Blog

CEU and Networking Event

February 27, 2023 by Alison McHugh and Michael Sullivan

True North Wilderness Program is looking forward to hosting a networking opportunity for professionals in the Northeastern United States. The event will take place on March 24 from 9:00 AM - Noon in Burlington, VT. As the sponsor of this event, Bayside Continuing Education is offering continuing education that will focus on tools for serving marginalized populations in the LGBTQ+ community and assessing when residential treatment is appropriate for teens or young adults. Participants will earn 3 free CEU’s. Guests are invited to arrive at 8:30 AM for coffee, pastries and networking. This is … Continue Reading »

Identity Development, Adventure, and Therapy

January 10, 2023 by Moxie Craig

Adolescents and young adults often enroll at True North because they are feeling stuck. They may be stuck in their room, stuck on their devices, or stuck in unhealthy habits. This often leads to cycles of shame and guilt. Developmentally, … Continue Reading »

All Gender Programming at True North

November 3, 2022 by Courtney Merrill

In the Spring of 2020, after 15 years of operating with single-gender adolescent groups and all-gender young adult groups, True North introduced an all-gender adolescent group, one of the first of its kind in the field of wilderness therapy. While … Continue Reading »

Alex Szuba, BS: A Role Model, a Mentor, an Experiential Learning Guru

May 11, 2022 by Michael Sullivan

The role of the “Guide” in Wilderness Therapy cannot be overstated. As the direct care staff, the Guide creates the foundation for therapeutic intervention, and supports each student throughout their therapeutic journey. Guides work closely with … Continue Reading »

Comparison is the Thief of Joy

May 2, 2022 by Margo Kelly

I often hear students compare themselves to their peers. It sounds like, “I went so slow in Trailhead phase” or “Jesse is better at bow drilling than me. They’ve already busted a coal.” Or I hear something along the lines of “Harlow never asks for … Continue Reading »

Attachment and Parenting Styles: Part 2

April 20, 2022 by Peter Girz

In the following blog post, Parent Therapist Peter Girz, LCSW, continues his series on attachment and parenting. If you haven’t had a chance to read part one yet, please click here: Attachment and Parenting Styles: Part 1. Even if you are … Continue Reading »

The Safety in Trying, Failing, and Trying Again

March 14, 2022 by Michael Domey

Wilderness therapy offers a rich learning environment, and exploring new behaviors is a critical part of developing personal insight and a positive sense of self. There are moments where many students at True North do something that would have … Continue Reading »

Attachment and Parenting Styles: Part 1

February 23, 2022 by Peter Girz

It’s not unusual to enter the therapeutic process with a future orientation. When enrolling in True North, families wonder where this process will lead. It is important to maintain a goal oriented perspective, and yet, the process begins with looking … Continue Reading »

Exciting Changes to the True North Clinical Team

February 1, 2022 by Michael Sullivan

True North is thrilled to announce some exciting changes to the clinical team. Bo Bicknell will be leading the team as Clinical Director, Evan Oppenheimer will run the young adult group, and Michael Domey has joined the team to work with adolescent … Continue Reading »

Beyond a Hybrid Reality: A Pandemic of Lost Identity

October 19, 2021 by Michael Sullivan

Social scientists widely agree that identity development is more complex than it was in Erik Erikson’s time. Identity exploration extends beyond adolescence, and is now a key feature of emerging adulthood (Arnett, 2021). Further, with the inception … Continue Reading »

It Takes a Village: Breaking from the Academic Norm

September 13, 2021 by Evan Oppenheimer

Engaging in a wilderness or residential therapy placement is a big commitment for families, especially since it usually entails withdrawing from school, and letting go of expectations one may hold surrounding traditional academics. As a society, we … Continue Reading »

Pronouns and Morning Circle

August 24, 2021 by Margo Kelly

“Morning circle” occurs every morning as the group prepares to depart camp. It is an opportunity for each student to share the mindset and feelings they are carrying into the day. In the all gender group, taking a moment to share one’s preferred … Continue Reading »

