Post by Ryan McKinney on Mar 27, 2007 18:04:17 GMT -5
Camp Aspen Ridge was founded in 1997. It is open to anyone under the age of twenty who has demonstrated a need for the social learning Aspen Ridge provides. More often than not, those who come to Camp Aspen Ridge are sent here by their parents, or by recommendation of a teacher; the reason for this being, of course, that most teens with social problems don't realize that they have them. And if they do, they certainly don't care enough to take the initiative and fix the problems.
The concept behind Camp Aspen Ridge is that it should be a place where teenagers who have problems fitting in with others their age can come and find or learn acceptance. And every now and then, it works. When campers arrive here, they are labeled. Throughout the course of one camping season, they are expected to 'earn' at least one label aside from their own. It's unorthodox, and some people are skeptical of its success, but while many of Aspen Ridge's campers have to return for successive years, there are those who improve their social interactions so drastically during one season that they do not need to come back for another.
Of course, what goes on during a camp season is far less favorable than the camp's founders might have hoped. There is still drama, heartbreak, and all manner of other unpleasant emotions which are expected to result from putting a group of socially incoherent teenagers together in one place. Some don't want to change; some can't handle the pressure. It's not just summer camp, it's a learning experience. But one thing's for sure, whether the campers like it or not, the summer or summers they spend here will be remembered.
The concept behind Camp Aspen Ridge is that it should be a place where teenagers who have problems fitting in with others their age can come and find or learn acceptance. And every now and then, it works. When campers arrive here, they are labeled. Throughout the course of one camping season, they are expected to 'earn' at least one label aside from their own. It's unorthodox, and some people are skeptical of its success, but while many of Aspen Ridge's campers have to return for successive years, there are those who improve their social interactions so drastically during one season that they do not need to come back for another.
Of course, what goes on during a camp season is far less favorable than the camp's founders might have hoped. There is still drama, heartbreak, and all manner of other unpleasant emotions which are expected to result from putting a group of socially incoherent teenagers together in one place. Some don't want to change; some can't handle the pressure. It's not just summer camp, it's a learning experience. But one thing's for sure, whether the campers like it or not, the summer or summers they spend here will be remembered.
