Featuring:
Doug Nelson, PhD
Founder- Doug Nelson and Associates
801-380-5677 Dougnelson1950@gmail.com
August 12, 2013
On today's Parent Choices for Struggling Teens, Lon Woodbury's guest was Doug Nelson, one of the innovators of wilderness therapy, whose time line in the field of wilderness programs include being the Director of the Brigham Young University's survival program from 1973 until 2008, in which he actually took this course as a student himself, became an instructor the next year and was then asked to be the Director.
Doug also formed an independent program during his time with BYU and was the founder of Boulder Outdoor Survival School, similar to the survival program at BYU, yet limited to 21 days out in the field. In 1980, Doug was approached by some colleagues who wanted to start a youth program with the addition of a wilderness element (with expanded time out in the field) and also with the added enhancement of a therapeutic twist. This program- Wilderness Academy (now known as the Aspen Academy) also required the parents whose children were enrolled, to participate in counseling. "We learned that working with the parents was key. We worked with the whole family." As the program aged, we also had the parents meet their child at the end of the trail and had them stay and camp with them…on a parent and child solo. "The overall philosophy of this therapeutic wilderness program: was to take the emotion from the experiences of the trip, learn from them and reinforce the positive."
Doug went on to share some stories of past students and their successes and also shared his thoughts on what he learned about the parents of these kids and about his own personal challenges with parenting his two older sons. "Loving and raising your kids is a learned behavior…it takes time, both quality and quantity."
When asked why so many wilderness programs are out there, Doug's opinion was fairly simple- 1) it is a great business opportunity and 2) they (wilderness programs) work! A program can take a kid who failed miserably in another placement or program or school and they will "get it" out in the wilderness, because "Mother Nature is the best therapist."
Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports, Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens.
Doug Nelson, PhD in Education Administration, is the founder of Boulder Outdoor Survival School, the co-founder of Wilderness Academy (Aspen Academy) and was the Director of the BYU survival programs from 1973 until his retirement from BYU in 2008. He was also an Associate Professor at BYU during his time there.
Stay Tuned for Upcoming Programs:
August 19:
Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School
August 26:
Michael Gurian- Raising boys by Design
September 9:
Frank Granett- Over Medicating our Youth
