OKLAHOMA - WILDERNESS PROGRAM - ANNUAL REPORT, 1977

• NCJ Number: 51767
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 26 pages
• Corporate Author: Salzburg Seminar in American Studies
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE TULSA, OKLA., WILDERNESS PROGRAM FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IS DESCRIBED IN THIS 1977 ANNUAL REPORT.

Abstract

THE WILDERNESS PROGRAM HAD THE FOLLOWING GOALS: (1) TO PROVIDE STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES AND A SETTING IN WHICH YOUNGSTERS CAN LEARN TO EXPERIENCE THEMSELVES AND OTHERS IN A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, (2) TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCES FOR THE PARTICIPANTS FROM WHICH THEY MAY GAIN A MORE POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE, (3) TO BUILD A STRONG AND EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COUNSELORS AND YOUTH, AND (4) TO GAIN AN INDEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF THE INDIVIDUAL YOUNGSTER SO THAT A MORE ACCURATE AND COMPLETE ASSESSMENT OF THE YOUNGSTER'S PROBLEMS CAN BE MADE TO AID IN FUTURE CASE WORK. DURING THE ASSESSMENT YEAR, 66 YOUTHS PARTICIPATED IN THE WILDERNESS PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE PROBATION REFERRED MORE YOUTH TO THE PROGRAM THAN ANY OTHER SINGLE AGENCY. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, 18 WILDERNESS TRIPS WERE CONDUCTED IN OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS, AND NEW MEXICO. TRIPS TYPICALLY INVOLVED BACKPACKING, CANOEING, OR CLIMBING. THE WILDERNESS PROGRAM IS VOLUNTARY, BUT HAS SPECIFIC PROGRAM RULES, AMONG THEM THE FOLLOWING: (1) STAY WITH THE GROUP, (2) NO ALCOHOL, (3) NO SEX, AND (4) NO DRUGS. PARENTAL AGREEMENT WAS REQUIRED FOR THE CHILD'S PARTICIPATION. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ACTUAL WILDERNESS EXPEDITIONS, DAY GROUPS WERE ALSO HELD IN A LOCAL SETTING FOR A DAY OR LESS, INVOLVING EXPEDITION PREPARATORY MEETINGS, EXPEDITION FOLLOWUP MEETINGS, AND ACTIVITY MEETINGS THAT TOOK PLACE WHETHER OR NOT AN OUTING WAS PLANNED. A BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA EXPLORER POST WAS ESTABLISHED FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. DURING THE ASSESSMENT YEAR, 4 OF THE 66 YOUNGSTERS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM WERE READJUDICATED DELINQUENT. AN ADDITIONAL 12 HAD A CHILD-IN-NEED OF SUPERVISION REFERRAL. IN ADDITION TO EXPEDITION-RELATED ACTIVITIES, WILDERNESS STAFF PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS LISTS OF VOLUNTEERS AND EQUIPMENT DONORS AND DONATIONS, DATA ON THE TRIPS AND GROUPS, FINANCIAL INFORMATION, AND INFORMATION ON STAFF TRAINING AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTS. (MLC)