The Way in the Wilderness is a 40-day Christ-centered nomadic (backpacking) wilderness experience that combines the best wilderness practices with the best practices in mental health. We talk a lot about Retreat, Restore, Revive. We retreat to the wilderness where we encounter Christ. We are restored through His grace and mercy and return to give back to the community and spread revival. Our Executive Director has written a paper on this if you are interested in more details.

We have rebranded away from wilderness therapy. Our staff and our ministry’s history served a lot in wilderness therapy. We have learned a lot over the years and are grateful to celebrate our victories. We’ve maintained several of the most effective elements of traditional wilderness therapy, and thrown out what doesn’t align with our ministry philosophy and any practices that we see as unethical. We believe God has appointed the family as a significant catalyst for transformation, and so everything we do points to family bonding. Wilderness therapy traditionally is very lengthy (12-20 weeks), and discharging a student into another residential treatment program for an additional 1-2 years is normal. We believe this is a form of legalism parallel to incarceration and not God’s intent. The family, church, and other significant mentors are meant to be the catalysts for change rather than institutions. In comparison, our wilderness program is only 40 days (a fun biblical number) with three years of aftercare support to the student, family, and local community. We’ve also left behind pop-psychology and a secular clinical/medical model that focuses on diagnosis and treatment. Instead, we recognize brokenness needs healing through loving relationships, restored identity, and connection to Jesus. Wilderness therapy has come under fire for unannounced “kidnapping” of children into the program. In contrast, we support family involvement and transparency with students before, during, and after their time in the wilderness. Additionally, wilderness therapy has received feedback about its safety and transparency. Safety is our chief priority and commitment to families. We coordinate medical oversight with a local MD. We promote transparency by inviting parents into the program through regular communication.

40 days, including a 3-day graduation adventure. Additionally, we commit to walking with each family for 3 years after graduation as we create aftercare plans and safety nets for the years to come.

We work with high school-age teenagers, 14 – 18. We will make certain exceptions for 13-year-olds. At 18 years old, students are consenting adults and will be asked to make decisions regarding attendance as adults.

We do accept both boys and girls. Boys and girls groups are segregated and do not interact during the program.

There are a few steps in the process:
1. Fill out a short inquiry form.
2. Our admissions staff will review each family’s inquiry and follow up with a phone call to determine if Seeds is right for your family.
3. We will then direct you to fill out the full application, which includes a full medical and psychological history (expect this paperwork to take about two hours to complete).
4. Our therapeutic leadership team reviews the application and decides whether your child would be a good fit.
5. If, during either of these steps, we determine Seeds is not a good fit for your student, we will share other options with you. Our goal is not that you come to Seeds, but that your family finds the way to peace in your situation.
6. Sign the acceptance letter.
7. Pay the initial deposit fee and complete the enrollment packet.
8. Arrange for your child’s transportation to Seeds.

Our admissions and parent coordinators will be available to walk you through each step of this process and answer any questions you have. They will also be walking with you throughout your student’s time in the wilderness. Feel free to contact them at any time.

Seeds Wilderness Way is not a summer camp or a regular outdoor program. Seeds is different in that we run a 1:3 staff to student ratio; our field instructors are at least 21 years old and have extensive training, including therapeutic and discipleship training, medical, and risk management. We have a Masters level Director of Therapeutic Care and a licensed therapist who meets regularly with the students and creates strategic growth plans. The therapeutic team also meets with parents virtually every week to work on family system dynamics and give spiritual care. We have pastors and chaplains who meet weekly with students for transformational discipleship. We have a licensed physician who regularly checks in with the staff and students to monitor their health and safety. A 2–3 day graduation trip/celebration at the end of your child’s stay at Seeds helps to reintegrate your family together in an impactful way. We also provide a pre-, post-, and 180-day assessment to measure progress and success. Furthermore, we provide three months of weekly aftercare coaching to help transition students back to life at home. Three full years of aftercare are also offered to solidify learning and changes (We’re the only therapeutic program we know of that offers this length of care; we do it because we understand transformation is a lengthy process, and we want to see real-life change in your student). Because of all these elements, Seeds is not cheap, but it provides great value for the investment compared to similar programs.

