FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why wilderness?
The wilderness is a place for personal growth experience where individuals are presented with natural consequences and challenges that are designed to be empowering. At Soltreks, the wilderness environment or remote outdoor setting offers the following components that support the development of personal growth, awareness of self-defeating behaviors, and opportunity for change:
What makes Soltreks different from other wilderness programs?
Soltreks is unique:
What qualifications does your staff have?
Bachelor, Master level and /or experienced instructors who have diverse educational and/or experiential backgrounds guide our students. They are certified in Wilderness First Responder, or EMT, and CPR and have extended experience as outdoor leaders. The primary qualification Soltreks seeks in staff is their ability to engage students and develop relationships.
What if my son or daughter doesn’t get along with their instructor during a One-on-One trek?
There is no evidence of staff to student relationships failing at Soltreks particularly when paired on a One-on-One trek. Common issues in relationship development, communication skills and problem solving are presented while students participate in the structure and support needed for creating, nurturing, and respecting relationships. If there are disagreements, students/staff are expected to problem solve and communicate as they would within the group setting.
How is it decided whether to enroll in a One-on-One or group trek?
Based upon an assessment that may include:
What are the ages of students and what type of issues do they have? Do they camp the entire time?
Adults are over 18; many are facing mid-life transitions or seeking a personal growth experience. Many students enroll with issues of self esteem, loss, depression, substance use, anxiety, attention challenges, motivation, and making transitions. They are often unsuccessful in their current therapy, academic setting, or at home. Poor choices in friends, distant family relationships and isolation are often described as concerned behaviors. Students begin their trek on Day 1 and camp the entire trek using quality group gear.
What kind of mentoring/counseling do the students receive?
The Soltreks team consists of wilderness instructors who are the heart of our program, as they bring their creativity and experience to support the students’ process. Individual and group counseling is presented through a variety of methods including experiential activities, mindfulness practices, yoga and art through photography.
What is required of my family?
Family involvement is essential for long term results. Experience shows that when a family is engaged in a positive way in their child’s healing, the child’s chance of a positive outcome and long term success is greatly magnified. For that reason, our programs address the whole family; parents depart feeling that “We all went to Soltreks.” Soltreks provides progress reports by way of computer e-mail and/or telephone conference calls (Some treks may conclude with a family telephone conference). These reports keep parents informed and involved in their child’s progress, and keep the lines of communication open between staff and parents. Parents are expected to participate in the conferencing with the staff. Siblings are encouraged to participate as appropriate. An emphasis on family involvement is one reason that Soltreks has a well-earned reputation for going the extra mile.
What does tuition cover?
The following services are included in the program: Individualized planning, group gear, orientation, updates with parents and aftercare planning and coordination. Tuition also supports well qualified staff with years of experience, small groups, high staff to student ratio and a well planned curriculum. Soltreks does not refund tuition due to clients refusal to continue on trek.
What type of follow up or aftercare do you provide for students?
Soltreks helps students and parents carefully create plans and contingency plans for aftercare decisions relating to peer influence, family relationships, employment, school, activities, personal growth opportunities and pre-planned strategies for anticipated mistakes. Soltreks assists parents, educational consultants, and other professionals to make the best choice for a student’s next educational/personal growth placement if needed. Whether the student returns home or continues his or her progress away from home, we continue to support the child and family. This support ranges from phone calls to email communications to visits. Student alumni return as student leaders, and an occasional customized trek. Families are encouraged to participate in a family trek once their child has graduated to enhance specific family goals. Students and families are always welcomed back!
What is your success rate?
Soltreks has a 97% completion rate. Soltreks is committed to continuous program improvement as we assess the outcomes of our students and their continued success through outreach.
The wilderness is a place for personal growth experience where individuals are presented with natural consequences and challenges that are designed to be empowering. At Soltreks, the wilderness environment or remote outdoor setting offers the following components that support the development of personal growth, awareness of self-defeating behaviors, and opportunity for change:
- Limiting distractions
- Separating from negative influences or a familiar environment
- Structured daily activities
- Skills or tools for effective relationships
- Individual and group mentoring
- Small group environment
- Progression of phases
- Unique staff/student relationship
- Focus on relationships with self and family
What makes Soltreks different from other wilderness programs?
