Mountain Wisdom Testimonials
The Impact Reaches Far Beyond the Campfire
For over 23 years, Mountain Wisdom has been guiding young people into the outdoors and helping them discover their strength, confidence, and purpose. Our mission has always been to foster healthy teens and families through meaningful, adventure-based experiences rooted in nature awareness, leadership, and responsibility. The stories shared here reflect the real impact of that commitment. From renewed confidence and focus to deeper family connections and lasting friendships, these testimonials speak to the transformational growth that happens when teens step away from technology and into the wilderness. Every experience is designed with intentional care, and our financial stewardship ensures that cost is never the reason a young person misses out on a life-changing opportunity.
Dr. David Busch, PhD
As a Licensed Psychologist, I have heard nothing but positive responses from the young men whom I have referred to the Mountain Wisdom Camps. The parents report numerous benefits gleaned from their sons participation. They are more reflective and considerate of others, willing to help around the house, and have a greater sense of direction in life.
In my private practice, I serve very few young ladies who see themselves as strong independent young women. The Girls Camp provides a maturational jump where they come away from the experience with a leap in self-confidence and connectedness with others beyond physical appearances and popularity. They are more centered and calm from having found themselves, as evolving young women.
The research into nature-based therapy is substantial and uniformly positive, and these programs are inexpensive, time-limited, well-organized, and have an excellent, well-trained, staff. You will not find a better, more professional and caring camp, with so many benefits offered than the Mountain Wisdom Camps.
Jeff Gars, DC, LMSW
The Mountain Wisdom Camp is a “win, win, win” for the adolescent, his or her parents, and the therapist who referred them. The camp is of great benefit to the adolescent who is going through the individuation process of becoming a young adult. The camp provides an opportunity for the adolescent to be in natural surroundings with the other campers and with adult staff of their gender.
In the camp's nature setting, the campers are not as influenced by peer pressure and have the opportunity to discover their selves in both a leadership and an assisting role. The camp provides for them a chance to spend quality time with their selves and others, to assess their current behaviors, and to ultimately self-evaluate who they are and the direction they seek to go in their immediate future.
I recommend this camp to any adolescent family who seeks to help their child learn respect, grow up, and take on the responsibility of becoming a young adult.
Camper Experiance
“This experience gave me time to think about my life and gave me the skills I will remember for the rest of my life.”
- Young Man | Age 14
“I had so much fun and I did not even miss electronics and I want to come back next year.”
- Young Man | Age 13
“I had so much fun and I did not even miss electronics and I want to come back next year.”
- Young Man | Age 13
“This was an amazing and rare experience where young women came together in friendship and learn to grow from each other, make new friends and blossom into better people.”
- Young Women | Age 14
“This was the best self-exploratory camp I have ever been to. I loved the experience and can’t wait to go back.”
- Young Women | Age 13
Barret
"Mountain Wisdom Camp meant a lot to me; it was an opportunity for me to refresh, refocus, and renew myself. It allowed me to get back in touch with my masculine energy and my true self, instead of constantly wearing a mask to appeal to society and other people's expectations of me. Beyond that, it helped to alleviate doubt which were plaguing me and assistance into issues that were plaguing others. It helped me ground myself in nature and in the presence of the men around me"
"It is about helping others grow, asking the hard questions, and encouraging people to look within themselves as deeply as they can, to discover what is there, by asking themselves if they like that reflection"
"Integrity is how I live my life; no matter what, I try my best to be as honest, clear, and forthcoming as I can, both with myself and with those around me"
“I live by the values of integrity, growth, leadership, and community every day.”
Kota
"Camp unlocked a grand connection to spirit since the start. Life altering conversations, ceremonies, and personal connections that I will forever cherish into adulthood and beyond. I feel a sense of kinship with all of creation and work to deepen that bond every day. I have learned the importance of supporting those around me.”
"I feel today's society is steeped with negativity and hate, especially to those that are closest to us. So (with great effect) I feel I have changed the culture of many of the places I have resided. That may have been the greatest gift I have received from Mountain Wisdom. I feel a new understanding within myself every time I return. I love being a guide helping young men and even older men offering wisdom I feel I am very fortunate to have an understanding of due to this camp"
"I feel a new understanding within myself every time i return"
"I feel a sense of kinship with all of creation and work to deepen that bond every day."
"I have learned the importance of supporting those around me."
Kaleb
"This community has become a kind of family to me. There has been so much love, so many late-night conversations, and moments where I was both a mentee and a mentor at the same time. I’m grateful to have had a place where I could shape my trauma and pain into something meaningful, wisdom. That wisdom has helped me grow into a mindset where I understand that we, as humans, will fail and make mistakes. What matters is being thoughtful about where those mistakes happen and how we learn from them"
“I’ve experienced both sides of this community. I’ve been one of the young men who was new to the program, learning who I wanted to become in this world. And I’ve also been one of the men helping to organize these events, someone the younger guys feel comfortable coming to when they need to talk about something important.”
"This place has changed my life in more ways than I can count"
"Mountain Wisdom isn’t just a camp or a program to me, it’s a gift"
James
“The impact of this nonprofit on the world is profound! Everyone who goes through the camp is encouraged to grow as an individual and end their experience by setting smart goals for their life. Not just that but they are taught about the importance of fulfilling a commitment and being a man of their word. Throughout the week discussions about how to respect each other and how to properly treat the opposite gender ensue as well as discussions about healthy habits and interconnection with the earth happen as well”
"There really is never a shortage of grand experiences taking place at the camp and it’s all made possible by generous people who donate and volunteer at the camp because they believe in the vision"
"For over twenty years and just as long as I have been alive, Mountain Wisdom has been strengthening families, encouraging healthy communities and building better lives through hosting summer camps for young men ages twelve through seventeen."