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Wilderness Adventure Teaches Survival, Enhances Awareness |
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Peace, sanctuary, awe. A shady path along one of the Frio River's many tributaries on Big Springs Ranch provides an opportunity for day hiking, horseback riding, and peace-giving communion. |
Therapeutic Camping. Camping is a remarkably restorative program for children, regardless of their backgrounds. A wilderness campground was established in 1982 at a remote site on the Ingram campus for periodic use as a weekend getaway or as a therapeutic intervention site for longer periods. By removing distractions like stereos and computers, and staying for an uninterrupted stretch in a primitive setting, residents become less enfortressed. They soon become more capable of relationship. The incentive for teamwork is increased as daily tasks are related to survival issues, and there is more time to focus on problem-solving skills. |
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Rocky Mountain Wilderness Trips. During the summer, a group is sometimes taken to experience the mountain wildernesses of the American West. These trips serve to expand geographical horizons, and also afford youths an opportunity to experience the awesome natural beauty of a national wilderness. In such settings, youths often have emotional and spiritual awakenings as they soak in the majesty of mountains or forests, learn new aspects of their own natures, and share their experiences with a group. During these adventures, it usually becomes clear to everyone that individual behavior makes a big difference as the team faces challenging tasks. In addition, important friendships are formed, and experiences lead to new focus back home. |
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Outdoor Adventure at Big Springs Ranch. The newest addition to HCYR’s outdoor therapeutic programming is at its sister campus, Big Springs Ranch for Children near Leakey. This 7000 acre ranch is mostly raw land with a large portion being preserved "as is". Sprawling over mountainous terrain and winding along with the pristine Frio River (one of the headwater springs of the Frio is located on the Ranch, hence the name Big Springs), the Ranch is like a piece of mountain wilderness right in the heart of Texas. HCYR opened the area to wilderness adventure programming in 1997, and the "back country" continues to develop today. |
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