Sol Quest

With the Adventure Challenge Program the Sol Quest Institute partners with community organizations to provide economically disadvantaged or at-risk youth an opportunity to participate in wilderness-based experiential education programs. Although some community organizations are able to help cover the costs of these programs, most of the Adventure Challenge Programs are made possible by grants and donations.


Goals & Objectives

The goal of the Adventure Challenge Program (ACP) is to provide an environment and the tools for participants to explore and achieve personal, academic and career potential. The objectives of the Program are to increase at-risk youth participation in partner agency programs, decrease school truancy, improve academic performance, enhance relationships with families, peers and adults and reduce association with gangs and other negative activities within the community.


The ACP achieves these objectives through a progression of wilderness-based programs designed to help participants replace destructive behavioral patterns with a positive vision and new, sustainable, behavior patterns. A variety of themes are stressed in the Program, including healthy life choices, cross-cultural awareness, community skill building, academic success strategies, career exploration, self-discovery and leadership development.


Description

The Adventure Challenge Program has a long-term positive impact on the teenage at-risk youth it serves because it is a thoughtfully designed collaboration between agencies, which serve at-risk youth in their neighborhoods, and the Sol Quest Institute. Partner agency leadership and staff are involved in the planning and development of the Programs to ensure that the ACP helps further their goals at the agencies. Partner agency staff go into the field with the at-risk participants as co-facilitators with the Sol Quest staff and are great role models for the youth because they too are often operating outside of their comfort zones on the Programs. The progressive, multiple component structure of the ACP provides youth with the opportunity to participate in several programs over the course of a year.


The Program incorporates cross-cultural themes, such as expansion of racial boundaries, prejudice reduction, interpersonal skill development (communication, self-awareness, self-assessment, etc.), listening, feedback skills and positive community involvement. The physical activities such as hiking, backpacking, tent camping, rock climbing and canoeing challenge youth to work individually and as a cohesive group. This leads to the emergence of self-confidence, a sense of personal responsibility and the commitment to be positive influences in their communities.


All of the Adventure Challenge Programs are run "expedition style" which requires youth to fully participate in all of the tasks and responsibilities of living and building community in wilderness settings. Wilderness camping challenges participants to function cohesively as a group by working together in activities ranging from setting up tents and cooking meals to selecting hiking routes. Using a variety of outdoor venues and professionally facilitated activities, the ACP assists at-risk youth in developing and exploring the following:



* Leadership Skills
* Effective Goal Setting
* Effective Communication
* Problem Solving Tools
* Peer-Peer Relationships
* Peer-Adult Relationships
* Cross Cultural Awareness
* Conflict Resolution
* Healthy Life Choices
* Career Potential