Celebrating 20 Years of Wilderness Therapy

by Phillis Cooper
In October 1993 Redcliff Ascent was born as a therapeutic wilderness program. From those early beginnings its’ mission has been to help troubled teenagers and their families in a wilderness environment away from all the disruptions of daily life. Hundreds of young adolescents and their families have marked the RedCliff wilderness experience as a life changing, and in many cases, a life saving experience. As students have graduated from the Redcliff program they have done so with the tools needed to navigate through the challenges of life in the world today.

This past month, on a crisp fall night, twenty years of service and dedication to youth and families was celebrated in a beautiful wilderness setting in Southern Utah. Alumni, staff and friends gathered to recognize this milestone as the campfires glowed, memories were shared and bonds of friendship, love and respect were renewed..

It was a night of festivities and celebration that included drumming, interaction with current students, tours of our Kiva and simply the opportunity to feel the peace and beauty of being in the wilderness. Participants were even rewarded with a breathtaking sky accent by a beautiful rainbow.

In celebration of 20 years of providing successful treatment, the owners were presented with a beautiful plaque. A dinner of warm, delicious soups and breads was served in hand-made bowls which the guests were able to take home with them. Each bowl was a uniquely crafted piece of art made by previous RCA staff! The soup was followed by yummy cupcakes, hot chocolate and warm cider.

Congratulations to the owners, administration team and staff for your dedication and service to struggling teens and their families! We hope the legacy continues for many years to come.