Pilot lake wilderness camp. Crane Lake Discovery Camp: Transforming Lives Through Wilderness Therapy

How does Crane Lake Discovery Camp use wilderness therapy to help troubled youth. What is the history and philosophy behind this unique camp in the Muskokas. How has the camp evolved since its founding in 2004.

The Origins and Evolution of Crane Lake Discovery Camp

Crane Lake Discovery Camp, nestled in the picturesque Muskokas of Ontario, Canada, has been a beacon of hope for troubled youth since its inception in 2004. Founded as a boys’ camp, it has steadily grown and developed, touching the lives of over 250 young men in its relatively short history.

The camp’s approach is rooted in wilderness therapy, a methodology pioneered by Campbell Loughmiller. This unique program combines the challenges of outdoor living with therapeutic interventions, helping participants develop crucial life skills, confidence, and resilience.

From Summer Program to Year-Round Haven

Initially operating as a summer program, Crane Lake Discovery Camp has ambitious plans for expansion. In 2020, the camp began upgrading its infrastructure to withstand the harsh Muskoka winters, paving the way for year-round operations. Following a successful winter pilot program in 2022-2023, the camp is poised to welcome its first group of year-round campers in 2023.

The camp’s vision extends far into the future, with a goal of hosting 40 boys year-round by 2030. This expansion reflects the camp’s commitment to providing continuous support and guidance to youth who need more than a summer program can offer.

The Philosophy of Wilderness Therapy: Campbell Loughmiller’s Legacy

At the heart of Crane Lake Discovery Camp’s approach lies the philosophy of Campbell Loughmiller, a pioneer in therapeutic wilderness camping. Loughmiller, affectionately known as “Chief Lock,” began his groundbreaking work with troubled youth in the 1940s.

Key Principles of Loughmiller’s Approach

• Group living in wilderness settings
• Mentoring from counselors
• Experiential education
• Awakening natural curiosity
• Building confidence through challenges

Loughmiller discovered that when boys lived as a group in the wilderness, guided by mentoring counselors, they made significant progress in overcoming personal challenges. This group dynamic allowed participants to gain confidence and develop effective life navigation skills.

As an avid naturalist, Loughmiller seamlessly incorporated experiential education into his programs. He firmly believed in every child’s innate desire to learn and demonstrated how to spark this natural curiosity in youth.

The Lasting Impact of Loughmiller’s Work

Loughmiller’s experiences and insights are documented in his books, “Wilderness Way” and “Kids in Trouble.” While some of his language may now be considered dated, the core methodology remains highly effective. His approach has inspired the creation of numerous camps worldwide, leading to the formation of the Wilderness Road Therapeutic Camping Association.

The Birth of a Dream: Ron Weber’s Vision

Crane Lake Discovery Camp owes its existence to the vision and determination of its founder and Executive Director, Ron Weber. Weber’s journey towards establishing the camp is a testament to the transformative power of wilderness therapy.

Ron Weber’s Path to Crane Lake

1. First exposure to therapeutic wilderness camping at age 19 (Fair Play Camp School, South Carolina)
2. Volunteer counselor at Fair Play Camp School in 1991
3. Formulation of the dream to establish a similar camp in Ontario
4. Years of preparation working in various fields
5. Group Work Supervisor at Bald Eagle Boys Camp, Pennsylvania (2000-2002)
6. Return to Ontario and establishment of Crane Lake Discovery Camp (2004)

Weber’s experience at Fair Play Camp School was life-changing, inspiring him to bring the benefits of wilderness therapy to at-risk youth in his home province of Ontario. His time at Bald Eagle Boys Camp provided him with the necessary skills and training to turn his vision into reality.

The Crane Lake Property: A Serendipitous Find

The story of how Crane Lake Discovery Camp found its home is one of fortuitous connections and shared visions. The property, originally owned by Ben and Artrude Doell, had been maintained as a camp for decades before becoming the site of Weber’s dream.

From Dam Project to Dream Realization

Ben Doell, an engineer with the Ministry of Natural Resources, first encountered the Crane Lake property while rebuilding a dam in the area. Captivated by its beauty and potential, he and his wife Artrude purchased the property in 1960, nurturing a dream of it becoming a place for Christian ministry.

In 2000, Ron Weber learned about the property through a friend. Two years later, as his term at Bald Eagle Boys Camp was coming to an end, Weber reached out to Ben Doell to discuss his vision for an Ontario camp similar to Bald Eagle. Doell invited Weber to submit a proposal for purchasing the property.

