Our Model for Daily Living
The True North experience is centered around creating success through personal responsibility. The outdoor environment provides natural challenges that students must face in order to progress through the program. While moving through the program students will be living in cozy yurts, expedition style wall tents, or shelters made using their own creativity. Students live in small groups where they are able to establish close relationships and receive the individual attention they need from our staff. Students are responsible for maintaining their environment, self-care, and contributing to the needs of their group.
After honing their camping skills, and establishing open communication within their group, students will experience a variety of expeditions arranged according to student interest and treatment goals. Different students will participate in different activities, reinforcing a rich and diverse group experience. Our goal is to meet students in their present state and help them to reach appropriate and realistic goals regardless of learning style and past experiences.
True North’s central field area is a lush green forest surrounding a picturesque hillside retreat, which is located in the mountains above the beautiful Mad River Valley. Here students have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and get involved in a number of classic Vermont experiential activities. Whether they are tending to the gardens, orchards, and berry patches in the warm weather or strapping on snowshoes or skis in the winter months, our students will have ample opportunity to discover new and exciting challenges. They are able to see the academic subjects in their curriculum come to life in the environment around them. Geology, ecology, astronomy, biology, physical science, and more are all taught through a hands-on style that is supported by our curriculum.
A typical day includes
- Hiking or snowshoeing through the forests and valleys surrounding our base camp
- Participating in camping and outdoor living skills including primitive fire building, animal tracking, and map and compass navigation
- Preparation for and participation in a group expedition such as alpine skiing, horseback-riding, or rock climbing
- Focused experiential education including curriculum work and outdoor classes relating to a variety of subjects including geology, plant, tree, and animal identification, local and regional history, or Abenaki culture
- Group initiatives designed to foster teamwork, leadership, and relational skills
- Group processing opportunities that allow students to identify progress toward personal goals, resolve challenges in the group dynamic, and improve relationships and communication skills
- Personal time to reflect and work on completing creative writing and curriculum projects
- Seasonal outdoor activities including working in the extensive gardens and orchards surrounding our mountain retreat, maple-sugaring, or maintaining our bird sanctuary
