Custom Program for Youth with Special Needs
(Custom length)
About the Custom Program for Youth with Special Needs
This custom program focuses on youth with special needs. The first session consists of a discussion and consultation. The instructor identifies goals and builds a custom program for the youth’s needs. All programs occur solely in the outdoors in a forested area. We teach appropriate and safe handling of cutting tools. However, cutting tools are only involved in the program if the instructor deems it appropriate after an evaluation of the student’s capabilities. When youth spend time outdoors with our instructors and learn outdoor living skills, they make incredible progress in how they control their behaviour.
Our company works with the BC Government Autism Funding Unit and we provide an outdoor behaviour intervention service. We are also happy to work with youth with various other special needs.
These are some of the elements we focus on:
Executive functioning
We help support youth learn by letting them try to work things out and by helping them with problem solving. The skills that are learned in our program require youth to work on organizing and prioritizing tasks. They are then guided to completion. They will work on preparing and planning as the development of effective outdoor skills follows a sequence of steps. Organizing themselves and thinking ahead are practical life skills.
Adaptive functioning
Youth learn by doing and practicing skills. They will experience new challenges which will help strengthen their independence and their ability to handle novel situations. Conceptual, social and practical life skills can be developed. Using bushcraft tools effectively means they will develop patience and self regulation as the skills require effort and time to learn.
Preparation for adulthood
Outdoor life skills are transferable to everyday life skills. Decision making and the responsibility that comes with it are essential in wilderness survival. Youth will work on how to commit and follow through with their decisions while nurturing and expressing themselves.
Language and cognition
Our programs include auditory, visual and tactile forms of instruction. All practical skills learned are developed in the outdoors where they will actually be used. We encourage joint attention development by sharing and doing tasks with the participant.
Motor skills
Our skills-building activities are hands-on. Youth develop muscle memory using various tools and the skills are broken down into stages to assist with learning. Fine and gross motor skills are developed throughout the program.
Location
The Private Wilderness Survival and Bushcraft Skills for Youth program is located in Metchosin on Vancouver Island. The address is 1258 Neild Rd, Victoria, BC, Canada.
Prerequisites
The participants must be 13 - 17 years old. These are the minimum and maximum ages for participants.
Requirements
Clothes fit for weather conditions. If it is rainy, you should wear a rain jacket and pants. There is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.
Hiking boots/shoes
Work gloves (leather work gloves recommended)
Eye protection
Water
Any personal items such as anti-allergy medication, sunscreen or insect repellant.
A backpack to keep your items in.
Any other requirements will be determined upon consultation.
Banned activities
Drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and illegal actions are unacceptable activities during all our programs.
Important notes
ONE WITH NATURE Corp. is not responsible for injuries. The use of knives, axes, and other tools constitute high-risk activities. If you damage yourself or others, ONE WITH NATURE Corp. is not responsible for the damage or lives lost. All our programs are for educational purposes only. ONE WITH NATURE Corp. strongly recommends taking out insurance prior to participating in our programs. Please speak to an insurance provider about the most appropriate type of insurance you need to participate in any of our programs.
Price
To be determined upon consultation.
To discuss and book the Custom program contact Vitaliy at vitaliy@owncorp.ca.