Update from the Research Coordinator

July 26, 2021 by Alison McHugh

Greetings from the Research Coordinator! It’s time for an update on outcomes-based research... The database continues to grow! The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) has a growing community of more than 70 … Continue Reading »

Gender Joys

June 30, 2021 by Margo Kelly

Enjoy a few glimpses into moments in the all gender group at True North this week: A student and guide sit together, brainstorming potential middle names. The pharmacy sent the correct size syringe (1L !) for a student’s weekly testosterone … Continue Reading »

A Gender Inclusive Environment

June 3, 2021 by Margo Kelly

As a trans nonbinary human and therapist of an all-gender adolescent group, I often spend my time thinking about the intersection of gender and wilderness therapy. I am eager to publish a series of thoughts and questions that arise in my work, and … Continue Reading »

Self Efficacy and Self Worth: Empowering Young Women

May 17, 2021 by Amber Banta

With the changing of seasons in New England, I have been reflecting on the small yet crucial changes that begin early in True North student’s experience. The mental and physical fortitude students gain along their journey takes time to develop. The … Continue Reading »

True North is Hiring Guides!

May 13, 2021 by Courtney Merrill

Join the guide team at True North! This is a great opportunity to work with an amazing team and to connect passions for the outdoors, healthy living, and working with young people. The average starting pay is $1719 per shift. Benefits include: … Continue Reading »

Nonviolent Communication: A Path to Emotional Expression and Relational Repair

April 30, 2021 by Will Kraman

Adolescence is an important developmental stage where emotional vocabulary blossoms. That said, identifying and expressing emotions is a skill that youth have to develop. Putting a name to an emotional experience is challenging, and the knee jerk … Continue Reading »

Academic Success: Take Learning Outside

April 20, 2021 by Kelly Webster

Parents worry about their child or young adult falling behind academically or missing school when considering a 10-12 week wilderness therapy experience. Flooded with doubt and guilt, and heavily influenced by pressures to focus on grades and … Continue Reading »

Creating New Paths: Organization from Complexity

March 23, 2021 by Bo Bicknell

When a group of students at True North arrive at a new campsite, the area typically looks a bit chaotic. Trees and bushes, bumps and puddles, sticks and dirt are everywhere. Perhaps the temperature has dropped and everything is covered in a smooth … Continue Reading »

Announcing an all gender adolescent group

November 7, 2020 by Courtney Merrill

Good news seems to be a precious commodity these days and we are thrilled to share an exciting new development at True North. Please join us in welcoming Margo Kelly, MSW, MEd to the True North Clinical Team. Margo will be opening a brand new ALL … Continue Reading »

“Success is Subjective” Podcast Features Owner/Co-Founder Ty Maves

July 2, 2020 by Courtney Merrill

True North Owner and Co-Founder Ty Maves was excited to reconnect with Joanna Lilley, host of a new podcast called Success is Subjective to share a bit of his story and some thoughts about emerging adulthood. Joanna is the owner and founder of … Continue Reading »

COVID-19 Response Update: March 13, 2020

March 13, 2020 by Ty Maves

FOR THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUE NORTH'S COVID-19 RESPONSE, PLEASE REFER TO THE COVID-19 UPDATE PAGE. At True North, we continue to follow the current situation with the Coronavirus, and are working to update our related protocols. We … Continue Reading »

COVID-19 Response Plan: March 6, 2020

March 6, 2020 by Courtney Merrill

FOR THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUE NORTH'S COVID-19 RESPONSE, PLEASE REFER TO THE COVID-19 UPDATE PAGE. The administrative team at True North has been paying close attention to news and reports on the spread of the COVID-19 … Continue Reading »

“Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy” Podcast features True North Co-Founder/Owner, Mod Barefoot

February 3, 2020 by Alison McHugh

True North Wilderness Program Owner & Co-founder Mod Barefoot was recently featured on the podcast, “Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy.” Dr. Will White’s interview with Mod is the premier episode of the podcast’s new … Continue Reading »

Alumni Gathering: NY 2019

June 26, 2019 by Alison McHugh

True North has been helping families for nearly 15 years and there are just under 1,000 alumni families that have participated in the program to date! True North remains invested in providing opportunities for students to maintain connection with … Continue Reading »

