Each year in Oregon State thousands of juvenile offenders commit crimes against innocent victims. As a result, the states' juvenile courts are eternally bogged down by more cases than they can handle, detention centers don't have enough beds to house all of the new offenders, and an alarming number of offenders serve their time and then return to detention several more times before finally cleaning up their acts or graduating to the adult justice system and presumably, prison (Kulongoski). By far the worst flaw in the current system comes from the lack of consensus on the part of policy makers and voting public over what should be done about the problem. By focusing almost exclusively on punitive measures they are missing a valuable opportunity to rehabilitate young people and to guide them toward becoming responsible and contributing members of society. Instead of institutionalizing suggestible minds, guaranteeing that every third person that is locked up will be back at least two or three more times as a juvenile (Parker, 2006), Oregon lawmakers should support the development and utilization of wilderness therapy programs which are quickly proving to be able to drastically reduce the recidivism rates among their graduates. It is important to acknowledge up front that in some cases detention facilities do serve an important social function. It is not the purpose of this paper to argue for the dismantling of these facilities altogether.
Getting violent criminals - those convicted of rape, murder, assault, gun crimes, or that exhibit other incorrigible behavior - off the streets is an undeniably important undertaking. These individuals, however, are a small percentage of the total juvenile criminal population, and thus not a central focus of this paper. Further, these individuals are shown to receive little benefit from the form of therapy discussed herein (Lipsey, 2000). The focus of this paper, then, are the first-time, non-violent offenders who are at especially high-risk for recidivism due to their social environment, history of drug or alcohol use or abuse, or mental health state - those most likely to benefit from a therapeutic situation rather than an institutional one.
Many juveniles are placed in detention centers in an attempt, it is argued, to teach them a lesson which will deter them from breaking the law again in the future (Parker, 2006). By associating the negative and immensely unenjoyable consequence of being locked up with committing crimes they might begin to exhibit new, constructive behaviors. Being locked up, the argument goes, allows an individual a great deal of free time to think about what they have done and contemplate how they might avoid a similar penalty in the future. The problem with this argument is that roughly 66 percent of all incarcerated juveniles have mental health issues which go completely untreated while detained (Parker, 2006). Make no mistake, the data is very clear: if the program does not address mental health issues, one cannot hope to keep the offender from re-offending (Elias, 2006).
Alternately, it is argued that detaining juvenile offenders and serving them with stiff sentences acts as a deterrent for other would-be offenders by providing examples of the results of the actions they might be considering. Data suggests, however, that juvenile offenders are less prone to be affected by this type of example-setting than their counterparts in the adult justice system. While there are many possible reasons for this, it is most likely because teenagers still retain some amount of magical thinking; that is, the belief that what happened to someone else is not likely to happen to them. Whatever the reason, imposing stiff sentences and long periods of detention on one offender in hopes of deterring another would-be offenders from committing similar crimes is clearly not an effective approach for either offender. One final argument for detention centers is that they are necessary to protect the public at large from juvenile crimes and to keep habitual offenders off the streets. Unfortunately, again, these institutions are most often unable, or at least miserably ineffective, at addressing the underlying mental health and social issues which led these youths to commit crimes in the first place. As a result, 1-in-3 juvenile offenders will go on to commit second and third offenses (Parker, 2006). Might it be that the current system is only superficially giving the illusion of protecting the public while actually encouraging further criminal behavior by not devoting nearly enough resources to preventative measures?
Enter wilderness therapy (WT), a relatively new form of reality based therapy which, when practiced by competent clinical therapists and knowledgeable outdoorsmen, shows phenomenal potential to help reshape the habits and behaviors of high-risk individuals (Aldana), a claim which the juvenile justice system would find difficult to make. Campers, as the clients of these programs are referred to, are provided only with the basic necessities needed for survival in the wilderness. They do not receive tents, flashlights, flame sources, or processed foods. While in the field, guides - most often graduates from the program themselves - form close relationships with each individual camper, all the while guiding them through developing the skills they need to fend for themselves in the wild; this includes starting fire by rubbing sticks together, creating shelter when there is little or no natural building material, and facing their personal fears and demons during solo expeditions, where campers spend nights alone, doing personal therapy work.
Throughout this process campers are provided with the skills, tools, and encouragement that they need to learn to be self-supporting, and overcome not only natural obstacles, but also personal mental and emotional obstacles as well. One of the key aspects of these types of programs which attributes largely to their success is that they provide a forced group settings - several campers travel and live together and are forced to overcome personal conflicts and biases in the name of forming a more cohesive group. In such a stressful environment members quickly learn which of their behaviors cause adverse reactions from their campmates, and which behaviors of their campmates cause them to feel certain ways. Put simply, the very act of being involved and interacting with the group is an educational and often therapeutic experience in itself.
The real proof of the success and potential of these programs is in the numbers. Graduates of WT programs are far less likely to re-offend than those who are incarcerated in traditional detention facilities. In fact, over 91 percent of the graduates from wilderness therapy programs show major improvements in their mental health and life choices even two years after graduating (Aldana). Far fewer of these individuals will ever see the inside of a detention facility than individuals who begin in other diversion programs.
The answer to Oregon State's juvenile justice dilemma is right before our eyes. By altering the way that we think about traditional juvenile justice systems and being willing to experiment with new juvenile justice ideologies that are showing great promise, we can take the forefront in the nation as a state whose progressive juvenile policies are not only keeping the streets of Oregon safe, but are also turning out truly rehabilitated individuals who have the drive, motivation, self-esteem, and sense of self-efficacy to turn the negative cards that life has handed them around, and to become future leaders of education, industry, and policy.
One of the greatest recourses out there is a number of summer camps specifically designed to help teens at risk and troubled to overcome the challenges they are faced with. These at risk and troubled teens summer camps are designed to provide with the tools necessary to make the right decisions, and to work every day at developing the right skills required to do so. This article will review several of the top at risk and troubled teens summer camps.
Camp Buckskin located at 8100 Wayzata Boulevard in Golden Valley Minnesota is one of many at risk summer camps for teen. Camp Buckskin defines their goals as having a two-fold purpose, and that is in serving as a preventive or early intervention program by using a proactive approach, and secondly acts as a bridge from one school year to the other (Camp Buckskin, 2010).
While at camp teens are exposed to the necessary daily life to develop habits and behaviors to improve their self confidence, social skills, academics and self esteem. Through the skills acquired during the summer camp programs, students leave with a sense of accomplish which they carry over into their new school year. Though the camp is structure with campers beginning their days with wash up, flag rising, and exercises, many extracurricular activities are offered. Children participate in six main activities with their cabin group with activities designed so that children feel a sense of accomplishment and growth. Some of the activities offered include swimming, reading, canoeing, rifle shooting, arts and crafts, personal growth development, and nature and environment studies (Camp Buckskin, 2010).
Another of the top summer camps for troubled and at risk teens is Can Adventure Education located at 460 Skogan Road Sayward, British Columbia Canada (Can Adventure Education). Their motto is "On the Edge, Inspiring and Empowering Struggling Teens," speaks to who they are as a while. This exciting wilderness adventure program offers not only leadership and teamwork based activities for growth, in addition their programs encompasses an element that includes personal growth workshops held by professionals aimed at delivering results.
All of the staff members are formally trained and certified in their fields. Can Adventure Education has put together a program that provides a summer camp intense in not only outdoors experiences and skill, but cultural awareness, academic learning, and personal growth. Three programs are offered including Struggling Teen First Steps, Struggling Teen Journey Camp, and Leaders In Training Program, which are dependent upon the teens' profile (Can Adventure Education).
Thompson Island Outward Bound Program located at Thompson Island right outside of Boston Massachusetts, practices the philosophy of its founder Kurt Hahn. Outward Bound is approximately 60 years old and follows the precepts established by Kurt Hahn in that "the aim of education is to inspire an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, and tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self-denial, and above all, compassion. (About Us)"
One of the top summer camps for at risk and trouble teens, Outward Bound has a reputation for turning children around and putting them on the right path in terms of making more responsible choices. Teens learn to become leaders, responsible citizen and problem solvers. They learn to take responsibility for their individual actions, but also learn how to function as a responsible team player through their group and team based experiences at camp. The staff at Outward Bound is professionally qualified and certified meeting annual safety reviews to uphold their high standards of safety for an adventure camp (About Us).
The instructors are certified in Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, Wilderness First Responder, and Wilderness Advanced First Aid and receive periodic ongoing training. With programs offered for boys and girls your teen will find his or her place comfortably in this unique space created especially for him or her (About Us).
Living under societal and peer pressures for this generation is a tough thing to do for young people, hence our society ends up with a large population of at risk and troubled teens. If you have a teen that is having a difficult time making the right decisions, dealing with peer pressure, or has other negative tendencies, there are resources available.

