Outdoor social work

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 24

Outdoor social work

The Ministry of Sport and Recreation is developing a programme to help the “atrisk kid.” Under the programme, young people believed to be at risk of starting a life of court appearances are taken outdoors for a different type of counselling. A group of eight “at-risk kids” and two instructors spend a week outdoors, tramping, canoeing, or rockclimbing. This provides “neutral” ground for counselling, as well as a way to motivate and build self-con-fidence in the youngsters. The programme is based on a combination of outdoor and social-work skills. Mr Terry Easthope has been transferred from the Probation Service to the Ministry of Sport and Recreation for a year, to help with the programme. Mr Easthope has also been an Outward Bound instructor for 10 years. “It is my experience with the young offender that helps me cope, whereas a usual outdoor instructor would have difficulty,” Mr Easthope said. Detached youth workers helped pick the “risk kids” they felt would benefit from the programme, he said. The programme was designed for young people who showed promise but needed to be motivated. “It’s the normal enthusiasm that other kids have that we have to bring out in them,” Mr Easthope said. “Once we have brought it out they are great.” It is not a camping trip.

We use the outdoors as a vehicle to improve communications with the at-risk kid, and adults,’, he said. Motivation, interest, and enthusiasm could be generated by the “risk kid” feeling that he had won and

achieved something, said Mr Easthope.

“The at-risk kid has been on the losing side all his life. He has had poor family relationships and poor schooling. He is scared to lose face, and so he is scared to try things. He usually acts out his frustrations with vandalism and taking cars,” Mr Easthope said.

“The programme acts as a catalyst to get the kids motivated. We pass back information to the community workers who referred them to us and make recommendations,” he said. A short-term benefit of the programme was that, once back from a trip, the youth felt better.

1 “There is an increase in his self-esteem. He has worked hard at something and ■ done it,” Mr Easthope said.

Funding of the programme has so far come from a $2500 grant made by the Probation Service, it is hoped that this fund will be maintained by grants and equipment from service clubs.