No, unfortunately, we do not bill insurance directly. If you would like to file for insurance reimbursement, we can provide you with a superbill to submit to them.

No. Here is a link to other Christian programs that may take Medicaid or may be more affordable. We encourage you to research these other options to find what is the best fit for your family. 

We can help you set up your own fundraising site. Additionally, you can go here for some initial ideas.

You and/or your child do not have to be Christian to attend the Seeds program. That being said, we are distinctly Christian, and your child will be exposed to the teachings of Jesus. We do not use manipulation to “force” our kids to accept Jesus. No one in our program is forced to make a decision or say certain words. Your child will not be required to participate in prayer or Bible study; however, we do expect him/her to be respectful of the beliefs of others. For more information regarding our position, you can access it here.

The “wilderness experience” has inherent risks that we can not avoid. We believe that our trained staff are among the best in the industry. We have a passion for safety and seek to make every day safe. We have at least one Wilderness First Responder (WFR) who is trained in backcountry risk management and response with every group. WFRs are trained beyond simple first aid and are prepared for the unique challenges of wilderness medicine. Students complete a physician-administered physical exam before heading into the wilderness to ensure they are safe to participate. A doctor contracted with Seeds is always available for consultation and emergencies, and checks on students in the field halfway through the program. Our staff monitors cleanliness, nutrition, hydration, and health on a daily basis while training students in environmental risk management. Each group communicates with the office two times per day and receives visits from leadership and therapeutic staff three times per week. Students are always within earshot of the group and are supervised by trained and vetted field staff on a 3 students to 1 instructor ratio. As an additional safety measure for both students and staff, students are never left alone (1:1) with a single member of staff.

We will not accept a child we do not believe could benefit from the program. We have some referrals to whom we can connect you if Seeds is not right for your child.

• Finding a positive identity
• Anxiety related to food and meals
• Entitled/grandiose/distorted thinking
• Social skills
• Attention or focus on school or other tasks
• Substance use or abuse
• Truancy/school avoidance
• Sense of self is viewed as negative
• Fluctuations in mood
• Personality disorders
• Controlling angry, verbal outbursts
• Minor self-harm
• Unintentional damage is done to property as a result of impulsive/angry behaviors

• Grieving or experiencing loss both relationally or situationally
• Promiscuity or seeking attention inappropriately
• Adjustment to changes
• Identifying attachment bonds as unsafe (family, friends, role models)
• Isolation or loneliness
• Coping with learning differences
• Communication is ineffective
• Gaming to distraction or avoidance of everyday life expectations 
• Finding security after traumatic events
• Finding motivation for healthy pursuits
• Anxiety
• Overwhelming sadness or Depression
• Overly externalizing or internalizing problems

No, in fact, this can be an advantage. We will provide all the clothes and outdoor gear required, a portion of which your child will take home with them at the end of their time at Seeds. We will also provide all the training they need. We create a supportive community in which your child will learn. After a few weeks, they will be rock stars at outdoor living. It is not uncommon for students who have been there only a couple of weeks to be training other, less experienced students. The student will emerge from the program competent in the wilderness.

Some people can experience altitude sickness when going above 8500 feet. Our team is trained in caring for altitude sickness, and we will do everything we can to help your child adjust to the altitude difference as quickly as possible. Drinking plenty of water before arrival will help with this acclimation process.

We will not “fix” your child, but we will help them to grow! We believe time in the wilderness can be a catalyst for change in a teenager’s life and is a good fit for the parent who has tried everything and is not sure where to go from here. It took a long time for your child to escalate to where they are now. It most likely will take some time to get them back to baseline. For many kids, time in the wilderness prepares them to function in a structured social environment. Thus, upon graduation, it is common to move to a therapeutic boarding school or similar program. Ultimately, it depends on the child and how they respond to intervention.

