Youth Services to Launch Wilderness Teen Mentorship Program

Looking to serve the needs of the community's troubled youth, Naugatuck's Youth and Family Services agency is accepting applications for it's unique Pathfinders program. Pathfinders is a wilderness therapy program for At Risk teens which will meet weekly on local sections of Connecticut's New England Trail. 

Acting Director, Christina Gamble described the program as "something new and different," and "...a great opportunity provide a service unlike any other in the state." 

Program Director, Gerald Gaura, a Marriage and Family Therapist with four years experience in the agency, described Pathfinder's as "an alternative to traditional mentorships and group therapy options, and larger teen wilderness programs which require much larger commitments of energy, money, and time." 

Mr. Gaura, Pathfinders' developer, is also tabbed as the lead clinician. A trained Wilderness Counselor, he has experience working with At Risk Youth and the substance abuse population in the WEP (Wilderness Experience Program) model. He presently provides Wilderness Counseling for one of the region's larger Adventure Based Counseling programs for people struggling with addiction.

"Pathfinders is a new approach," Mr. Gaura said. "It's designed to be brief. It's 6-8 weeks. The truth is many of our community's families can't commit to months and months of family or behavioral therapy, as great and beneficial as that may be. Pathfinders is also designed to work with a teen. Young people have high energy levels. That's only natural at that age. Getting them out of a room and into nature can be a helpful and positive thing." 

Mr. Gaura described the program model as one that focuses on reducing problem behaviors and increasing levels of accountability, responsibility and trust. It's also aimed at healing damaged family relationships, which can be typical with teens exhibiting problem behaviors. 

The 6-8 week program will include three phases, including group hiking excursions, strategic wilderness interventions, and two family therapy sessions, one at the beginning and another at the end. 

"Finding positive solutions to challenging life situations and learning to express oneself authentically as a young adult are just two of the main goals of the Pathfinders program."

Naugatuck Youth and Family Services also hopes to collaborate exclusively with the town's JRB (Juvenille Review Board), which aims to help keep problem youths out of local courts. The hope is to have the JRB refer teens directly into the Pathfinder program. The program is open to all of the community's families and their youth, however.

The program has also partnered with industry leader Osprey Packs to provide backpacks, and is working to develop sponsorships with local vendors for basic outdoor gear. 

For those interested in enrolling or learning more about the Pathfinders program, an agency representative can be reached 203-720-5673. 

Pathfinders is also looking to identify local and regional partners to extend the program in other communities.