March 31, 2021, after an in-depth review process, Building Bridges Academy the Building Bridges’ private, in-house school – received accreditation from Cognia. Most Building Bridges male students attend Bridges Academy prior to enrolling at a public school in Thompson Falls, Montana. Now as an accredited institution means students’ credits earned while first now more readily transfer to wherever their next education step will be and allows  Building Bridges the ability to graduate students from their own accredited school. Bridges Academy still wants every student to have the opportunity to enroll in a public school as part of their program at Building Bridges, and this status gives even more pathways to help a student achieve that goal.

Another way Building Bridges brings reality to treatment is by having an active, adventure-based, summer break. During this time, students participate in the Summer Adventure Program. Being involved in healthy, sober activities is an important part of all students experience at Building Bridges. The summer program allows students to realize success in challenging environments and provides them with the opportunity to take part in activities that many may have never experienced.

The eight weeks of the Summer Adventure Program activities like rock climbing, biking, backpacking, water skiing, trail maintenance, and some incredible fishing in the country. Building Bridges closes out the summer with an eight-day rafting trip on the scenic Clark Fork River. But the highlight of their summer is the two-week trip into the Bob Marshal Wilderness Foundation, a 1.5-million-acre designated wilderness area and home to some of the best fishing in the country. As a designated wilderness, there are no motorized vehicles or tools allowed. Participants work with crosscut saws, Pulaskis, and other hand tools to help maintain this pristine and beautiful wilderness area. Between each trip, the boys return to campus for three days of waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing, as well as cleaning up and preparing for the next trip. Being in the middle of all the natural beauty Montana has to offer lends itself to spending the summer outdoors, and the Academy love to share that experience with its students.

Building Bridges is a Therapeutic Boarding School in Thompson Falls, MT for boys 13-18 with substance and behavior issues. Our passion is creating a structure that mirrors real life including the opportunity of attending public school. We strive to show our students how substance use has created behaviors that have gotten in the way of pursing their passions. We believe by teaching them how to have self-confidence and create a more positive manner they can see their growth through using what they learn in a normalized safe environment that will transfer to wherever their next step is.