Turning Winds uses the great outdoors of Montana to combine adventure therapy, experiential education, and psycho-educational therapy. Experiential learning is based on the assumption that lasting change can occur when people are placed outside their familiar comfort environment and immersed in new and somewhat challenging situations.
Clients learn to appreciate the power of Mother Nature on our beautiful campus. The vehicle to connect our students with nature is our TREC (Turning Winds Recreation and Education Connection) program.
TREC has helped hundreds of teens improve their mental well-being and change how they view themselves. Through TREC, our students are able to experience first-hand activities such as backcountry hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, mountain bike riding, white water rafting, fishing, snowshoeing, skiing/snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and many other activities.
Each activity isn’t simply a fun outing but also a therapeutic tool we utilize to teach important life lessons such as endurance, teamwork, mental strength, and self-confidence.
Learning activities are real and meaningful: reflection and problem-solving are vehicles for intellectual and emotional stimulation, and students are accountable for their own behaviors and insights.
Outdoor education maximizes the experience for the teenagers we serve. Maintaining a good balance between work and recreation is a top goal at Turning Winds.
Reconnecting with nature in a therapeutic context can change a person’s outlook on life and their sense of self-worth and induce a feeling of spiritual connectedness with the universe. Being exposed to the grandeur of nature can give you a sense of peace and harmony.
