Coyote Phase
Coyotes, nature's premier survivalists, adapt to almost any environment and find nourishment for themselves and their pack even under the most severe conditions. As a powerful metaphor for students entering the second step of the program, the coyote symbolizes the student's attempts to develop character and adapt positively when faced with adversity. The coyote metaphor also teaches the value of working for the good of the community and accepting help from others when facing a common challenge.
Students learn the meaning and value of becoming a coyote through assistance from peer mentors and program staff. During the coyote phase, the students identify the strengths they bring to the group, protect the safety of the group, complete chores and activities as assigned, and participate in group activities with little or no problems. Coyotes recognize that negative behavior impacts the entire group.
The primary purpose of this stage is to teach cooperative behaviors and skills similar to those that are expected in a family system.
Objectives
- Encourage group participation and personal involvement in the therapeutic process.
- Encourage continued change.
- Associate behavior with consequences.
Duration
- Approximately 14 days
Phase Requirements
- Complete a bow drill fire on five separate days.
- Cooks meals for oneself.
- Take appropriate care of gear, clothes, and other possessions.
- Demonstrate good personal hygiene.
- Practice safe behavior.
- Follow directions appropriately.
- Use time wisely to complete daily tasks
- Demonstrate basic communication skills.
- Learn how to respect self and others.
- Read impact letter from parents in group.
- Complete all required curriculum activities in a timely manner.
- Participate and demonstrate competency in daily reviews of previous day’s activities.
- Begin to identify issues that brought the student to Aspen.
- Participate in group therapy.
- Participate in individual therapy.
- Complete assignments given by therapist in a timely manner.
- Write two letters home to parents, and sharing with them the experiences you are having at Aspen.
- Create three goals to work toward while at Aspen.
