Extreme Team is a program designed to build self-esteem, increase awareness and focus, strengthen leadership skills, and wipe out the victim mentality in program participants.  It is not for weak-hearted individuals or those who lack the motivation to achieve.

The program utilizes extreme sports and wilderness activities, combined with individual and group processing, to assist individuals in tearing down the barriers of fear, self-centeredness, complacency, and dependency.

Activities include:

• 6-day opening overnight Camping Trip in the Rockies (focusing on team building, skill building, and goal setting)
• 3-day overnight Canoe Trip
• Roller Coaster Tour
• 3-day overnight Low and Medium R.O.P.E.S. Workshop
• 3-day overnight High R.O.P.E.S. Workshop
• 7-day overnight White Water Rafting and Sky Diving Trip*
• 3-day overnight Rock Climbing and Rappelling Trip
• 3-day overnight Survival Trek
• Family Dynamics Workshops
• 6-day Closing Exercise (focusing on sustained growth and rebuilding family ties)
• Approximately 100 hours of group and individual process work

*Sky Diving will be contingent upon the team demonstrating the ability to work together and stay focused under extreme circumstances. Skydivers must be 16 years or older.

The summer program will begin with a 6-day camping trip in the Rocky Mountains and will continue throughout the summer. During the Rocky Mountain trip participants (The Extreme Team) will discuss personal assets and defects and establish measurable long and short-term goals. During that time, we will also be discussing issues related to a personal commitment, community involvement, teamwork, and commitment to a Higher Power. From that point forward, the Extreme Team will be challenged to follow through with their commitments in the face of difficult circumstances and perceived risk.

As the level of intensity increases, pattern of self-defeating behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes come to the surface. This is where the process work comes into play; these are the behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes that participants have vowed to conquer.  Extreme Team participants quickly realize that they must get down to the nuts and bolts of character building if they are to achieve their objectives.  Emotionally reactive behaviors are quickly replaced by principle-based behaviors.  The "I can't" thinking becomes the "I can" thinking.

Finally, through the development of self-strengthening thoughts and behaviors, as well as the development of a consistent pattern of success, Extreme Team participants will experience a dramatic change in attitude. Self-centered, self-serving, disrespectful attitudes are no longer needed.  Self-esteem begins to take hold. New attitudes of respect (for self, others, and their Higher Power), gratitude, and humility begin to surface and take hold.  Participants are now equipped to take on the challenge of high-risk elements such as R.O.P.E.S., rock climbing, and rappelling.

It is important to remember that, in addition to facing these challenges for themselves, each participant is also assisting others in reaching similar objectives.  Extreme Team members develop empathy and understanding.  They encourage one another. An individual victory becomes a Team Victory.

Clearly, comprehensive adventure oriented experiences can be highly impactful for those involved. However, without a spiritual foundation they lack meaning and substance.  Prayer, reflection, journaling, and reading of 12-step based material will be a regular part of the program.  Team members will be encouraged, even required to participate in discussions related to "God as they understand Him". Moreover, they will be asked to discuss these matters with their parents and other family members.  We will encourage participants to know what they believe and why they believe it, but we will never tell them what they should believe.  Guidance, in regard to the religious expression of spirituality, is the responsibility of the parents; therefore, we will be encouraging parents to share openly and freely with their teens.

The summer activities ends with a multi-family camping trip and experiential exercises.  During this time, team members will have the opportunity to discuss their achievements with their parents, renew their commitments to their family, and share their future goals with their family and Extreme Team members.  You won't want to miss this powerful experience.