Footprints of change : a wilderness program for Swiss adolescents at-risk
(Book - Regular Print)

ProQuest Document ID : 913385051

Advisor : Kat Smithhammer

Thesis (M.A.) -- Prescott college, 2011

Growing up in Switzerland, I participated in the Swiss Girl Scout movement. We spent the majority of every Saturday afternoon in the forest, learning outdoor skills such as making a fire, navigating with a map, and planting seeds. Working in a residential home for children and adolescents at-risk, I noticed that the first priority was to manage unwanted behaviors, which we generally approached through punishments or restrictions. I felt more like a police officer enforcing the rules than a counselor supporting the individual. This experience, combined with my passions for working with adolescents at-risk and outdoor skills, lead me to want to find an alternative approach for working with adolescents at-risk. The idea for Footprints of Change , a wilderness program for Swiss adolescents at-risk, was born. Footprints of Change's intention is to facilitate 60-90 day long wilderness programs using wilderness activities in combination with Gestalt therapy and counseling approaches. The program will be divided in three phases: Backpacking expedition, basecamp and transition phase. This thesis focused on creating a business plan and program plan for Footprints of Change . It evaluates the business plan writing steps as well as the theories and tools used in the wilderness program.