"Be Challenged" is a type of weekend wilderness intervention designed to grab the attention of youth at risk and positively challenge them, as never before to take a look at their thoughts, behaviors, and actions. This program option was designed for court-referred juveniles as an accountability option to be scheduled from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.

The "Be Challenged" Program's home base is located at the Williamsport Center in Lycoming County, PA. The overall purpose of the Outdoor Weekend Challenge Program is to serve as an intensive 42-hour reality-based camping experience. "Be Challenged" serves as a catalytic turning point in the lives of youth, who have been acting out in some way in the community resulting in a court referral to the program.

The "Be Challenged" program seeks to accomplish the following:

  Address the specific needs of each client and help them become more aware of how their unresolved behaviors are negatively impacting their current actions, decisions and relationships.

  Remove youth from all negative environmental influences and peers on weekends.

  Provide challenges that ultimately result in an increase in confidence and self-esteem.

  Provide the best experience-based intervention imaginable.

  Afford youth every opportunity to learn, grow, and change their problematic behaviors.

In reference to these objectives, each youth is responsible for themselves and accountable to their peers in meeting individual and group challenges. This construct effectively targets nonconformist, detached behaviors and is proactive rather than reactive.

The "Be Challenged" Program is designed to provide the best experience-based intervention imaginable. When referred to this program on weekends, the youths are removed from all negative environmental influences and peers. Attendance of these youths on consecutive weekends has the added benefits of affording them every opportunity to learn, grow, and change their problematic behaviors. During a "Be Challenged" weekend peer influence is positively utilized. The outdoor wilderness environment places campers in a wilderness atmosphere, which is less comfortable than the environment that they are accustomed to. They are given tasks and responsibilities that appropriately challenge them and ultimately result in an increase in confidence and self esteem.

Clients are challenged to work as a team for success. The challenge requires them to rely on someone other than themselves. Trust and healthy dependence on others is a desired outcome. The challenges do not come easy; the clients struggle against natural elements, obstacles and differing personalities.

Clients experience the healing environment that nature provides and encounter a new world in which the accountability and rewards come not only from the authority figures in their lives, but from themselves and their peers.

The goal is for both progress and change to occur in the lives of the youth, so that the client realizes their potential to change within the home, family, school, and community environments. Virtues in character will develop and positive change is encouraged throughout the process.

REFERRALS

Referrals can be made to the Williamsport Center by calling Outreach Coordinator Todd Puderbach, Program Manager Jamie Yonkin, or Regional Manager Robert Vanderwall at (570) 321-7860.

WHEN MAKING A REFERRAL TO THE OUTDOOR WEEKEND CHALLENGE PROGRAM PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

  "Be Challenged" is held every other weekend, rain or shine year round.

  Due to participation in numerous physical activities, a signed physical examination is required prior to admittance to the program.

  Transportation to and from the "Be Challenged" program will be provided by our Agency to and from a predetermined and specific meeting location.