In the fall of 2003, Weber and the newly formed board of Crane Lake Discovery Camp presented their proposal to the Doells. Sharing the group’s vision, Ben and Artrude offered very favorable conditions, making the purchase possible. In 2004, the property was officially sold to Crane Lake Discovery Camp, marking the beginning of a new chapter in wilderness therapy in Ontario.

The Impact of Crane Lake Discovery Camp

Since its founding, Crane Lake Discovery Camp has made a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of boys. The camp’s approach, combining wilderness living with therapeutic interventions, has proven effective in helping participants overcome personal challenges and develop crucial life skills.

Measurable Outcomes

• Improved social skills and ability to get along with others
• Enhanced work ethic and perseverance
• Increased goal-setting and achievement capabilities
• Greater self-confidence and self-esteem
• Improved problem-solving and decision-making skills

Participants leave the camp better equipped to face life’s challenges, with many reporting long-lasting positive changes in their behavior and outlook. The camp’s success stories serve as a testament to the effectiveness of the wilderness therapy approach.

The Future of Crane Lake Discovery Camp

As Crane Lake Discovery Camp looks to the future, it stands poised for significant growth and expansion. The transition from a summer-only program to a year-round facility marks a major milestone in the camp’s evolution.

Key Goals and Initiatives

• Expansion to accommodate 40 boys year-round by 2030
• Continued infrastructure upgrades to support year-round operations
• Potential development of programs for different age groups or specific needs
• Ongoing staff training and development to maintain high-quality care
• Possible research partnerships to further validate and improve wilderness therapy techniques

The camp’s commitment to growth is driven by the recognition that many boys need more intensive, long-term support than a summer program can provide. By offering year-round care, Crane Lake Discovery Camp aims to create a more profound and lasting impact on the lives of troubled youth.

The Role of Nature in Healing and Growth

Central to the philosophy of Crane Lake Discovery Camp is the belief in the healing power of nature. The wilderness setting plays a crucial role in the therapeutic process, offering unique opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery.

Benefits of the Wilderness Environment

• Removal from everyday distractions and negative influences
• Natural consequences for actions, promoting responsibility
• Physical challenges that build resilience and self-reliance
• Opportunities for quiet reflection and introspection
• Exposure to natural beauty, fostering appreciation and mindfulness

The Muskoka wilderness provides a rich backdrop for the camp’s activities, offering diverse landscapes and ecosystems for exploration and learning. From dense forests to serene lakes, the natural environment becomes a powerful tool in the therapeutic process.

Integrating Nature into Therapy

Crane Lake Discovery Camp’s programs are designed to maximize the therapeutic potential of the natural environment. Activities such as hiking, canoeing, and wilderness survival skills not only teach practical abilities but also serve as metaphors for life challenges and personal growth.

The camp’s approach encourages participants to develop a deep connection with nature, fostering a sense of stewardship and environmental awareness. This connection often translates into improved mental health and a more balanced perspective on life’s challenges.

The Importance of Group Dynamics in Wilderness Therapy

At Crane Lake Discovery Camp, the group living experience is a fundamental aspect of the therapeutic process. Living and working together in the wilderness creates a unique social environment that promotes personal growth and development.

Key Aspects of Group Dynamics

• Shared responsibilities and challenges
• Peer support and accountability
• Opportunities for leadership and followership
• Conflict resolution in a controlled environment
• Development of empathy and social skills

The camp’s group-based approach helps participants learn to navigate complex social situations, develop empathy, and understand the importance of teamwork. These skills are crucial for success in family, school, and community settings.

The Role of Counselors

Counselors at Crane Lake Discovery Camp play a vital role in facilitating positive group dynamics. They serve as mentors, role models, and facilitators, guiding participants through challenges and helping them process their experiences.

The relationship between counselors and campers is carefully cultivated to provide a balance of support and challenge. This dynamic allows participants to develop trust, learn from positive adult role models, and gain the confidence to tackle personal and interpersonal challenges.

Addressing Specific Challenges: Tailored Interventions

While Crane Lake Discovery Camp operates on a group model, it recognizes that each participant comes with unique challenges and needs. The camp’s approach allows for tailored interventions within the broader group context.

