Grieving Teens and Young Adults expeditions are often the very inexplicable thing that a young person in pain may need most.
Intended to provide respectful healing experiences in a wilderness environment, these courses implement personal growth methodologies and a simple support model that honors the griever. The grief work that is purposefully woven into every aspect of the curriculum is not intended to provide therapy, but rather to facilitate an environment where young people can connect, build relationships, and share in a relevant healing experience with real-world outcomes.
Participants begin to build an inclusive, supportive “crew” on day one as they join in a nightly discussion circle, acknowledge their shared losses, and begin the healing process. As they tackle problem solving challenges and engage in high impact activities such as rock climbing or ropes courses, students experience moments of self discovery and also reinforce their new community of support – their grieving crewmates. Students are encouraged to share their stories and insights on a daily basis as they participate in meaningful grief rituals as well as grief-centered reflection activities designed to help students understand how their experiences thus far might translate to coping skills back home. During the final debrief students identify continued, healthy support mechanisms and a positive network of peers who they may call on in the future.
If you'd like to talk with one of our Admission Advisors, have questions or would like more information, please call an Admission Advisor at (503) 946-3404, M-F, 9am-5pm PST.
Thanks to the contributions of Northwest Outward Bound donors, we’re able to offer these expeditions with significantly reduced tuition so that every grieving teen – regardless of financial ability – may take part in their own healing journey.
