Trails Carolina, a wilderness therapy program for students 10-17, develops programming to best support different age groups. The pre-teen staff team recently convened a retreat focusing on evaluating and expanding our offerings for students ages 10-13.  

The program understands that pre-teen groups, ages 10 to 13, require different clinical and developmental approaches than older adolescents and has put considerable effort into creating unique programming for each age group. 

“Preteens are in a special place. Remember what it was like to be that awkward middle schooler? They are learning their place in social settings. Many youths today are turning to technology for social interaction which leads them to not getting the very basic social skills. In our program, they get to practice their social skills. They start to learn where they fit into their peer groups and what consequences (positive, negative, and natural) that come from their actions in those peer groups. They also take their first real steps towards navigating good communication skills,” explains Trails Carolina Youth Program Director Brandon Berthrong. 

The pre-teens work their way through therapeutic phases while at Trails Carolina and the phasework is uniquely different from that of the adolescent students. Trails Carolina even differentiates the parent education offerings and runs parent support groups for the parents of pre-teens that differs from the approach used with parents of adolescents.

For more information about each of the groups at Trails and the therapists who specialize in working with those students, visit trailscarolina.com or call 800-975-7303.

Trails Carolina is a wilderness therapy for pre-teens and adolescents ages 10-17. The clinically sophisticated and time-tested program engages students through wilderness therapy, mindfulness and yoga, equine-assisted therapy, adventure therapy, intentional transitions, and academic engagement. Recent outcome research demonstrates efficacy. Trails Carolina was created to help families reconnect and heal. For additional information about Trails Carolina, located just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, please call 800-975-7303.