Led by longrider and DreamPower Director Garry Stauber, this program, focusing on at-risk adolescent girls and boys, involves a 14-week character development curriculum utilizing Equine Facilitated Learning and nature therapy. Graduates who successfully complete the "Cowboy Ethics" character development sessions and who have demonstrated basic horsemanshp skills are invited to participate in a group trail ride and horse camping adventure in the California wilderness.

A story about the first Equine Wilderness Journey program was featured in The Gilroy Dispatch. And here is feedback from a therapist at Community Solutions Counseling Center in Gilroy.  She helped to facilitate a teen girls group that went camping in summer 2009:

"I just met with two of the girls that went horse camping. It was our first meeting since the camping experience. They gave the greatest feedback ever, saying that what they learned in our group work about how to deal with their families was immeasurably helpful to them.  I also noticed how more open they are with their thoughts and feelings, as well as to participating and asking for help in therapy. I think what I am seeing would have taken eons to facilitate in one hour per week therapy. I am grateful beyond words that, thanks to all of you, I was able to participate in this. Please pass this on to other staff and volunteers who made this possible."

Due to successes like these we are hoping to greatly expand the Equine Journey Wilderness Program in the fall of 2009 and throughout 2010. A very special thank you goes out to the South Valley Country Dancers, a country-western dance organization, for donating $2500 to cover the cost of insurance for the Equine Journey Wilderness Program.  Their generous donation allowed the dream of the wilderness program to become a reality.

For more information about this program contact DreamPower.