Focus on the Family

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

WELCOME AGAIN TO BACK TO BASICS. WE ARE NESTLED IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL ADIRONDACKS AND LOCATED ON THE TOP OF A SMALL MOUNTAIN CALLED BLEECKER. HERE YOU WILL FIND A VAST AREA OF WILDERNESS, WHICH WE REFER TO AS THE PLAYGROUND. OUR FAMILY FOCUS REQUIRES THE NEED TO BRING FAMILIES BACK IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER AND HELP REOPEN THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST ALONG THE WAY.

AT BACK TO BASICS YOU WILL FIND NO TV'S, NO VIDEO GAMES, NO ELECTRIC AND NO CONVENTIONAL OVENS, BUT YOU WILL FIND SOLITUDE AND COMMUNICATION (YOU HAVE NO CHOICE). WE ARE TAKING YOU BACK TO THAT FAMILY HOMESTEAD WAY OF LIFE (EVEN IF JUST TEMPORARILY). WITHOUT THE OUTSIDE STRESSORS, YOU WILL FIND IT EASIER TO INCREASE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS, PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, AND BEGIN BUILDING AN APPRECIATION FOR OTHERS ALONG WITH THE OUTDOORS.

THIS FAMILY WILDERNESS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU INCREASE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS WHILE EXPERIENCING THE OLD HOMESTEAD WAYS. IT DOES INVOLVE TEAM BULDING ALONG WITH SURVIVAL SKILLS. YOU WILL LEARN THAT WHEN SURVIVAL SKILLS ARE NEEDED, PEOPLE DO COMMUNICATE MORE FREELY, THEY RELY ON EACH OTHER TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS.

UPON YOUR ARRIVAL TO BACK TO BASICS WE WILL START OUT WITH AN ORIENTATION, AND REVIEW YOUR ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEKEND OR WEEK, WHAT EVER DURATION YOU CHOSE (SOMETHING IS BETTER THEN NOTHING).

YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DO HAVE A CHOICE FOR ACCOMMODATIONS. YOU CAN EITHER CHOSE ONE OF THE REMOTE CABINS THAT SLEEP 2-4 OR THE ROADSIDE CAMP THAT SLEEPS 6-8

DURING YOUR STAY YOU WILL HAVE MANY TIMES ALONE WITH YOUR FAMILY FOR INDEPENDENT ACTIVITIES, BUT YOU WILL ALSO BE GIVEN SOME SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES TO HELP PROMOTE YOUR COMMUNICATION.

SOME OF YOUR DAILY HOMESTEAD EXPERIENCES WILL BE FETCHING WOOD, PREPARING MEALS, AND TENDING TO THE WOOD FIRES, ALL ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

YOU WILL ALSO BE PARTICIPATING IN THE GROUP ACTIVITIES OF TEAM BUILDING GAMES, MAP READING, THE DAILY CHORES LIST, AND COMPASS READING WHICH WILL EXPAND YOUR INTERACTION WITH YOUR FAMILY. INPUT IS NEEDED FROM ALL AGES AND EXPERIENCES IN ORDER TO PROMOTE AN INCREASE IN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE EACH INDIVIDUAL IS COMING FROM.

TOWARD THE END OF YOUR REBUILDING PROCESS, WE WILL BE TAKING YOU ON A REMOTE FIELD TRIP IN THE ADIRONDACKS. HERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE AN OUTCOME. WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR COMMUNICATION?

DURING YOUR STAY WE WILL ALSO HAVE SEVERAL DEBRIEFINGS. WE PROMOTE A SHARED ENVIRONMENT AND ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE LEARN BEST BY DOING OR UNDOING. MISTAKES ARE OUR BEST LEARNING EXPERIENCES.