Summer Vacation is Here Again - Do You Know Where You'll Be?

Picture this: you are lying on a couch, devouring bags of chips and liters of soda, eyes glazed from playing video games and watching movies or TV programs, day after day for months end. What could this nightmare be? Summer vacation - if you don't make plans now.

For adolescents, summer is the highlight of the year - no responsibilities, sleeping in until noon, a kitchen full of food, and the sweet smell of independence. All of the structure and scheduling that occurs during the school year turns into unadulterated freedom in summer.

With less structure and adult supervision, summer is ripe with opportunities for teens to fall into a bad crowd, experiment with drugs or alcohol or get into another form of mischief. If you have been struggling during the school year, more trouble maybe awaiting you this summer. There's a reason for saying, "Idle hands are the devil's tools." Teens are looking for adventure, risks and excitement, especially in summer. Being bored at home is the exact opposite of what they need. They will find a way to take risks and live adventurously with or without parents' support or guidance.

By taking proper precautions and planning ahead, make summer vacation a positive and memorable growth experience.

There is no better way to make constructive use of free time than learning something new - a new skill, exploring an unfamiliar places, meeting new people. Therapeutic wilderness programs offer a unique opportunity for troubled teens to explore the wilderness on foot, learn primitive life skills, and participate in challenging group activities. When stripped of the comforts of home, like television, computers and video games, teens connect with themselves and others on a deeper level.

Wasted time is a wasted opportunity. A bold and exciting summer vacation can be a life-changing time of continued learning and personal exploration for teens.