Our long term wilderness therapy program for troubled teens is a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 150 days, with the average length of stay being approximately 60-80 days. Troubled teens and youths can earn academic credit in our wilderness therapy Program. Our course runs year round and takes place in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in such areas as Rocky Mountain National Park, the Arapahoe National Forest and the Castle Peaks Wilderness Area. During the winter we take extended trips to locations in Arizona and New Mexico.

Components of the Wilderness Therapy Program
at the Monarch Center:

1. How Monarch is Different
2. Family Week
3. Wilderness Therapy Expeditions
4. Admissions
5. Program Cost
6. Safety
7. Permits & Licenses

Monarch Center Facts:

• Innovative wilderness therapy program for struggling teens.
• Minimum length of stay is 30 days and the average is 60 days.
• One therapist is on staff for every two teens.
• Ages range from 10-18, median age 15.
• Co-ed groups of eight (single sex groups sometimes available).
• Ratio: minimum two staff per eight teens, often times three staff per eight teens.
• Located in Georgetown, Colorado- one hour West of Denver in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.
• Admissions are taken on a "space available" basis, and are taken year round and 24 hours/day.
• Operates on a three-week rotation: Two weeks in the backcountry (expedition) followed by one week in and around Georgetown (Family Week). This rotation repeats itself throughout the duration of the student’s stay.
• Summer wilderness expeditions take place through land use permits in Colorado (with occasional out of state expeditions). Rocky Mountain National Park and the Great Sand Dunes National Park comprise some of the magnificent Colorado landscape our students explore while on expedition.
• Winter wilderness expeditions take place in Arizona and New Mexico and include the amazing Grand Canyon National Park, Havasupai Indian Reservation and the Superstition Mountains. Occasionally there will be winter theme expedition in Colorado.
• Monarch Center operates a clinically intensive program with an emphasis on Gestalt practices and family involvement.
• The Monarch Center operates a private school with weekly experientially based curriculum and service learning projects.
• Credits earned at Monarch are usually transferable to the adolescent’s home school district.