Laughing Star by Jo Nisbet

Author:Jo Nisbet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Karnac Books

PART II

THE WILDERNESS

And God created lands filled with water for men to live in and deserts so they could discover their souls

—Proverb: Tuareg

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Redcliff ascent, phase one

The programme

The following extracts, given at intervals throughout this section of the book, are taken from the Parents’ Information Pack and are reported here word for word as Emily progresses through the programme:

The Redcliff program is directed toward communications skills, introspection and self-efficacy. These “phases” are broken down into eight parts, the first one being an introductory phase, and the other seven traveling the traditional directions of native America. We use tribal motifs because they work well and are appropriate to the environment. Wilderness skills are used as metaphors for life lessons and experiences. A student may turn in two phases a week, making it possible to graduate in as little as four weeks. However, most take somewhat longer due to their personal issues getting in the way.

Often the students equate phase completion with graduation and, while this is a fair yardstick of performance, there are other things that must be accomplished as well. Along with schoolwork, there is fieldwork (getting along with peers, hiking well, doing their share etc.) and therapy. The student's therapist decides when there has been significant progress on the issues that caused the student to be placed here. When these criteria have been met the student will be scheduled for the next graduation. Graduations are held every other Monday.

Along with progress towards completion of the program, phase completion earns the student such things as spices, sweetener and phase meals.

Each day the students cook breakfast as soon as they awake. At breakfast they cook oatmeal or nine grain cereal. Then they must tear down their camp and prepare to hike to a new area where they will set up another camp. The students spend a great deal of their day hiking to a new camp. Through the afternoon they will write in their journals, write home to family, work on school phase books and learn skills such as bow-drill fires, traps and Native American skills. The students will then cook supper and have time around the campfire to talk and write poetry.

The students also have an opportunity to have one-on-one interviews with staff members. This will help the youth and staff members to keep open communications lines, and to offer individual time to each student.

In the evening they will have a group session where they may discuss many things such as problems in the group, areas of concern or areas of praise. During these groups the staff may give the student a subject and ask them to respond to it and/or they will process and problem-solve as a group any problems that have arisen. The students have alot of time to think and ponder about the future and decide if they are doing the things that truly make them happy.

At each new camp that they build the students construct a large shelter made from tarps, which is similar to a tent.

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