Common Issues Addressed

• Behavioral problems
• Emotional regulation difficulties
• Academic struggles
• Family relationship issues
• Substance abuse concerns
• Low self-esteem and confidence

The camp’s staff are trained to identify and address these issues through a combination of individual counseling, group activities, and therapeutic interventions integrated into daily camp life.

Personalized Goal Setting

Each participant at Crane Lake Discovery Camp works with staff to develop personalized goals for their time at camp. These goals are regularly reviewed and adjusted, providing a sense of purpose and direction for the therapeutic process.

The achievement of these goals, both small and large, contributes to building self-esteem and confidence. Participants learn to recognize their own progress and develop a sense of agency in their personal growth journey.

The Role of Family in the Healing Process

While Crane Lake Discovery Camp provides an immersive wilderness experience, it recognizes the crucial role that families play in the long-term success of participants. The camp works to involve families in the therapeutic process, even from a distance.

Family Involvement Strategies

• Regular updates on participant progress
• Family therapy sessions (when possible)
• Parent education programs
• Guidance for post-camp transition
• Family wilderness experiences (planned for future implementation)

By involving families in the process, the camp aims to create a supportive environment for participants to return to after their time at camp. This approach helps to reinforce and sustain the positive changes made during the program.

Preparing for Re-Integration

As participants near the end of their time at Crane Lake Discovery Camp, there is an increased focus on preparing for re-integration into home and community life. This process involves working with both the participant and their family to develop strategies for maintaining progress and navigating potential challenges.

The camp’s staff provide guidance on how to apply the skills learned at camp to everyday situations, helping to ensure a smoother transition and long-term success.

Research and Continuous Improvement

Crane Lake Discovery Camp is committed to ongoing research and evaluation to ensure the effectiveness of its programs and to contribute to the broader field of wilderness therapy. The camp collaborates with academic institutions and industry associations to stay at the forefront of best practices in youth intervention.

Areas of Research Focus

• Long-term outcomes for participants
• Effectiveness of specific therapeutic techniques
• Impact of duration (summer program vs. year-round) on outcomes
• Role of nature exposure in mental health improvement
• Comparative studies with other intervention methods

By engaging in rigorous research and evaluation, Crane Lake Discovery Camp continually refines its approach, ensuring that it provides the most effective support possible for troubled youth.

Staff Training and Development

The camp invests heavily in staff training and development, recognizing that the quality of its personnel is crucial to the success of its programs. Regular training sessions, workshops, and professional development opportunities ensure that staff are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills in wilderness therapy and youth intervention.

This commitment to staff development not only enhances the quality of care provided to participants but also contributes to the growth of the wilderness therapy field as a whole.

Community Partnerships and Outreach

Crane Lake Discovery Camp recognizes the importance of strong community partnerships in supporting its mission. The camp actively engages with local communities, schools, and youth organizations to create a network of support for troubled youth.

Types of Partnerships

• Referral relationships with schools and youth services
• Collaborations with mental health professionals
• Partnerships with outdoor education programs
• Engagement with local indigenous communities
• Support from local businesses and philanthropic organizations

These partnerships not only help in identifying youth who could benefit from the camp’s programs but also provide additional resources and support for participants before, during, and after their time at camp.

Community Education and Awareness

Crane Lake Discovery Camp is committed to raising awareness about the benefits of wilderness therapy and the challenges faced by troubled youth. The camp engages in community outreach through presentations, workshops, and participation in local events.

By educating the broader community about its work, the camp aims to foster a more supportive environment for at-risk youth and promote understanding of alternative approaches to youth intervention.

Our Story-Crane Lake Discovery Camp

About the camp

Crane Lake Discovery Camp was founded in 2004 as a boy’s camp in the Muskokas, using the wilderness therapy methodology developed by Campbell Loughmiller.

Since the first summer sessions were run in 2005, the program has developed and grown. Over 250 boys have come through our doors since the early days, continuing the legacy of Ben and Artrude Doell. Lives have been changed, boys leaving camp more able to get along with others, work hard, and accomplish their goals.

As effective as the summer program has been, our founder Ron Weber always knew there were boys slipping through the cracks, who needed more than what a summer program could provide. So in 2020, we began the work of upgrading our infrastructure to be able to withstand a Muskoka winter in all its beauty and ruggedness.

Our successful Winter Pilot in 2022-2023 has tested all our buildings and equipment. We are ready and excited to expand our program.

Our goal is to host 40 boys year-round by 2030. We will welcome our first group of year-round campers in 2023.