True North Guides are WFR Certified

February 14, 2019 by Ben Loveless

The physical and medical safety of our students is of the utmost importance to the whole team at True North. The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification is the “Gold Standard” in medical training for anyone working in an outdoor environment. … Continue Reading »

True North is a “Leave No Trace” Program

February 11, 2019 by Nate Hoff

As a program that operates in the lush Green Mountain wilderness of Vermont, True North has valued from its founding the unique and bountiful experience that spending time in nature has to offer, and we are committed to the longevity and preservation … Continue Reading »

The Magic (and Science) of Nature

January 24, 2019 by Courtney Merrill

Why Wilderness? “In every walk in nature one receives far more than he seeks” – John Muir The thing that separates wilderness therapy from all other modalities is the fully immersive experience in a wilderness setting. It … Continue Reading »

Understanding Substance, Video Game, and Technology Use from the Inside Out

December 20, 2018 by Courtney Merrill

For the last several decades we’ve been having a conversation about the link between problematic substance use and adolescents. More recently this conversation has increasingly been expanded to include harmful video game and technology use. There is … Continue Reading »

After Eight Years: Alumni Musings by Talia

December 4, 2018 by Alison McHugh

I write this blog entry several days after visiting True North – eight years after having attended the program. This time I was able to ask the right questions. This time – I got a much better picture of who I used to be. I found out I had … Continue Reading »

Grieving the Loss of Idealized Adolescence

November 6, 2018 by Evan Oppenheimer

Supporting clients and families in the process of acceptance and charting a path towards healthier communication We often see a form of grief and loss taking place in times of transition to alternative educational settings. Specifically, we … Continue Reading »

Young Adult Community Service Projects

September 4, 2018 by Nate Hoff

Once a week throughout the year, you can find the young adults at a local farm, non-profit organization, or local business, providing service and learning about various aspects of the local Vermont community. Whether it is weeding at a family-run … Continue Reading »

Treating Self-Harming Behavior in the Wilderness

August 31, 2018 by Bo Bicknell

At this year’s Wilderness Therapy Symposium in Park City Utah, True North therapist Bo Bicknell MSW joined clinicians Emily Thelan (Chrysalis School) and Kendra Meiklejohn (Outback Therapeutic Expeditions) to lead a workshop presentation on treating … Continue Reading »

Spectrum of Care and Therapeutic Support for Adolescents

August 13, 2018 by Evan Oppenheimer

True North Wilderness Program is one of many forms of residential treatment that can guide individuals and families on a path to health and wellness. However, our therapeutic milieu and where wilderness falls on the overall spectrum of care is often … Continue Reading »

A Closer Look at Parent and Family Work

August 10, 2018 by Peter Girz

One of the most exciting and sometimes daunting elements of participation at True North is the Parent Program. Whether a family is new to treatment or has had previous experience, this is an opportunity to explore family dynamics and patterns and to … Continue Reading »

Skills: Building Traps

August 1, 2018 by Courtney Merrill

Outdoor living skills, such as learning how to make traps, are an integral part of the wilderness therapy experience at True North. Our students learn how to make two types of traps, the Paiute Deadfall and the Figure Four. They make a total of four … Continue Reading »

Skills: Map and Compass

August 1, 2018 by Bo Bicknell

The theme of navigation appears regularly in our lives at True North. A student’s arrival is typically discussed as “the beginning of the journey” through True North. As a therapist, I speak with students and parents about “shifting course," or … Continue Reading »

Skills: Making Fire

August 1, 2018 by Courtney Merrill

The successful completion of True North, like all life adventures, requires the acquisition of new skills and expertise. While the word “therapy” often suggests emotional or cognitive work, the Wilderness requires the acquisition of a set of physical … Continue Reading »

Alumni Gathering: Boston 2018

July 30, 2018 by Alison McHugh

When I made the transition from Administrative Assistant to Research and Alumni Coordinator last fall, I was curious what it would be like to spend more time connecting with True North families after graduation. One of the aspects of my work at True … Continue Reading »

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