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June 11, 2005
Eckerd's Youth Alternative Camp
I’d be lying if I said I had no personal reasons for writing about Eckerd’s Camp but this is mainly a story of hope, love, and people who are dedicated to helping troubled youth. It’s also about a boy who went there and how it changed his life.
The boy was in trouble with the law quiet a bit and was using drugs. Mostly pot, alcohol, and some over the counter medications and seemed to be on a path to self destruction faster than anyone could imagine. His parents were at the last of their rope and had no idea how they were going to save him. His probation officer mentioned Eckerd’s Youth Alternative Camp which would mean sending him away for ten months. His parents did not think they had any other choice and were afraid if he didn’t get away from the environment he was in and the negative influences he was around, that he would not live to see his 16th birthday. So they asked the court to order his participation in Camp and on August 4, 2005, he left for a ten month stay in the wilderness with counselors and other boys who were in trouble as well.
Camp, for this young man, was a challenge to say the least. He hated everyone and everything there especially the structure and rules. He wasn’t too happy with his parents either. His mom in particular. You see, he blamed her for his being at camp so there was constant turmoil between them. He was openly defiant and rebellious and challenged every authority figure. After six long months of battles every homestay weekend, no changes in his attitude seemed apparent. The strange part was, the boy was changing and as hard as he tried to hide it or fight against it, the change was slowly taking hold of him.
In the meantime, his mother went to the family sessions and talked to every agency she could get in contact with to discuss outside resources. There were constant arguments, running away from camp, and thousands of head lock situations. The mother wondered, at times, if she would ever see a difference in her son and if he would realize all the efforts being made for him.
Finally, after seven long months at camp, she began to see a difference in his attitude and maturity level. For the first time since be started camp, his homestay was easy and pleasant. He began taking responsibility for his own actions and accepting “NO” without a verbal battle between his mother and himself. Were things perfect? Absolutely not but at least now they had a working relationship and both of them had learend to talk and listen instead of screaming at each other.
Eckerd’s Camp saves lives. There are miracles here and they are evident every day. The family workers, chiefs, and educational counselors are on duty for these kids and their familes around the clock. Their willingness and dedication to help in any way goes beyond just being a job for them. It is here, the boy and his mother learned to lead with their hearts and to listen with an open mind. It is here their lives were saved and another miracle was performed. THANK YOU ECKERD’S YOUTH ALTERNATIVE CAMP AND TO THE OUTSTANDING STAFF.
Posted by nancy at June 11, 2005 12:46 AM
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