Campbell Loughmiller was an early pioneer in the development of therapeutic wilderness camping. His philosophy became the foundation for Crane Lake Discovery Camp and other camps around the world.

“Chief Lock”, as he was known, began experimenting with wilderness camping in helping troubled youth in the 1940’s, with the help of Buford McKenzie and the financial backing of the Salesman Club of Dallas.

Loughmiller discovered that boys living as a group in the wilderness, with the mentoring of counsellors, made huge strides in overcoming personal problems. Through group work, boys gained confidence and learned ways of navigating life that helped them be successful.

Loughmiller was also an avid naturalist. He naturally incorporated experiential education into the program, insisting that all boys want to learn, and modeling how to awaken youth’s natural curiosity. He wrote about his experiences in his books, Wilderness Way and Kids in Trouble. Though his language is now dated, his methodology remains effective.

Many camps were founded on this philosophy. In recent years, these camps formed an association of camps called the Wilderness Road Therapeutic Camping Association.

Ben Doell was an engineer with the Ministry of Natural Resources. While rebuilding the dam at Crane Lake, he fell in love with the property, dreaming it could become a place of Christian ministry. He and his wife Artrude bought it in 1960, maintaining zoning as a camp throughout the decades that followed.

In 2000, just prior to working at Bald Eagle Boys Camp, Ron Weber heard about the property from a friend and together they went to visit Crane Lake. In 2002, nearing the end of his term at Bald Eagle, Ron called Ben to talk about his growing conviction that Ontario needed a camp like Bald Eagle. Ben invited him to submit a proposal to purchase the property.

In the fall of 2003, Ron and the fledgling board of Crane Lake Discovery Camp presented their proposal to Ben and Artrude. Sharing the group’s vision, they gave them very favourable conditions, without which the purchase could not have been possible. In 2004, the property was sold to Crane Lake Discovery Camp.

A dream was planted

Crane Lake Discovery Camp’s founder and Executive Director, Ron Weber, was first exposed to therapeutic wilderness camping at the age of 19 at Fair Play Camp School in South Carolina. Two years later, in 1991, he joined the camp as a volunteer counsellor. During a staff training session, counsellors were asked to write out a dream for their lives. Ron shared his vision of a camp similar to Fair Play in his home province of Ontario. Therapeutic wilderness camping had changed his life, and he saw its impact on campers. He felt strongly that he needed to share what he had learned with at-risk youths in Ontario.

Preparation years

After completing his term at Fair Play, Ron returned to Ontario, where he worked on the family farm, in construction, and in sales for a lumber company for several years. He met his wife Cindy, who grew up helping at-risk boys and shared his dream of camp work. Her family had run group homes for boys, and shared his vision.

Group Work Supervisor at Bald Eagle

In 2000, Ron, Cindy, and their children moved to Bald Eagle Boys Camp in Pennsylvania, where Ron worked as the Group Work Supervisor for two years. His term at Bald Eagle was foundational, giving him the skills and training he needed to open a camp in Ontario. In the early part of his term, he toured the property at Crane Lake.

Coming home to Ontario

In 2002, they settled into their home in Linwood, Ontario. Ron once again returned to visit Ben Doell, camping with his family on the property. Ron talked about his vision of an Ontario camp for boys with family, friends, and anyone else who would listen. Together, they began the non-profit and submitted a proposal to Ben. Ben resonated with their vision and gave them very favourable terms. The property was transferred to the fledgling charity in 2004.

In the fall of 2004, Ron organized two canoe trips with teenaged boys to explore the property and its surroundings. In 2005, Ron and the developing Crane Lake team ran the first summer sessions with campers from a group home; that year the Voyagers camp site was built.

Throughout the next years, camp was run during summer months, with Ron and Cindy and other staff living at camp during the summer and returning to winter homes and jobs during the off-season.

Ron and Cindy were joined by Tom and Rita Weber for many years, and Ron and Tom formed a construction company to fund their summer work. Together both couples and their families spent many summers on the property, running the program and forming a strong foundation for the future of camp.

Many volunteers and staff also lived and worked at camp, contributing skills in building, cooking, mentoring, leadership, painting, drywalling, tree stewardship, and bridge-building, among other things.

Crane Lake Discovery Camp, which is a member of the Wilderness Road Therapeutic Camping Association, is the first camp of its kind in Canada. But unlike the other camps, which run a year-round program, it only ran a summer program.

What would it take to go the next step?

