Winter is a difficult time of year to motivate young adults to spend more time outside. Young adults are more likely to experience low energy and feelings of depression and loneliness as the days grow shorter and colder. While the outdoors can help boost their mood and energy, the weather can affect the type of activities they engage in and how long they are willing to participate in them for. Keeping this in mind, blueFire PulsaR wilderness program offers a specialized schedule with winter adventure activities for young adults during these months.
Seasonal Activities
While the summer months are full of water sports and backpacking, adventure activities at blueFire PulsaR change along with the seasons. We offer more day trips from base camps and plan activities according to the weather. Located in Idaho, students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of winter adventure activities. This sets blueFire apart from other wilderness therapy programs that focus exclusively on backpacking.
Winter adventure activities may include:
- Downhill skiing
- Cross Country Skiing
- Snowshoeing
- Equine therapy
- Hiking
- Building bonfires
Staying Safe During the Winter
Throughout the winter months, we our priority is to help clients stay dry, warm and safe. Some safety measures we take during the winter months include:
- No hiking in extreme winter conditions: If the temperature dips below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, groups do not move camp or hike until the temperature exceeds 20 degrees.
- Access to heat: Winter time at PulsaR means that we shift inside to heated Geodesic domes and yurts. The warm feeling of a wood stove helps facilitate a productive therapeutic experience. Night groups are done inside with lights illuminating the way. Sleeping takes place inside a propane heated yurtOur base camps have propane heated yurts and wood-heated wall tents with bunk bed cots to keep clients warm and up off the ground. Many clients heat water for their Nalgene bottles and carry them between clothing as an extra heat source.
- Layering gear: We make sure clients are wearing proper attire including gloves, hats, neck gaiters, polypro bottoms and tops, a dry fit top, mid-layers, work pants, teddy top and bottoms, puffy jackets, and other layers in case of rain. Their gear includes a sleeping bag rated for -20 degree weather which is much colder than we’ve ever experienced in our area of operation.
- Warm toes and fingers: We provide all clients with wool mittens, work gloves, over-mitts, wool socks, hiking boots, and over-boots. Starting each day with dry socks is key to self-care. Three times a day, we conduct checks on hands and feet to make sure they are warm and dry.
- Vehicle safety and access to groups: All vehicles have safety kits, spare tires, snow chains. For the rare occasion they may be needed, we have snowmobiles and snowcats available.
- Weekly health assessment: Our field medic keeps close tabs on how young adults are doing physically. Every week, clients undergo a health assessment that checks vitals such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiration, and hydration. This helps us keep track of our clients’ overall health.
blueFire PulsaR Can Help
blueFire PulsaR is a coed wilderness therapy program for young adults ages 18-28. This program addresses emotional, social, and behavior problems. At PulsaR, adventure therapy and family therapy help promote personal growth. From there they are able to experience growth and adopt healthy life skills. Pulsar is dedicated to helping students regain a better sense of the world. Additionally, it addresses their emotions and needs head on. We can help your family today.
Contact us at 1 (844) 413-1999 to learn more about our adventure therapy program.