RedCliff Ascent in southern Utah uses wilderness therapy to help adolescents aged 13 to 17 react differently to life's pressures. Participants spend a minimum of 30 days learning to accept responsibility for their own survival, contributing to life-altering behavioral change. Accepted applicants must speak English, weigh at least 100 pounds, pass a physical exam and be psychologically capable of wilderness training without safety compromise. Prohibitive conditions include diabetes, pregnancy, hypoglycemia, epilepsy, autism, hallucinations and severe allergies or asthma. As of February 2011, program tuition is $440 per day. If children need to stay over 60 days, days 61 and over cost $325 per day. A mandatory minimum 30 day attendance costs $13,200. Parents must also pay a one-time $1,000 fee for program incidentals.
Heartlight Ministries of Hallsville, Texas, is a comprehensive residential program that seeks to effect change in the lives of troubled teens using non-denominational biblical counseling techniques. Residents have individual counselors and attend bi-weekly group therapy sessions. Heartlight actively separates the genders' living facilities and only group therapy and activity outings are co-educational. Activities promote self-esteem building and include racquetball, horseback riding, photography, bicycling, pottery, rock climbing and guitar lessons. Participants attend for nine to 12 months and are schooled on campus or attend Hallsville's public high school. As of February 2011, attendees pay a one-time admission fee of $950. Children who attend boarding school classes pay from $125 to $170 per course per semester.
Re-Creation Retreat in Fredonia, Arizona, is a therapeutic boarding school that accepts teen girls, ages 13 to 17, who have been unresponsive to previous forms of behavioral therapy. Adjudicated youth, sex offenders and children with an IQ under 70 are disqualified from admission. Re-Creation Retreat follows a model of behavior conditioning where positive behavior is encouraged with awards while negative behavior is punished with consequences. Students are expected to learn the principles of respect, self motivation and accountability. The average stay is nine to 14 months. As of February 2011, attendance costs $5,300 per month excluding medical costs.
Adirondack Leadership Expeditions accepts troubled teens, ages 13 to 17, who exhibit low self esteem and socially deviant behavior. Adjudicated youth and children with substance abuse problems are not accepted. Via wilderness training near Saranac Lake in New York, program participants are taught to exercise different behavioral strategies to meet emotional needs. Activity groups are divided by gender and the average length of stay is 50 days. Cost of participation varies from student to student based on individual counseling needs.