The WRTCA is an association of camps that incorporate the therapeutic wilderness camping philosophy developed by Campbell Loughmiller and Buford McKenzie. This association organizes an annual meeting for members. They do not have a website at this time.

Crane Lake Discovery Camp is the only member camp in Canada.

Member camps include:

• Fair Play Camp School (boys)

• Bald Eagle Boys Camp (boys)

• Wilderness Way Girls Camp (girls)

• Gator Wilderness Camp School (boys)

• Ohio Boys Camp (boys)

• Cameron Boys Camp (boys)

• Camp Duncan (girls)

• Comeragh Wilderness Camp

In 2020, the pandemic disrupted the summer program. As the mental health crisis deepened for youth, Ron and the board turned their attention to making year-round camp a reality.

A Ten-Year Plan was created, mapping out the buildings, infrastructure, and other improvements needed to handle the Muskoka winter. The goal? To open our doors for year-round camp in 2023, and to increase that capacity to 40 campers by 2030.

What needed to be done?

Utilities needed to be upgraded to provide stable hydro, heat, internet, and clean water. A new Shower House needed to be built (the old one was undersized and uninsulated). The roads needed to be upgraded to handle winter maintenance.

With a huge team of dedicated volunteers, we set to work.

Every fall in the history of Crane Lake Discovery Camp, buildings were closed and water lines filled with antifreeze before staff moved south. In 2022, for the first time, three families stayed over the winter to test the buildings and infrastructure.

Ron & Cindy Weber, Kristen & Nick Freeman, and Jen & Nate Weber moved up to camp with an assortment of four young children and pregnancies. Could they keep buildings warm, with fresh water, hydro, and internet? Could they keep the road safely open for all the children?

Though not without challenges, the Winter Pilot was successful. A historic snowfall over Christmas 2022 tested the limits of snow clearing but they were able to keep the road open. Buildings were warm, and even with hydro outages, backup generators flipped on flawlessly. At the Campsite, sleeping tents were warm and cozy with insulation and wood stoves.

In September 2023, we will welcome our first group of boys. As they settle into the program, they will be able to take all the time they need to conquer their goals.

We are so excited to be able to welcome them. Our program will run as it always has, with the solid principles of Group Work, Education, Pacing, Wilderness, and Faith.

Now, however, they won’t have to go home when the summer ends. Instead, they can stay, practicing new skills and gaining confidence that their new habits will last a lifetime.

Folsom Lake SRA

Notices

Folsom Lake SRA Boat Ramp Status As Of 5/22/2023

Folsom Lake SRA Closed Boat Launch Areas
Granite Bay Low Water: CLOSED
Granite Bay Stage 1: CLOSED
Granite Bay Stage 2: CLOSED
Granite Bay Stage 3: CLOSED

Folsom Lake SRA Open Boat Launch Areas
Folsom Point: OPEN
Browns Ravine: OPEN
Granite Bay Stage 4: OPEN
Rattlesnake Bar: OPEN
Nimbus Flat: OPEN
Black Miners Bar: OPEN
Peninsula South: OPEN
Peninsula North: OPEN
Willow Creek: OPEN

Located at the base of the Sierra foothills, the lake and recreation area offers opportunities for hiking, biking, running, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, water-skiing and boating. Fishing offers trout, catfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, or perch. Visitors can also see the Folsom Powerhouse (once called “the greatest operative electrical plant on the American continent”), which from 1885 to 1952 produced 11,000 volts of electricity for Sacramento residents. For cyclists, there is a 32-mile long bicycle path that connects Folsom Lake with many Sacramento County parks before reaching Old Sacramento. The park also includes Lake Natoma, downstream from Folsom Lake, which is popular for crew races, sailing, kayaking and other aquatic sports.

Regular day use hours apply to all areas except the following:

1. Campgrounds
2. Overnight moorings for registered boat campers
3. Folsom Lake Marina at Brown’s Ravine

Lake Natoma is primarily managed for non-motorized and slow-speed aquatic recreation such as rowing, paddling, etc. There is a 5-mph speed limit enforced on the entire lake.

The following units are closed to vehicles until further notice:

• Nimbus Shoals

For any and all questions and the most current information, please contact the park at (916) 988-0205

Camping is available at Beals Point year-round and at Peninsula Campground beginning April 1, through the summer (Peninsula Campground closes October 1). Additional information about Camping can be found here or by calling (800) 444-7275.

