WILDERNESS YOUTH CHALLENGE PROGRAM (WYCP)
Relapse prevention skills, for youth exhibiting high risk behavior, is our primary objective. The three founding Directors enjoyed a number of years as street youth workers for The Hope Mission Society in the 1990’s and their personal experiences with youth living through multiple relapses were the inspiration for the Wilderness Youth Challenge program – WYCP. Incorporated as a charitable organization in 2006 WYCP accepts youth between the ages of 12 to 21 to participate in a volunteer initiative, no fee for service, ten-day wilderness experience focused on building increased self-esteem and positive decision-making skills that support relapse prevention, that being a return to the high-risk behavior they associated with prior to their experience with WYCP. Two to four ten-day challenges are delivered each season for 5 to 8 youth, most are referrals from Partner Agencies and Community Workers. Donations are applied to each youth as a ‘Sponsorship’ and when possible, we have this support is recognized by the youth in the way of Appreciation Letters they write for their graduation exercise.