SURVIVAL OF THE MEEKEST

4-week summer program operated by Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION & PURPOSE

Survival of the Meekest (SOTM) is a short-term, intense, rehabilitative program designed to help strong-willed boys, ages 10-13, overcome learning difficulties and behavioral habits that contribute to a path of self-destruction. This 4-week program teaches boys how to respect authority and trust others while building on their own personal strengths.

SOTM is a wilderness survival program based on Christian principles that brings young men back to the basic and teaches them the importance of teamwork. Thus, it is operated in a wilderness setting with minimal conveniences, which serves to maximize opportunities to search one’s heart and learn God’s purpose for life. Campers are challenged to build their own shelters, prepare their own food, and participate in physical and mental competitions.

CAMPERS (YOUTH)

SOTM accepts boys, ages 10-13, who currently exhibit behavioral problems at school or at home. These behavioral problems may also include social or emotional issues. Because of its short duration, boys are not accepted who have current problems with the law; past unlawful activities will not prohibit a boy’s entry into the program, but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the administration. The following is a list of common characteristics of the type of boy who would benefit from this program:

• Strong-willed and disrespectful;

• Not achieving academically to his full potential;

• Uncooperative with parents and/or teachers;

• Needs self-motivation and discipline;

• Lacks self-respect and social skills;

• Needs a closer relationship with the Lord.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of SOTM are as follows:

• To assist parent(s) with the behavior modification of the youth;

• To improve the positive family dynamics;

• To enable youth to recognize negative decision-making skills;

• To enable youth to build a solid, Biblical foundation on which to base decision-making skills;

• To bring to youth a greater awareness of God’s creation, thus increasing their appreciation for it;

• To teach youth wilderness skills.

• To learn study skills, improving his academic ability.

PARENTS’ ROLE

Along with our goal to change the lives of these at-risk young men, we also want to provide valuable “survival” techniques to the parents. On the first day of the program, we will have the Parents’ Orientation, which is a parenting seminar to explore relationship-building and address the importance of the parents’ role in raising a respectful, productive young man. Then, on the last day of the program, we will discuss each boy’s experience in the program. Parents may write and receive letters while their son is in the program.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

The following components will be taught during Survival of the Meekest:

• Wilderness Skills

  • Food Procurement & Preparation

Teaches sources of food in the wilderness and how to prepare food in a primitive setting.

• Shelters

Teaches how to identify a good shelter site and how to construct various types of shelters.

• Firecraft

Teaches how to determine a proper site for a fire and how to construct the fire for various uses.

• Personal & Field Hygiene

Discusses prevention of disease and medical problems; teaches treatment for bites, stings, and wounds.

• Land Navigation

Acquaints youth with methods to navigate by dead reckoning, terrain feature association, and field-expedient methods.

• Animal Awareness

Teaches habits of native animals and identifies characteristics and habits of dangerous animals.

• Plant Awareness

Identifies characteristics of plants, including how to differentiate poisonous plants from non-poisonous.

• Individual Counseling

Provides opportunity for youth to discuss behavioral issues, past reasons for engaging in negative decisions, and helps to provide positive alternatives. Seeks to establish short- and long-term goals for youth, which is shared with the family.

• Academic Skills

Emphasizes importance of diligently pursuing academic success; teaches study skills to improve academic potential. Many academic skills are taught and further developed through the teaching of wilderness skills and through the youth’s journaling.

• Science

Campers learn about plants, flowers, trees, astronomy, and animals through everyday wilderness skills. Campers will learn how stars are used in Land Navigation.

• Writing

Campers learn writing skills through their journaling experience. Each camper is additionally required to write some poetry and a short story.

• Mathematical

Math skills are inherently taught during Land Navigation as various figuring and calculations are involved in azimuths, offsetting, and bypassing obstacles.

• Spiritual Emphasis

Presents truths found in God’s Word, the Bible, and relates those truths and principles to everyday life. Teaches methods for practical application of moral guidelines into daily decisions. Campers will be involved in daily Bible studies.