Wilderness works when other options don’t. It often makes a lot of sense to try other options first, like counseling options in your own community, or our shorter Parent Teen Intensive. If that doesn’t work, then come back, and we can talk. Wilderness provides an opportunity to disconnect from the busyness and stressors of life that other programs can not get away from. Parents often use nature-based therapy to prepare their child for the longer-term educational program they may need, but would get kicked out of if they went there first.

You are more than welcome to bring your child to Seeds yourself. If that is not feasible, we recommend Safe Passage Transport.  They have many years of experience transporting at-risk youth.

We operate under permit out of the National Forest and have access to over 80k acres on the Uncompahgre Plateau. Each group has an itinerary and check-in a minimum of twice per day. We have weekly food drops accessed via jeep roads into the forest. Your child could hike anywhere between 1-8 miles per day. How far we travel depends on a variety of conditions. We are more concerned about the process than getting somewhere specific. Each student stays with us for 40 days, including the 3-day graduation trip with parents included.

We have formal communication that we will facilitate as part of the program. This looks like letter writing once a week, allowing the whole family to slow down and take more time in reacting/responding. We will transport letters/printed emails into the field and pick up outbound mail from students once a week. Your student’s therapist will keep you up to date on the progress made.

Our field staff are trained in medication administration and will secure and administer medications while the student is in our care. A record is kept of all meds administered, and all medications are accounted for. The parents’ responsibility is to provide the list of medications, doses, and a 40-day supply.

Yes, Seeds will plan to host parents for the graduation trip, so that will not cost extra. Parents will need to budget for travel to and from Montrose.

Our field staff are mature adults who have professional experience in the outdoors and working with youth. They are required to have over 100 hours of yearly training in addition to first aid, de-escalation, and emergency training.  Our clinicians are licensed therapists and have experience in wilderness therapy and working with youth.

We will provide a pre-wilderness assessment, post-wilderness assessment, and a 180-day post-wilderness assessment to track progress made by your teen during and after their experience with us. We will make specific recommendations depending on each child’s needs. If the child requires additional time in a therapeutic boarding school, we will discuss that before graduation. Additionally, we provide an aftercare program, which we call Paraclete, that continues after graduation. This is a time when we help your child make the transition from wilderness to real life. Your student will have weekly calls with their Paraclete Coach for three months following their time in the wilderness.

Our child care license number for the state of Colorado is 1745202. We operate under a use permit by the USFS and BLM.  We are pursuing accreditation through AAE and OBH.

Seeds is committed to the mental, spiritual, and physical health of adolescents ages 14-17. Confident that we are created in the image of God, Seeds gives care and support to adolescents who are interested in effecting change in their family, community, peer group, and the local church. Through therapeutic strategies based on empirical evidence, Seeds provides experiential and interpersonal services that allow the individual to explore their emotional, spiritual, and physical needs in a safe, caring, supportive environment surrounded by the wonder of God’s creation.  

Each student is part of a positive peer culture of up to seven students, led by adult guides and mentors. Students attend group and individual therapy sessions weekly with experienced licensed therapists proficient in wilderness interventions. Trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment-based therapy, family systems, trauma-informed, substance abuse treatment strategies, and motivational interviewing, our therapists are skilled communicators, educators, and role models to adolescents as they face the challenges of secular ideology. Through extensive assessment and treatment planning, individuals with their families build healthier strategies for bonding and togetherness. By partnering with the students’ support structures at home, Seeds’ aim is for our graduates to transition to the next healthiest environment for them, equipped with new skills for an increased likelihood of success and satisfaction.  

As powerful as clinical treatment strategies can be, they are best practiced in an environment where the individual has the freedom to “try on” these new skills. Students will create their personal goals and practice in a group of their peers where caring feedback can be given. This encourages students to work from their strengths and gives opportunities to learn how to respond and grow in the moment. Daily group activities provide the structure and opportunity for these check-ins. These activities focus on building team unity through trust, openness, and honesty. Each student has a curriculum in which they receive clear expectations and directions. This guides their wilderness experience and their emotional growth.