Philosophy

At SUWS of the Carolinas, we believe in the following principles:

  • Wilderness is the ideal environment for struggling youth to get their lives back on track.
  • An experiential, hands-on curriculum encourages students to discover their inner strengths while increasing their self-awareness and self-esteem.
  • Personal attention and individualized treatment are essential for identifying, assessing and ultimately helping students to overcome the obstacles that have impeded their healthy development.
  • Expert guidance and supervision, compassionate care and a respect for each participant are the pillars of an effective therapeutic wilderness program.
  • Family involvement is an integral component of the healthy growth and development of adolescents and teens.

In the wilderness, life is simple. When removed from the pressures and distractions of daily life – and when placed into a structured and highly supervised therapeutic environment – students learn to develop healthy relationships, teamwork, self-confidence, and a sense of personal responsibility. At the same time, they discover their desire and ability to grow into the people they want to be.

Our outdoor experience is designed to engage the deeply held passions and desire for purpose that characterize adolescence. Our program employs a “search and rescue” metaphor to teach students character development and to assist in the identification of core values and guiding principles.

Peer pressure is a powerful influence during adolescence – and we believe in employing this influence in a positive manner. We place students join within groups, and nurture the development of an established positive peer culture in which leadership positions are earned through achievement, rather than posturing.

Finally, as a proud member of CRC Health Group, we embrace CRC’s five core values:

  • Respect – for our patients, our employees, and our community
  • Integrity – in our dealings with all those whose lives we touch
  • Accountability – to our patients and their families, and to our colleagues
  • Responsibility – for the decisions we make and the actions we take
  • Excellence – in every task we perform