Location
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area is located in the Sierra-Nevada foothills about 25 miles east of Sacramento, can be reached via either Highway 50 or I-80. Both Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma have many access points and entrances. The administrative offices are located at the base of Folsom Dam at the corner.

Park Entrances
The park has multiple entrances most of which are fairly easily accessed by either Interstate 80 to Douglas Blvd.(east), or Highway 50 to Hazel Ave., or Folsom Blvd., (north).

Directions to the Peninsula campground:
80 east Reno
From Hwy 80 take the Elm St. exit out of the city of Auburn, at the 1st light make a left, at your very next light you will make another left that is High St.  High St turns  into Hwy 49 you will travel on Hwy 49 for 10 miles towards the city of Cool. You will enter a small town called Pilot Hill from that small town you will turn right on Rattlesnake Bar Rd. that road will dead end into the campground in 9 miles.

Hwy 50 S.Lake Tahoe
From Hwy 50 you will take the El Dorado Hills Blvd. exit go north on El Dorado hills for about 10 miles (at some point the road changes names to Salmon Falls Rd.) you will enter the small town of Pilot Hill you will make a left on Rattlesnake Bar Rd. which dead ends onto the campground in 9 miles.

Directions to the Beals Point campground:
80 east Reno
From Hwy 80 you will take the Douglas Blvd. exit out of the city of Roseville. Go east on Douglas for about 6 miles make a right on Auburn-Folsom Rd. go about 2½ miles until you come to a stop light the sign will say Beals Point and you make a left.

Hwy 50 S. Lake Tahoe
Take the Folsom Blvd. exit go north on Folsom for about 7 miles (the road will change names to Folsom- Auburn) you will come to a stop light, the sign will say Beals Point and you make a right.

Transportation to the Park
A variety of transportation methods are available to park visitors at Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma. With its urban setting and the accessibility of the parks entrances, local bus services can be used reach Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma. Private vehicles as well as bicycles, horseback, and foot travel are the most frequently used methods of park entry.

Visit Recommendations

The primary recreation season coincides with the spring and summer months when temperatures are in the 80s, 90s and 100s.

Visitation is highest from April through September. In the spring months when school is still in session, evenings and weekends are the times of highest lake activity.

Climate, Recommended Clothing

Summers at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area are generally hot and dry. Dress lightly for high temperatures but be careful of over exposure to the sun.

Winters can be very cold with lengthy periods of central valley fog conditions. Dress in layers as the damp can bring on a penetrating chill.

Spring and Fall offer warm days and cooler evenings and nights. Dress in layers.

Good walking shoes are a must when exploring any of the park trails. Shoes or sandals are recommended on the lake’s beaches and boat ramp areas.

Granite Bay and Black Miners Bar Group Picnic Sites

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area offers reservable group picnic sites at two park entrances. 

Granite Bay Main Beach offers two reservable group picnic sites with easy access to Folsom Lake from the Granite Bay Main Beach parking area.  The group picnic sites are available year-round during normal park hours.  Each site can accommodate up to 100 people and include eleven picnic tables, a large BBQ station, adjacent to flush toilets and water faucets.

Black Miners Bar offers two reservable group picnic sites at the newly renovated day use area with easy access to Lake Natoma from the Black Miners Bar Day use parking area.   The group sites are available year-round during normal park hours.  Each site can accommodate up to 50 people and includes six picnic tables and a large prep/buffet table, shade ramada, a large BBQ station, trash and recycle containers and is adjacent to flush toilets. 

All park day use fees apply.  Reservations can be made 90 days in advance at our Folsom Sector Office at 7755 Folsom-Auburn Rd Folsom, CA 95630 or by calling (916) 988-0205.

Granite Bay Group Picnic Reservation Application

Black Miners Bar Group Picnic Reservation Application

Shparo Camp: Mysterious Island

In 2013, we successfully tested the Little Heroes program. An amazing case – the pilot project overtook the veteran programs in popularity!

It turns out that boys and girls from 8 to 12 years old are bolder and more active than many older teenagers! They really enjoyed traveling and the vast majority want to be on the “Big Adventure” again! We cannot greatly complicate the program for “kids”, but diversifying it is easy! Welcome to Mysterious island!