Soltreks is unique:
- A pioneer in providing customized and individualized One-on-One treks
- Group size is small; often a ratio of 1:2
- Program areas that are accessible
- Focuses on “building up” not breaking down the student
- Focus on internalizing versus behavior modification
- Consistent instructor throughout the trek enhances relationship development
- Flexible lengths of stay and a rolling admissions based upon needs
- Level of communication with families and referring professionals is unsurpassed
What qualifications does your staff have?
Bachelor, Master level and /or experienced instructors who have diverse educational and/or experiential backgrounds guide our students. They are certified in Wilderness First Responder, or EMT, and CPR and have extended experience as outdoor leaders. The primary qualification Soltreks seeks in staff is their ability to engage students and develop relationships.
What if my son or daughter doesn’t get along with their instructor during a One-on-One trek?
There is no evidence of staff to student relationships failing at Soltreks particularly when paired on a One-on-One trek. Common issues in relationship development, communication skills and problem solving are presented while students participate in the structure and support needed for creating, nurturing, and respecting relationships. If there are disagreements, students/staff are expected to problem solve and communicate as they would within the group setting.
How is it decided whether to enroll in a One-on-One or group trek?
Based upon an assessment that may include:
- What is going to best meet the student emotional/social needs
- Need for greater intensity for a shorter amount of time
- Demonstrated distraction within group/peer setting
- Developmental readiness for processing
- Desire by participant
What are the ages of students and what type of issues do they have? Do they camp the entire time?
Adults are over 18; many are facing mid-life transitions or seeking a personal growth experience. Many students enroll with issues of self esteem, loss, depression, substance use, anxiety, attention challenges, motivation, and making transitions. They are often unsuccessful in their current therapy, academic setting, or at home. Poor choices in friends, distant family relationships and isolation are often described as concerned behaviors. Students begin their trek on Day 1 and camp the entire trek using quality group gear.
What kind of mentoring/counseling do the students receive?
The Soltreks team consists of wilderness instructors who are the heart of our program, as they bring their creativity and experience to support the students’ process. Individual and group counseling is presented through a variety of methods including experiential activities, mindfulness practices, yoga and art through photography.
What is required of my family?
Family involvement is essential for long term results. Experience shows that when a family is engaged in a positive way in their child’s healing, the child’s chance of a positive outcome and long term success is greatly magnified. For that reason, our programs address the whole family; parents depart feeling that “We all went to Soltreks.” Soltreks provides progress reports by way of computer e-mail and/or telephone conference calls (Some treks may conclude with a family telephone conference). These reports keep parents informed and involved in their child’s progress, and keep the lines of communication open between staff and parents. Parents are expected to participate in the conferencing with the staff. Siblings are encouraged to participate as appropriate. An emphasis on family involvement is one reason that Soltreks has a well-earned reputation for going the extra mile.
What does tuition cover?
The following services are included in the program: Individualized planning, group gear, orientation, updates with parents and aftercare planning and coordination. Tuition also supports well qualified staff with years of experience, small groups, high staff to student ratio and a well planned curriculum. Soltreks does not refund tuition due to clients refusal to continue on trek.
What type of follow up or aftercare do you provide for students?
Soltreks helps students and parents carefully create plans and contingency plans for aftercare decisions relating to peer influence, family relationships, employment, school, activities, personal growth opportunities and pre-planned strategies for anticipated mistakes. Soltreks assists parents, educational consultants, and other professionals to make the best choice for a student’s next educational/personal growth placement if needed. Whether the student returns home or continues his or her progress away from home, we continue to support the child and family. This support ranges from phone calls to email communications to visits. Student alumni return as student leaders, and an occasional customized trek. Families are encouraged to participate in a family trek once their child has graduated to enhance specific family goals. Students and families are always welcomed back!
What is your success rate?
Soltreks has a 97% completion rate. Soltreks is committed to continuous program improvement as we assess the outcomes of our students and their continued success through outreach.