WinGate Wilderness Therapy is located in Kanab, UT, and currently does not have a facility located in California. Students from California, who wish to enroll in our program, will be required to travel and temporarily relocate to Utah.

Boot Camps for Teens from California

Boot Camps for Teens from California

WinGate Wilderness Therapy is a top-rated wilderness treatment program, chosen by parents as an alternative to boot camps for teens from California. With over 80 years of collective experience with accredited outdoor therapy programs, the WinGate program knows how to treat troubled adolescents. We accomplish this by helping them in the discovery of a new path and direction in life.

The philosophy behind most boot camps is: if you scream and discipline children enough, they will "get in line." The findings are that while enrolled in the intense, overpowering, military-like setting of a boot camp, defiant teen boys or girls may actually "fall in line." But this "rehabilitation" is, unfortunately, only temporary and based out of fear, thus not producing any "lasting" restoration in teenage boys and girls.

It is critical for any parent to investigate other viable treatment options. Wilderness treatment center is far more effective in transforming the lives of our teenage wilderness students while helping them get their lives back on the right track.

Experiential therapy For Troubled Adolescents

Recognized as a premier wilderness outdoor therapy camp, WinGate teaches independent living skills and personal accountability that lead to a lasting healthy and balanced life. We are confident that when you choose our program, as an alternative to boot camps, the positive impact on your adolescent's poor behavior will give your family the results you desire.

Here at WinGate, you can expect the best results from our compassionate and experienced staff. This research-validated method of wilderness-based treatment makes our work WORK! The serene and distraction-free setting of our wilderness area can help even the most "treatment-resistant" adolescents from California find their way.

Call WinGate Wilderness Therapy today at (800) 560-1599, and allow us to give your emotionally challenged teen the help they need.

Juvenile Boot Camps Pros and Cons

Boot camps for teens from California

There are no findings from research that "favor" boot camps, in light of any of the initial intentions for restoration. Recidivism rates of boot camp participants (referring to a person's chance of relapse back into criminal behavior) are roughly the same when compared to former prison inmates.

In fact, Boot Camps have recently come under sharp criticism by mental health practitioners for being "too harsh while not addressing the juvenile's real underlying psychological problems through proper counseling and therapy."

Over the years, we have served literally thousands of boys, girls, and young adults from all over the country. WinGate's track record speaks for itself when it comes to life changing results. Our adolescent wilderness participant graduates are growing to be mentally healthy adults, and emerging as strong individuals motivated to succeed.

Bringing forth peace and restoring emotional health is our goal. Our desire is to witness the realization of your at-risk boy or girl make the transition into a triumphant adulthood and living independently. To us, the way to achieve this recovery is by showing them how to harness their cravings through the power of the wilderness.

California Boot Camps For Kids

California boot camps for kids

Juvenile boot camps (also called "shock" or "intensive" incarceration programs), are typically correctional facilities of the state. Usually, for a teenager to be placed in a boot camp, he or she must be sentenced to a camp by a judge. Before entrusting your child or adolescent to a boot camp program, we urge you to consider that most operate without accreditation or licensure, and there is typically little oversight or accountability.

Our philosophy, here at WinGate, is that while treating our teenage wilderness students, we create an environment of responsiveness while reducing any resistance they may have to change and toward authority.

At WinGate, we practice "cooperation" rather than "confrontation." Although we follow explicit rules to maintain the safety and overall program effectiveness, we also value and honor each adolescent wilderness participant's unique path. Because we have respect and positive regard for every teenage participant, our mental health counselors strive to gain insights into each individual.

Boot Camps for Troubled Teens from California

WinGate Wilderness Therapy is an alternative to boot camps for troubled teens and juveniles. We are a highly rated accredited outdoor therapy program with over 80 years experience in wilderness treatment program. Located in beautiful Southern Utah, the WinGate program delivers restoration and proper treatment for troubled teen boys or girls. We support emotionally challenged teenage boys and girls with a wide range of problems, helping them discover a new path and direction in life.