Main adventures of the program:

• no, creating a map of the island, preparing dinner on your own, trying to find out if there are natives on the island .
• “Land on the horizon” – a multi-day trip on catamarans, attempts to discover new lands of the Mergub Lake, go fishing, set up a tent, light a fire, discuss the most interesting events of the past day by the fire.
• “Visiting Captain Nemo” – an amazing adventure quest for those who have already mastered the basics of survival on a desert island and want to put all their knowledge into practice – we will build a hut, weave a rope, look for treasure using an encrypted map.

Trainings and master classes:

• “Doctor Nebolit” – study of the tourist’s first aid kit, proper bandaging of the hand, use of iodine, brilliant green.
• “Forest ABC” – we learn to dress properly, select equipment, provide ourselves with food and warmth, a roof over our heads.
• “Feeling of the elbow” – classes on rope courses, determining the leader, team building.
• “Four paws, the fifth tail” – we will communicate with amazing husky dogs, choose a friend for ourselves, take a walk with him.
• “Catamaran and I” – we will manage a small vessel, learn rowing.
• “Photo hunting” – training in creating a photo report, creating a final presentation.
• “In three pines” – orientation on the ground, azimuth, compass.
• “Velo-business” – we are engaged in an equipped velodrome.
• “By the fireplace” – conversations and communication.

Each participant is expected sports events in volleyball, football, table tennis, badminton, pioneer ball, checkers, chess, basketball, as well as “Merry Starts”.

Cultural and leisure events are held : “Pancake show”, presentation of teams, culinary duel, “Adventure trail”, “Starting”, “Catamaran-FM”, watching films.

All program participants will be able to:

• get acquainted with Jules Verne’s novel, act as its characters;
• light a fire, cook food, set up a tent;
• become more independent, responsible and mature;
• experience all the benefits of outdoor recreation, find out what mutual assistance and true friendship mean;
• learn to row, manage a catamaran;
• make friends with husky dogs, learn how to care for them;
• temper character and body;
• sit with friends, talk about important topics;
• spend more than two hundred hours outdoors;
• get a charge of vivacity and good mood!

Location: Republic of Karelia, Muezersky district, the shore of the picturesque Mergub Lake.

Accommodation: Children live in a heated wooden cottage and sleep in sleeping bags. Children receive all the necessary equipment, all conditions are provided.

Meals: Tasty and balanced 5 meals a day (with evening tea). We eat in the dining room, while camping we cook food on a fire.

Safety: Children are divided into mini-groups of 10 people, the ratio of adults to children is 1 to 5, all conditions for a safe and healthy holiday are provided. All classes are conducted under the supervision of instructors.

Organizer: Club “Adventure” Dmitry and Matvey Shparo

Contacts:

• Camp address: Karelia, Muezersky district, pos. Tiksha, Mergub Lake
• Sales office address: Moscow, st. Rusakovskaya, 5
• Sales office phone: +7 (495) 960-2128

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Also recommended

Expensive camps where children died: how teenagers are re-educated in the USA

as well as “wildlife therapy” programs. The latter are mostly located in Utah, and those who pass them call themselves “survivors”.

In 2020, socialite and hotel heiress Paris Hilton spoke for the first time about the abuse she experienced at age 16 at a boarding school for “difficult” teenagers. In the documentary This Is Paris, she recounted her experience of undergoing wilderness therapy in the Utah desert and subsequent life in a boarding school where she was humiliated, abused, strangled, beaten, drugged with unknown pills, deprived of sleep, kept in isolation, and forced to shower mentor. After being recognized as a celebrity, many Americans began to share similar stories on social networks and the media, urging the authorities to increase oversight of such rehabilitation programs, which seem to promise to improve the behavior and discipline of teenagers and even “cure” them from mental disorders, eating problems and addictions.

“Wild Therapy” in the Wild

Promotional brochures for popular boarding schools for teens with difficult behavior advertise that survival in the wilderness will teach children self-reliance, make them strong, courageous and resilient – both physically and mentally. According to the description, during daylight hours, children go through special routes there, learn useful survival skills in the wild and work with a psychotherapist, and at night they have dinner and set up a tent camp. Upon completion of such a trip, adolescents are transferred for several weeks or months to a hospital in a boarding school, where therapy continues.

At the same time, during the entire rehabilitation course, parents cannot contact the child – they learn all the news only from the curators of the program.

Wildlife therapy can last from six weeks to three months or more.

The cost of participation in the program is quite high – from 500 to 750 dollars a day. Most parents resort to this therapy after trying more common methods: boarding schools often end up with teenagers who are already registered with the police and psychiatric clinics. While many parents take out loans to send their child to rehab, there are government funding programs for needy families that cover some or all of the costs.