Works Cited
(n.d.). Retrieved August 28, 2010, from Can Adventure Education: http://www.canadventure.ca

(n.d.). Retrieved August 28, 2010, from Thompson Island Outward Bound Program: http://www.thompsonisland.org

(2010). Retrieved August 28, 2010, from Camp Buckskin: http://campbuckskin.com
About Us. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2010, 2010, from Thompson Island Outward Bound Program : http://www.thompsonisland.org/about-us

Aldana, S. (n.d.). An analysis of the effect of the Redcliff Ascent wilderness program. Retrieved August 28, 2010, from Wilderness Therapy:

http://www.wildernesstherapy.org/Research/RedCliffResearch.htm

Elias, M. (2006, September 21). Is adult prison the best for juveniles? USA Today , pp. 9, 10.

Kulongoski, T. (n.d.). Governors Taskforce on Juvenile Justice. Retrieved August 28, 2010, from Oregon State Government: http://www.oregon.gov/OYA/reports/JJTaskForce.pdf

Lipsey, M. W. (2000, April). Effective Intervention for Serious Juvenile Offender. Retrieved from OJJDP Juvenile Justice Bulletin: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/181201.pdf

Parker, A. (2006, October 30). At some point kids must be held responsible. Retrieved August 28, 2010, from Oregon State Government, Oregon Youth Authority 2006 Quick Facts.: http://www.oregon.gov/OYA/docs/quick_facts.pdf