came from the Venture Academy website.]