B.O.O.S.T. Program
Program Mission: Located at the Great Hollow Wilderness School in New Fairfield, Connecticut, the B.O.O.S.T. Program exists to provide the skills necessary for children and adolescents with attentional, learning, emotional and behavioral disorders to succeed in home, school, work and community settings through family-centered counseling and experienced education. This program provides consistent and coordinated opportunities for high-risk youth to reach their academic potential and to be contributing members of society and lifelong learners.
B.O.O.S.T. Program: The Program is a intensive summer therapeutic camp that was developed in 1997, in response to an identified community need by the local System of Care. The B.O.O.S.T. Program has successfully provided primary prevention and early intervention services for youth (ages 6-18) diagnosed with emotional or behavioral disorders. These individuals typically do not succeed in traditional summer camps or recreation programs; as they do not possess age appropriate social and emotional skills. After participation in this intensive summer program, most participants have had documented success in one or more behavioral areas. The program is designed to achieve positive outcomes for youth at high risk for social and academic failure, and to prevent negative risk-taking behaviors such as substance abuse and delinquency. The approach is highly structured with low student-to-staff ratios to provide an intensive level of service.
Program Components:
THERAPEUTIC -- The program conducts daily therapy. This existing curriculum fosters improved communication and interpersonal skills. Individual learn how to identify and verbalize their often overwhelming emotions appropriately, as well as learning effective anger management and conflict resolution techniques. Life skills such as stress management, social skills training, and relaxation techniques are taught. Values, goal setting, assertiveness/self-advocacy training, and increasing self-esteem are incorporated.
ACADEMIC -- Hands-on, experiential activities that improve academic functioning and enhance a positive attitude toward learning
ADVENTURE CHALLENGE -- Closely supervised wilderness school activities including hiking, low and high rope courses, problem solving initiatives, environmental exploration, caving, canoeing, and rock climbing. These structured learning experiences provide metaphors for real life challenges. Experiential education is conducive to the growth of individuals from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. These structured and sequenced activities are designed to enhance confidence, trust, teamwork and individual and group motivation.
CULTURAL ENRICHMENT -- The objective of this component is to teach children and youth healthy outlets for expressing their emotions through dance, music, art therapy, and drama. This creative component exposes individuals to a cross-cultural sampling of music and other art forms. Exciting activities include: paper mache mask making, expressive painting, play writing, creative dance, and acting, all of which foster creativity and self-esteem. The B.O.O.S.T. Program strives to teach each participant tangible skills to reach his or her full potential and reconnect with the community.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP-
There are three aspects of this component: Counselors in Training Program (CIT), Leaders in Training Program (LIT), and the Youth Advisory Council. The goals of both the CIT and LIT programs are to enhance leadership qualities in the participants. This program will provide youth with enhanced skills in communication, social interaction, decision-making, problem solving, values clarification, and cultural awareness.
AFTERCARE SERVICES -- In order to support the significant gains made by individuals in this four-week summer program, participants may receive year round outpatient mental health services. These services include psychiatric & clinical evaluations; pharmacological treatment, and individual, group and family therapy, Parent Management Training and Liaison and Advocacy Services. The expanded service will enhance each participant's ability to achieve continued positive emotional, social, and academic growth and becoming capable of transferring these gains into community settings.
Program Benefits
Participation in the B.O.O.S.T. Program will reduce the development of high-risk behaviors and actions. Children will learn successful adaptive skills to achieve an optimal level of functioning that will allow them to develop into productive members of our community. Program participation will increase the emotional, behavioral, and social competencies of children and youth.
Participants and their families will:
- learn positive alternative means of expressing and managing their emotions
- obtain communication skills and effective methods to resolve conflicts
- achieve a greater sense of self-confidence, self-reliance and self-esteem
- improve their ability to provide a consistent and nurturing environment
- will experience success academically through hands on experiential activities andadvocacy services