During this stage students learn to use a pioneer hand-cart. The hand cart is used to move their supplies and equipment. Use of the handcart requires consistent teamwork, communication, cooperation and perseverance. Students must stop and solve problems in order to get from one camp site to another. A great deal of emotion, frustration and interpersonal problems begin to surface during the advanced stage.
Students soon begin to re-create and demonstrate their pattern of family interactions.
Problem behaviors at home surface and become clear. Staff continue to work with students and their problem behaviors directly. Students also focus more intently on academics and wilderness studies while participating in more thoughtful evaluations of their self-destructive behaviors and attitudes. During this time they will have an opportunity to apply all of the hard and soft skills they have learned. Graduation Students graduate from the program when they have consistently demonstrated the ability to control their impulses, temper their anger, work well with others, complete tasks, behave well and mellow their attitudes.