Unfortunately, in reality, many of these programs do not match the stated descriptions. There are many cases when children were deprived of food, water, hygiene items, forbidden to use the toilet, change clothes and wash, humiliated, beaten and organized collective trials of the guilty.

In an interview with the BBC ( resource blocked by Roskomnadzor ), Dr. Kate Truitt, a clinical psychologist and neuroscientist who has worked with those who have undergone wildlife therapy, said that the experience of being there is comparable to what former cult members and prisoners of war go through: Many survivors have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep problems, trust, and anxiety. According to the therapist, in the vast majority of cases, the passage of wildlife therapy only aggravated the condition of adolescents, strengthened addictions, and could even push them to suicidal behavior.

How it all began

In the 1960s, several students at Brigham Young Mormon University began going on mini-hikes through the deserts and mountains of Utah, where they learned how to survive in the wilderness. Teachers soon noticed that these students had improved academic performance and discipline. Then the university administration began to offer lagging students to go on a hike for a month to get a chance to re-enroll – this is how the course called “Youth Leadership through Outdoor Survival” was born.

By the 1970s, youth treatment programs in Utah had expanded beyond university walking. A boarding school for troubled teenagers, Provo Canyon, opened in the state, where Paris Hilton stayed for 11 months in 1997. This school remains one of the most famous schools of this type to this day.

It’s important to note that Utah is known as the “parental rights state” because children under 18 can’t even use social media without parental consent. Also, local parents have the full right to sign any documents for the child and make medical decisions on behalf of their children. But while Utah is home to most wildlife therapy programs, there are similar organizations in other states, such as California and Arizona.

Parents often enroll children aged 12-17 in wildlife therapy programs without their knowledge and even organize abductions

They enter into an agreement with a special company that provides escort services (the cost varies from 5 to 8 thousand dollars, depending on the distance, where you need to take the child away), and at night people break into the teenager’s room and take him away in an unknown direction.

Quite often, the “kidnappers” use aggressive tactics: they beat teenagers, handcuff them, tie them up with cable wires. The carriers explain this strategy by saying that they need to disorient the obstinate teenager and minimize the risk of confrontation and flight.

As Wildlife Therapy grew in popularity, allegations of psychological, physical, and sexualized abuse and the use of dubious medications in programs began to surface. Soon, information about the tragic deaths of children began to appear.

In 1990, Kristen C., a 16-year-old participant in the program, died of heat stroke three days after arriving at the boarding school. In 2000, 15-year-old William Edward L. died from a head injury, in 2022, 14-year-old Jan A. died of hyperthermia, and 17-year-old Charles M. from suffocation; in 2005, 14-year-old Anthony H. died while serving his sentence in a boot camp, in 2007, the body of 15-year-old Caleb D. was found in a sleeping bag soaked in feces and urine, in 2011, 17-year-old Daniel W. died, in 2016 year – 19-year-old Lane L., who tried to escape from the treatment center.

What’s Happening Now

In October 2007 and April 2008, the United States Government Accountability Office reviewed reports of widespread and systematic abuse in adolescent treatment facilities. In connection with the hearing, they released a report on the wildlife therapy industry that examined thousands of allegations of abuse. According to the report, there are reasons to believe that since 19From 1990 to 2007, more than 100 teenagers died while undergoing wildlife therapy due to incompetent staff.

In the same year, some states tightened their rules for obtaining accreditation and licensing programs and schools for “troubled” teenagers, and the Federal Bureau of Land Management issued a memorandum prohibiting the use of public land in states that did not have licensing or regulatory processes . However, human rights activists demanded more and in 2008 presented a bill that was supposed to prevent child abuse in boarding schools. This bill was introduced six more times, but each time the officials were not sufficiently interested. The law was considered only in 2021, after the speech of Paris Hilton in the US Congress.

As a result, the states of Utah, California, Oregon, Montana, and Missouri passed laws to increase oversight of inpatient care programs for young people. But each state has introduced its own regulatory measures, which are very different from each other.

Activists say that until there is a federal law, owners of programs and schools accused of child abuse can cross state lines and reopen, rebrand and continue to make a profit. So the non-profit organization Breaking Code Silence, which is partnering with Paris Hilton to end child abuse in institutions, is next aiming to pass a federal law and create a commission within the Justice Department to investigate programs to help troubled teens.