PROGRAM:  WILDERNESS SEARCH AND RESCUE  |  THE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE
                  FAMILY WORKSHOPS  |  SAFETY INFORMATION
                  PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING  |   TESTIMONIALS

The Mountain Village

A unique personal growth environment that promotes a desire to change.

Following successful completion of the Search and Rescue wilderness program phase, teens enter “the Village”. Located on the Allegheny mountains overlooking Canaan Valley, students live in a wilderness community-based setting. The Village provides a unique environment that contrasts the teen’s home culture dramatically. Each student learns he or she is needed by the community and how their behaviors directly affect the well-being of others.

For thousands of years, people have recognized that the transition from youth to adulthood requires a meaningful rite of passage. The rite of passage at Alldredge consists of a series of insightful experiences that inspire troubled teens to become responsible, proactive individuals. Students engage in journal-writing assignments and a curriculum that employs the use of metaphor, ceremony, and the identifications of life purpose. Adolescents gain an instantaneous desire for something different in their lives.

Once in the Mountain Village, teens are able to reflect on their previous choices, successes and failures while better defining their values and beliefs. Students are exposed to therapeutic experiences that bypass literal learning, influencing change at a deeper level. They develop and practice successful behaviors to carry throughout their lives. During the Mountain Village phase, teens experience the following:

• Students work with educational tutors and life coaches to complete accredited online classes. Each student spends a total of two to three hours a day, seven days a week in a variety of educational settings to include core classes and other experiential classes.
• Individual therapy will continue twice a week.
• Peer group counseling will occur twice per week.
• Students participate in Therapeutic drumming daily.
• Students participate in Art Therapy, Music Therapy, and Journeys.
• Students will participate in exciting adventure activities, values-driven experiential activities, therapeutic drumming, and service projects.
• Recreational activities include mountain biking, rock climbing, snow shoeing, skiing, whitewater rafting, swimming, fishing, and hiking.
• Students may attend traditional recovery meetings as indicated.
• Other opportunities may include equine therapy, humane society work, special projects with civic organizations, and much more.
• Weekly phone calls are set up with parents and a therapist/counselor. Parents are updated weekly by our online portal system for grades and notes from our tutors.

During this phase, students are introduced to therapeutic drumming. They begin learning basic rhythms and spend hours creating their own drum, a personal expression, as well as a connection to the community. Being able to share this learning experience allows for the strengthening of positive peer relationships within the community. Teens are able to grow in confidence as they master beginning rhythms. The therapeutic nature of drumming allows students to channel their energies into a positive effort for both themselves and the community.

the Mountain Village 30-day wilderness experience is unique to Alldredge. Students remark on the profound influence this experience has made upon their lives. Following successful completion of the Mountain Village phase, students have the opportunity to transition into the Extended Stay Phase at the Village. Students continue to live in the Village, working on academics while continuing to experience emotional growth in a purposeful and supportive therapeutic environment.

Drumming

Drumming dates back thousands of years. Next to the human voice, it is the oldest instrument in the world. Throughout history, people have utilized drumming for many different purposes; communication, celebrations, and rite of passages ceremonies to name a few. With so many various usages of drumming, the intent was always the same: to focus everyone’s energy as one.

Students begin drumming when they enter the Mountain Village. They are taught to build their own drum and understand acoustic and constructive attributes of this process. Once completed, they are introduced to drum rhythms and join the drum circle. The drum circle integrates all students in the Mountain Village and is a way to overcome timidity and be able to connect with their peers. Over time, teens start to develop the skill of drumming in unison with the group and individually; the result is a source of great confidence for Alldredge students.

Drumming is a remarkable therapeutic tool. Through observation of student behavior and non-verbal communication in drum circle, it becomes evident which students are having a good or bad day, who is invested in drum circle, and who is not. And through observation or just listening, it is clear how the community is doing as a whole.

Another important purpose of drumming is healing. Drumming can invoke many different emotions, but among the most powerful are calming and healing.

In addition to the spiritual and therapeutic value, this musical exercise aids in cognitive, auditory, and physical skill development in significant ways.