Academics are built into therapeutic programming at blueFire Wilderness Therapy, a wilderness program for teens ages 11-17. The academic curriculum at blueFire has been aligned to current Idaho Educational Standards and, in the past few months, has partnered with Dorius Academy, AdvancedED accredited. Students can choose to earn academic credit for participating in the wilderness curriculum, and that can be added to their school transcript.
Many students at blueFire have struggled academically for a variety of reasons, including learning differences, lack of motivation, being bullied, or school refusal. These learning challenges can make a traditional classroom structure feel very overwhelming and frustrating. Changing the way information and assignments are presented to teens can help them fulfill their academic potential.
“In a wilderness environment, teens are constantly learning from their experiences in a way that feels natural. Experiential education uses metaphors for students to have a learning experience when they don’t even know that they’re in the middle of it,” explains Admissions Counselor Morri Fager. “With our new accreditation status, students recognize that the lessons they are learning in a wilderness setting can be transferable to other settings."
For example, a therapist might recommend a book from the desert library and ask them to journal about ways they related to the book. This assignment involves the same critical thinking and writing skills as composing an essay, but they are more likely to feel personally invested in it. The same applies to their natural curiosity about the plants, animals, and constellations that surround them in the woods.
blueFire now offers experiential educational credits in Environmental Science, Character Education, Life Management, Psychology of Daily Living, Health Education, and Physical Education. Through these experiential learning opportunities, students with mental health struggles begin to identify their strengths and recognize what has been holding them back from succeeding in a traditional classroom environment.
About blueFire Wilderness Therapy:
blueFire Wilderness is a wilderness therapy program based just outside of Boise, Idaho that offers teens ages 11-17 a comprehensive adventure experience. BlueFire Wilderness combines clinical expertise, academic assessments, and a family systems approach to help teens struggling with emotional, behavioral and social challenges.