Parents looking for a quick fix usually choose troubled teen
camps. There are two types of teen camps: boot camps and summer
or wilderness camps. They usually last from one to six weeks,
and while teens may shows signs of improvement for days or even
weeks after coming home, they often revert back to old behaviors
after the fear of authority disappears.
Boot camps are military-style facilities that use discipline,
military exercises, rigorous physical training, and fear of
authority to transform a troubled teen into a "good soldier" who
follows rules. Unfortunately, most boot camps do not address
underlying emotional or behavioral problems. Without therapy or
behavior modification, long-term effectiveness is limited. If
parents do chose to send their troubled teen to a boot camp, the
best chance for long-term success is to follow it with a
treatment program.
Wilderness camps are usually seen as an alternative to boot
camps. Instead of the aggressive approach that boot camps tend
to use, wilderness camps are more likely to be behavior
modification programs with a component of the program held
outdoors. They remove urban distractions so troubled teens can
reconnect accept responsibility for their choices. Because these
wilderness camps are generally held in summer, they may not
include an academic component. There are a few that do, though,
which is especially important for teens who have fallen behind
during the school year.
The biggest benefit to wilderness camps as opposed to boot camps
is that they often provide substance abuse treatment for
troubled teens. Again, because wilderness camps usually only
last for one to six weeks, the best chance for long-term success
is to follow it with a treatment program. This will supplement
and reinforce the treatment teens receive at camp.
|
