Recently CALO students and staff returned from a three day camping trip here on the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.  The focus of our trip was communication.  As the students paddled from campsite to campsite on the lake they participated in different activities that required them to dig deep and utilize the communication skills they have been working on over the last few months. 

One particular challenge that went surprisingly well was the CALO cook- off.  Groups of four or five students were assigned to prepare, cook and serve different meals to their community.  It was entertaining to watch as students worked together to serve one another.  One meal that was particularly delicious was the fried catfish.  Armed with little chunks of hot dogs students fished late into the night when the big catfish come out.  Our students were able to catch enough fish to fry up and serve with Top Ramen. 

There were several hiccups along the way as students were forced to work through their communication issues while paddling their canoes.  Day two of the trip was spent paddling eight miles.  There were several frustrations that really challenged our students to work together.  Students became visibly frustrated with the heat, with the lake and with their own canoe partners at times.  Almost without exception our students were able to calmly, appropriately and respectfully address these frustrations and come up with solutions.  This allowed us to cover a lot of ground quickly leaving plenty of time for waterskiing, tubing and wakeboarding.

For our next sequence we will be exploring the relationship between trust and deception as we learn to fly fish.  We are confident that there will be many great lessons ahead.

CALO students recently returned from a very exciting rock climbing trip.  For almost three months our students spent a great deal of energy learning how to tie knots and anchors and utilize rock climbing safety gear so they could qualify to participate in an exciting team work rock climbing trip.  Although it was warm and muggy, and the bugs were thick, we had an absolutely wonderful experience learning the basic concepts of teamwork while overcoming different challenges together.   

So many times during our recreational therapy sequences the most therapeutic moments are not planned; they just happen.  This trip was no exception.  While camping with our boys we thought it would be a fun adventure to sleep on top of Sam’s Throne in northern Arkansas.  The only difficulty would be transporting enough water from the vehicles to the campsite nearly two miles away.  Students were broken into teams and assisted one another carrying the heavy seven pound water containers to the campsite.  Creative thinking skills were utilized as teams used ropes and sticks and teamwork to haul the heavy water containers along the narrow trail.  In one of the most spontaneous recreational therapy moments on our trip our boys show true empathy and consideration for one another as they struggled along side their staff to carry the jugs full of the life sustaining water. 

While working with our girls even our staff were squeezed as they helped girls overcome their fears on an 80 foot repel.  Although it took significantly longer to help everyone complete this courageous task, it was a truly amazing process to watch girls who had steadfastly made up their mind to refuse the activity, slowly and willingly change their minds and attitudes as their peers sat and talked with them and used their excellent teamwork and empathetic communication skills to convince their friends and peers to take that scary leap of faith and repel down a mountain.  With nothing more than a few miner scrapes and bruises our girls were able to celebrate together at the bottom of the mountain after repelling (some of them upside-down) down the cliff. 

Already our students are gearing up for summer, and that means fun in the water.  We are currently passing off our swim tests so we can enjoy activities and adventures in the ski boat and the canoes.  Students will have opportunities to improve and learn about their own communication styles and will be coached how they can more effectively connect with those they care about.

For months our students have been talking about the growth zone during recreational therapy.  The growth zone is an uncomfortable, progress inspiring place just outside the comfort zone, and right before the danger zone.  Students have had the privilege to feel the growth zone during physical activities such as the mile run.  As they race around the track trying to beat their best time it is tempting to stop once your lungs start burning and your legs get tired.  The truth is that if you don’t push through that discomfort, you will never build the physical tolerance needed to improve. 

Sometimes growth hurts a little bit, and that is a good thing.  Therapy follows a similar pattern.  It is comfortable to sit in an office with your therapist and talk about superficial topics that require little vulnerability.  Unfortunately this will never help you come to a greater understanding of who you are, and what you are worth.  The process of trusting another human being with your sincerest fears and opinions can be quite terrifying.  It hurts to take that kind of emotional risk.  Again, the wonderful truth is that if you will push through that discomfort and take those emotion risks with safe individuals, you will build the emotional tolerance to improve and increase your own self worth.

We are very excited to announce the upcoming parent retreat on May 13^th – 14^th.  During this retreat families will have opportunities to explore their own growth zones and discover opportunities to strengthen and build relationships through experiential therapy.  We invite all parents of current students to plan on attending our first ever parent retreat and experience the increased intimacy within a family that comes from spending time and working together.  We hope to accomplish great things during this two day retreat and look forward to seeing you there.

CALO students recently returned from an exciting therapeutic recreation adventure. For three days CALO students braved the heat, the rain and the mosquitoes while climbing some of the most majestic rock features of the Midwest. During this three day adventure students participated in dynamic team challenges that allowed students an opportunity to prove what they have learned during the last eight weeks as they have focused on teamwork.

CALO students typically focus on one element of interdependence for eight weeks while participating in ropes course activities, adventure activities and creative arts activities. At the end of the eight weeks they get to prove what they have learned while participating on an "engineered experience" that is organized to help them utilize the skills they have recently acquired.

We spent the first two days of our trip climbing and familiarizing ourselves with the area. The last day of our trip was spent conquering an obstacle course that was kind of a mix between the amazing race and fear factors. Students worked together and supported one another as they climbed up rock faces, repelled down 100 foot cliffs and zipped across ravines on a zip line. Some students even had the opportunity to do an Australian repel (that means you go down head first). It was an inspiring sight to watch students forget past frustrations with one another and lift each other up (physically and emotionally) as they rallied together to overcome each obstacle they encountered.

During this exciting trip students had opportunities to strengthen relationships with one another and with staff, to face their fears, and to enjoy the outdoors in healthy and productive ways. Camping trips often provide students with memories and self confidence that remain More...