Programs » Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct
Your child is expected to adhere to our code of conduct and rules as outlined below. These are provided in detail and in keeping with licensing requirements of the Oregon State Office of Mental Health Services.
It is important that parents fully understand the nature of the treatment. It is equally important that this information be shared with your son or daughter when doing so will not result in your child putting himself or herself at continued emotional and/or physical harm.
General Rules for the Group
- We do not permit the use or possession of alcohol, drugs, tobacco products or caffeine.
- Over-the-counter medications and prescriptions must have the specific permission of parents and/or physicians.
- All medications are held by appropriate treatment staff and self-administered under staff supervision.
- Weapons or articles which staff perceive could be used, as weapons, including personal knives, are not allowed.
- No one-on-one, romantic, or sexual behavior or relationships are permitted.
- Participants may not leave, or work on plans to leave, the program without permission of staff.
- Participants must avoid behavior that endangers themselves, others, or staff, including violence or threats of violence, engaging in or encouraging risky behaviors, or failing to follow instructions that bear on safety issues.
- In order to maintain focus on treatment, there is no talking with other participants unless supervised by staff.
- Participants are responsible for following the program's rules and for obeying staff members at all times.
Rules for Participant Self-Care
- Practice good self-care by keeping warm, dry, well hydrated and well fed.
- Keep equipment in good condition and use appropriately. This means keeping the equipment and clothing dry and clean enough for wear, putting up shelter as needed, and dressing appropriately for the weather. Staff will teach and supervise these processes until participants can handle them on their own.
- Ration food supply wisely throughout the expedition.
- Boil or purify drinking and cooking water. Cattle dysentery and giardia may be present in streams and lakes in our areas, and these can cause very uncomfortable illness. Both disease problems are readily managed by boiling water. Staff will remind train participants in the best water boiling methods.
- Make your own decisions; don't allow others to misuse you or lead you astray.
- Be yourself. Don't feel the need to con people, act superior, or show off.
- Face failures, mistakes and faults without rationalizing, minimizing, projecting or using other psychological defenses.
- Use clear communications, and be as honest as you are able to be.
- Learn to identify and appropriately express your real feelings, and to recognize and empathize with the genuine feelings of others.
- Know how to channel anger properly. Maintain control even when embarrassed, provoked or bullied. Seek help feeling out of control. Staff will teach ways to manage anger so that it does not damage relationships.
- Know and use appropriate ways for getting what you want and need.
- Participate actively in group therapy as both listener and speaker, and in individual therapy.
- Complete personal journal work.
Taking Care of the Group
- Get along with expedition staff and the other participants.
- Show respect for others by not embarrassing, provoking or bullying them.
- Do not seek negative attention.
- Do not lead others into negative behavior.
- No trading, sharing, or stealing food, water, equipment, clothing, or any other possessions without staff approval.
- Don't visit other participants' camps or communicate between camps.
- No war stories or negative talk.
- Keep up with the group when hiking or rowing.
- Respect the therapy work of others; be gentle with their vulnerability.
- Respect the confidentiality of other participants and their families.
Taking Care of the Earth
- Show respect for the earth by leaving no trace as you pass by, or as little as possible.
- Learn good "camping lightly" skills, for the earth's good.
- Learn about the natural environment, both from staff and from observation.
- Listen to the natural world, become fully present in it, observe it closely, and come to feel peacefully part of it.
- When leaving the wilderness, carry its presence home with in your heart, and help to protect it.