nightmares. They’re so vivid and disturbing that I constantly have this feeling of utter panic and helplessness. I know they expect me to leave my room today, but I can’t face it. I pull the sheet over my face and turn over to try to catch up on some sleep, but it’s no good. After endless tossing and turning, I give in and sit up. It’s my last day in the room. Today I move to basecamp and have to start sleeping outside. I need to figure out how to get away from here.
A knock at the door startles me. Why they bother I don’t know because they always just come in anyway. It’s the blonde trek leader from last night.
“Morning, hon. Time to rise and shine. Here’s some information for you about camp and a timetable. Just come outside for some breakfast when you’re ready. You’re at basecamp starting today.”
I don’t say anything, but my mind doesn’t know whether to start shouting at her or cry so I just flop back down into bed and try to pull the covers up again.
“Not so fast Missy. Up. Now.” She pulls the entire set of covers off the bed and throws it all on the floor. She’s baring her buck teeth at me like some wild animal.
“You can’t just come in here and strip me of my privacy.”
“Great. It speaks. Get ready, missy, and get outside. ASAP.” She shoves the leaflets into my hand and leaves the room.
Like I have a choice, I start reading.
A Typical Day at Camp Cedars
At Basecamp
The schedule at basecamp is highly structured and designed with the needs of each student in mind. On a typical day at basecamp, teens participate in the following:
8:00 a.m.–Wake up
8:15 a.m.–Personal hygiene
8:30 a.m.–Yoga & Meditation
9:30 a.m.–Breakfast
10:00 a.m.–Camp chores and showers
11:00 a.m.–Letter writing, therapy assignments
12:30 p.m.–One-on-one time with field guide mentor
1:30 p.m.–Lunch
2:30 p.m.–Personal therapy session
4:00 p.m.–Group therapy session
5:00 p.m.–Camp chores and personal time
7:00 p.m–Dinner
9:00 p.m.–Community time
10:00 p.m.–Bedtime
In the Wilderness
In the wilderness, teens rise with the sun and sleep with the moon. A typical day begins around seven a.m. with instructor communication to basecamp via cell phones/radios, a hot breakfast cooked over a camp stove, and an activity from the daily curriculum.
Depending on the group, teens may hike before and after lunch before settling in at a pre-selected site. During hikes, students process experiences and emotions as a group and complete a variety of challenges.
During their free time, students may write letters home, play games, complete assignments, or work on their primitive skills such as trap building and bow drilling (rubbing two pieces of wood together to create fire). Camp set-up, dinner preparation, therapeutic initiatives, AA/NA readings and group sessions around the campfire end the day’s activities.
Typical Expedition Day
• 8:00 a.m.–Wake up
• 8:15 a.m–Hygiene
• 8:30 a.m.–Yoga & Meditation
• 9:30 a.m.–Breakfast
• 10:00 a.m.–Camp chores and pack up
• 11:00 a.m–Start hiking
• 12:00 p.m.–Short break
• 12:30 p.m.–One on one session with field guide mentor
• 1:30 p.m–Lunch
• 2:30 p.m.–Resume hiking
• 4:00 p.m.–Letter writing, therapy assignments
• 5:00 p.m.–Set up camp & camp chores
• 6:00 p.m.–Process group
• 7:30 p.m.–Dinner
• 9:00 p.m.–Community time
• 10:00 p.m.–Bedtime
Tears start running down my face as I walk to the bathroom.
Chapter Seventeen
Olivia Carter
Teeth brushed and wearing the nasty khaki uniform, I still feel conscious because I don’t have a hair brush and my hair is all matted. It’s itchy and you can see my own black hair color coming through.
I step outside into the bright sunshine and can hear my heart thumping in my ears.
“It’s okay, Olivia. Breathe. Head on over there and you’ll find a backpack with a dung beetle on it. That’s yours.” It’s Dr. Nate
A knock at the door startles me. Why they bother I don’t know because they always just come in anyway. It’s the blonde trek leader from last night.
“Morning, hon. Time to rise and shine. Here’s some information for you about camp and a timetable. Just come outside for some breakfast when you’re ready. You’re at basecamp starting today.”
I don’t say anything, but my mind doesn’t know whether to start shouting at her or cry so I just flop back down into bed and try to pull the covers up again.
“Not so fast Missy. Up. Now.” She pulls the entire set of covers off the bed and throws it all on the floor. She’s baring her buck teeth at me like some wild animal.
“You can’t just come in here and strip me of my privacy.”
“Great. It speaks. Get ready, missy, and get outside. ASAP.” She shoves the leaflets into my hand and leaves the room.
Like I have a choice, I start reading.
A Typical Day at Camp Cedars
At Basecamp
The schedule at basecamp is highly structured and designed with the needs of each student in mind. On a typical day at basecamp, teens participate in the following:
8:00 a.m.–Wake up
8:15 a.m.–Personal hygiene
8:30 a.m.–Yoga & Meditation
9:30 a.m.–Breakfast
10:00 a.m.–Camp chores and showers
11:00 a.m.–Letter writing, therapy assignments
12:30 p.m.–One-on-one time with field guide mentor
1:30 p.m.–Lunch
2:30 p.m.–Personal therapy session
4:00 p.m.–Group therapy session
5:00 p.m.–Camp chores and personal time
7:00 p.m–Dinner
9:00 p.m.–Community time
10:00 p.m.–Bedtime
In the Wilderness
In the wilderness, teens rise with the sun and sleep with the moon. A typical day begins around seven a.m. with instructor communication to basecamp via cell phones/radios, a hot breakfast cooked over a camp stove, and an activity from the daily curriculum.
Depending on the group, teens may hike before and after lunch before settling in at a pre-selected site. During hikes, students process experiences and emotions as a group and complete a variety of challenges.
During their free time, students may write letters home, play games, complete assignments, or work on their primitive skills such as trap building and bow drilling (rubbing two pieces of wood together to create fire). Camp set-up, dinner preparation, therapeutic initiatives, AA/NA readings and group sessions around the campfire end the day’s activities.
Typical Expedition Day
• 8:00 a.m.–Wake up
• 8:15 a.m–Hygiene
• 8:30 a.m.–Yoga & Meditation
• 9:30 a.m.–Breakfast
• 10:00 a.m.–Camp chores and pack up
• 11:00 a.m–Start hiking
• 12:00 p.m.–Short break
• 12:30 p.m.–One on one session with field guide mentor
• 1:30 p.m–Lunch
• 2:30 p.m.–Resume hiking
• 4:00 p.m.–Letter writing, therapy assignments
• 5:00 p.m.–Set up camp & camp chores
• 6:00 p.m.–Process group
• 7:30 p.m.–Dinner
• 9:00 p.m.–Community time
• 10:00 p.m.–Bedtime
Tears start running down my face as I walk to the bathroom.
Chapter Seventeen
Olivia Carter
Teeth brushed and wearing the nasty khaki uniform, I still feel conscious because I don’t have a hair brush and my hair is all matted. It’s itchy and you can see my own black hair color coming through.
I step outside into the bright sunshine and can hear my heart thumping in my ears.
“It’s okay, Olivia. Breathe. Head on over there and you’ll find a backpack with a dung beetle on it. That’s yours.” It’s Dr. Nate
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