Boot camps for troubled teens are based on the philosophy of screaming and disciplining at-risk adolescents for any little infraction or deviance by the teen. This intense, overpowering, military-like setting of a boot camp is supposed to help defiant teen boys or girls actually become compliant and acquire an acceptable lifestyle.

Do Troubled Teens from California Need Boot Camps?

Boot camps for troubled teens California

No research-based studies have been found that favor boot camps, especially when comparing actual results with the boot camps' initial predictions for restoration. After attending a boot camp, the chance of a troubled teenager relapsing back into unacceptable behavior is about the same as former prison inmates returning to crime.

An article in the Nando Times, July 6, 2001, says the following about boot camps.

"Boot camps use military discipline to try to turn rebellious youngsters' lives around. But over the past decade, as the popularity of such camps has grown, so have abuse allegations, lawsuits and deaths." Nando Times, July 6,2001

An article in the highly respected Scientific American magazine by Scott O. Lilienfeld and Hal Arkowitz on November 1, 2014 stated the following.

"...studies indicate that highly confrontational therapeutic approaches are rarely effective in the long term."

It's important for parents to know that Boot Camps have recently come under sharp criticism, by mental health practitioners, for being too harsh while not addressing the juvenile's real underlying psychological problems through proper counseling and therapy.

This type of rehabilitation is temporary and based out of fear or having someone telling them what to do. In actuality, this type of program is not capable of producing any lasting changes in teenage boys and girls.

An Alternative Program for Teens From California

Wilderness therapy programs are proven to be far more effective in transforming the lives of emotionally challenged adolescents while helping them get their lives back on the right track. At WinGate Wilderness Therapy, your at-risk adolescent will experience our compassionate and experienced staff. This research-proven system of wilderness-based treatment WORKS! The ruggedly beautiful and distraction-free setting of our wilderness area can support even the most treatment-resistant teen boys or girls start the exciting path of restoration and relationship restoration.

At WinGate Wilderness Therapy, we understand the difficult issues teenage boys and girls face every day. Our proven program of wilderness therapy helps our adolescent wilderness participants deal with their social-related or internal problems in a healthy and productive way. Our powerful alliance-based therapeutic program uses human connection, trust, and respect to inspire change that is internally-motivated rather than imposed by the boot camp mentality.

Call WinGate Wilderness Therapy today at (800) 560-1599, and allow us to provide your troubled teen the support they need.

California State Resources for Parents:

California Healthline - California Healthline is committed to the important issues influencing health care policy, delivery, and financing. As a free, daily digest of health care news, policy and opinion, California Healthline was designed to meet the information demands of active health care specialists and decision makers.

National Alliance of Mental Illness California (NAMI California) - As a grassroots coalition of individuals and families whose lives have been touched by mental illness, NAMI California advocates for a life of both quality and respect, without discrimination or stigma. For all their constituents, NAMI California provides leadership in advocacy, policy development, legislation, education and support throughout the state of California.

Violence and Teens in America Today

The growing epidemic of troubled teenage violence goes way past just the big cities of America and infiltrates virtually every single community without regard for wealth status (the rich and the poor). Just 30 years ago the rate of 14 to 19 year old arrests went was 5 per 1000 and today is up to 125 per 1000 teens get arrested in that age range.

Because of the intense and prolific amount of violence in our communities and city streets throught the country, teens are left without guidance and encouragement. This becomes an outlet for crime and especially violent behavior. One common thread that is prevalent among violent teens is the lack of a father or father/male role model. The absence of a father figure has consequences that are felt throughout the community and the nation. As parents and guardians of our young men and women we must be aware of this issue and recognize that unless we act now, it will only get worse.

We see these alarming numbers at Wingate Wilderness Therapy and we know that we can help many of these teens that are struggling in todays violent environment. For immediate reasons how we can help, please call (800) 560-1599.

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