Hey why just the kids, why can't us adults go too !!
Seriously tho- the results from these courses are quite astonishing.
My friend Dave Goodworth (Some of you know him) is running such an establishment. He started as a bushcraft school, but is now almost entirely running
Frontiers, with business partner Jon Berry.
The two of them have backgrounds in Pschycology and councelling among many other skills, which I think is what sets them apart from standard bushcraft Schools.
From what i have heard they are almost working miracles. Taking "delinquent" kids - kids that have been expelled from schools, play truent, disrupt classes or violent histories. Kids that the School system cannot deal with. Kids that have no future, no hope, and no direction. They give these kids a new start. Build them back up from the foundations, basic life skills as in bushcraft, then show them trust, break down barriers and talk to them. Some happen instantly some have taken years, but the all seem to be transformed into someone reasonable and respectful, someone with hope and a future to aim for.
It really is astounding work, teachers and head teachers are awe struck at what they have achieved. Not recognising the children that caused them so much grief.
Hats off to all the bushcraft Schools that are doing this ! I think Ed and Dave Watson are doing simular things. It must be very rewarding to see a happy young individual emerge from a twisted battered delinquent. It certainly hasn't been an easy task to build up such schools.
Good luck to them.
Cheers Rich