Through outdoor activities like hiking, camping, rock climbing, and canoeing – all while being supported by trained therapists – they discover new strengths within themselves that help them break free from those patterns. Finally – but perhaps most importantly – we model empathy ourselves as staff members at Trails Carolina every day. We listen actively when our students speak; validate their emotions even if we don’t agree with them; offer guidance without imposing solutions upon them; celebrate successes big or small along the way; and show compassion when they struggle. Empathy is not just a buzzword at Trails Carolina. It’s the foundation of our philosophy, and we believe it’s essential for growth and healing.
By teaching empathy through experiential learning in nature, challenging assumptions, creating safe spaces to share stories, and modeling empathetic behavior ourselves as staff members every day – we help troubled teens develop the skills they need to succeed in life.” “Building resilience is a crucial aspect of personal growth and development, especially for young people who are facing various challenges in their lives. At Trails Carolina, an outdoor therapeutic program for troubled teens, building resilience is at the core of their approach to helping adolescents overcome emotional and behavioral issues. Trails Carolina provides a unique environment where teenagers can learn important life skills while being surrounded by nature. The program offers a range of activities such as hiking, camping, rock climbing, and other outdoor adventures that challenge participants physically and mentally.
These experiences help build self-confidence and teach valuable problem-solving skills that can be applied to real-life situations. However, building resilience is not always easy. Many teenagers come to Trails Carolina with deep-seated emotional issues that have been brewing for years. They may struggle with anxiety or depression or have experienced trauma in their pasts. Overcoming these obstacles requires patience, understanding, and support from the staff members at Trails Carolina. One of the biggest challenges faced by both staff members and participants at Trails Carolina is learning how to communicate effectively with one another. Many teenagers who come into the program have difficulty expressing themselves verbally or may feel uncomfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings with others.