One of WoodNext’s areas of focus is mental health and we support a range of programs aimed at supporting people of all ages who are at risk of or suffering from mental health issues. One approach we support is wilderness therapy, a treatment often used for adolescents struggling with behavioral health issues. These programs are often out of reach of many families, often costing upwards of $60,000 for 2-3 months. We help to fund scholarships to ensure programs are accessible for those who need them. Some of our grantees include:
Sky’s the Limit Fund
This organization believes the outdoors has transformative power in fostering connections, building resilience, and supporting mental health. Its goal is to make wilderness and other nature-based therapy programs affordable to families of adolescents and young adults struggling with mental health conditions, regardless of their socio-economic status. It partners with programs across the United States to help them make their offerings accessible to all.
SavingTeens in Crisis Collaborative
This national nonprofit assists teens and their families struggling with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, addictions, and other risky behaviors. It partners with educational consultants to identify the best pathway for each teen in its program—including, in some cases, wilderness behavioral therapy.
Parker Bounds Johnson Foundation
This nonprofit provides year-round wilderness-based therapy to adolescents in crisis in Oregon and Washington. Its Wilderness4Life program combines experiential group work with family and parent support to build resilience, recovery, and prevention. It also provides financial assistance for families looking to send loved ones to wilderness therapy programs.
