Adventure Therapy Groups
Adventure Works offers a unique opportunity to youth in DeKalb County to engage in group services to meet the social-emotional and behavioral needs in the outdoors. Groups are facilitated by mental health staff with specific training in facilitating outdoor experiences, and offer the opportunity for individuals to receive support and feedback from their peers.
Costs per participant are based on a sliding scale. All youth in DeKalb County are welcome, regardless of ability to pay.
Limited availability, click below or give us a call to start the registration process!
Fall 2023 Groups
Registration open!
Register by calling Adventure Works at (815) 517-0825. Registration is first come, first serve.
Cost is $32.50 an hour for every group.
Beginning Explorers
Ages: 6-8 years old
Dates: September 13-November 15th
Time: Wednesdays 4:00pm-5:30pm
Location: AW grounds
Capacity: 8-10 participants
Our elementary groups focus on connection, fun, exploration, and adventure. We utilize developmentally matched experiential activities to promote problem-solving, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and self-regulation. We practice the principle of challenge by choice and work to help each participant increase their self-efficacy and self-esteem by focusing on strengths, and framing challenges as opportunities for growth. Some activities include nature hikes, outdoor skills, team building initiatives, and utilizing our challenge course.
Emerging Explorers
Ages: 9-11 years old
Dates: September 12-November 14th
Time: Tuesdays from 5pm-7pm
Location: AW grounds (Prairie/Hopkins Park/Little John park) and offsite nearby nature preserves via van
Capacity: 10 participants
Emerging Explorers will be focusing on helping participants manage their feelings and improve social skills. Facilitators will utilize adventure and experiential interventions to promote emotional awareness, problem solving, and impulse control skills. These activities allow participants opportunities to practice new ways to manage their emotions to manage relationships. Adventure Works incorporates the principle of challenge by choice and work to help each participant increase their self-efficacy and self-esteem by focusing on strengths, and framing challenges as opportunities for growth.
Tween Trailblazers
Ages: 12-14 years old
Dates: September 16th-November 11th
Time: TBD
Location: AW grounds and Offsite nearby nature preserves via van
Capacity: 10 participants
Our Tween group will focus on building self-confidence and resilience through the intentional use of experiential activities. The group will focus on collaboration, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and establishing and maintaining healthy peer relationships. Initiatives will include team building exercises, archery, geocaching, hiking and mindfulness activities. In the sun and winds of summer, participants will be invited to reflect and process the content and skills learned in group and translate it to their experiences in the outside world.
Trailblazers
Ages: 15-18 years old
Dates: September 16-November 11th
Time: TBD
Location: AW grounds (Prairie/Hopkins Park/Little John park) and offsite nearby nature preserves via van)
Capacity: 10 participants
This group will focus on building strong therapeutic and social interactions in an active, experiential, and outdoor environment. Group facilitators will focus on specifically-designed and developmentally-appropriate interventions related to exploring self-efficacy, distress tolerance, communication, and coping skills while increasing resilience and grit. Group activities will include nature walks, team building initiatives, outdoor survival skills, and creative art projects. Mindfulness activities will also be emphasized throughout the program.
Interested in Group?
Please submit your details below to express interest. A staff member will contact you via email with registration information. Thank you!
