What is H.A.W.K. ?
 HAWK is a wilderness-based program for teens teens coping with the death of a loved one. It is not counseling or therapy, rather a connection with others going through similar challenges in teen life, in short, a supportive wilderness experience combined with active and meaningful grief and healing activities.
This August 2010 weekend program was a great success and lots of fun and healing. It was a precurser to a Summer 2011 program which will run for 1+ weeks in the wilderness of Northern New England's mountains.
We are in discussion with Judi's House, which runs the Heroic Journey. We are in hopes of collaborating with Judi's House which would provide guidance and standards, including licensing of their program. Please read more about this possible collaboration below...
The challenges and successes that come with climbing, rappelling, and hiking up mountains, are metaphors for life. By adding important grief related rituals and ceremonies, teens are moved to express themselves in ways that they typically can't, or won't, when they are back at home in their everyday surroundings.
 On this program, you can…
• Go rock climbing, and experience the challenge, trust, and support that also helps you move
forward through the grief and healing process.
• Climb a mountain, and dedicate your climb to the person you've lost.
• Talk about the challenges you've faced, and see that it's a pain other teens also share.
• Come away with a supportive group of understanding friends.
We will not try to counsel or “fix” you. Rather, we will listen and help you feel safe. We invite you to join us for a weekend of challenge, fun, and lasting benefits.
 What's in a Name?
After Nikkita Gottling lost her brother, Geoff Lewis, in a motorcycle accident, hawks started showing up often in the daily lives of the family, and in the strangest places, not to mention their yard. Hawks were important to Geoff as well. Shortly after his passing, his 2 year-old son saw a hawk high up in a tree and commented, “Daddy's OK now.”
The hawk in Native American tradition signifies a messenger who calls for intuitive ability to discern the message from the world of those who have lived before them. Appearance of the hawk marks the coming birth of a child, or death of a loved one, and signals the need for the beholder to heighten awareness and receive a message from the spirit.
Nikkita and her parents approached Mountain Spirit Institute to see if we'd be interested in running a program for grieving teens. Nikkita attended a wonderful program called the Heroic Journey, run by Outward Bound and Judi's House held in the Rockies.
Mountain Spirit Institute is excited about the possibility of collaborating with Judi's House through training, curriculum development and standards set by Judi's House. We'll keep you posted.
This was our Itinerary for Summer 2010
Saturday August 14: 11:00
-Participants Arrive
-Welcome
-Introductions/Goals and Tone setting
-Lunch
-Set up Camp
-Rock Climbing
-Dinner
-Evening Circle
Sunday August 15th,
-Breakfast
-Peak Climb and Dedication
-Lunch on the summit
-Debrief
-Particpants depart mid-late afternoon
Details
This program is limited to ten particpants: Ages 14-18
Administrative Fee*: $155. per person which includes two days and one overnight. Transportation to and from, or during program not included.
*Covers food, equipment and all program activities. Staff will be volunteering their time for this program. Exact fee will be posted shortly, which may be more or less than the figure above.
Location: Lyme, NH area
Parents:
Parents are invited to the opening and closing meetings of this program.
Parents Lodging: If you need lodgeing The Chieftain Motor Inn in Lyme NH is giving parents a discounted rate of $119.00 including breakfast, for the night of Aug. 14th. You can make reservations with them at:
84 Lyme Road Hanover, NH 03755 (603) 643-2550
The H.A.W.K program is instructed by:
 Bob Stremba Ed.D:
Bob created and currently runs the Adventure Education program at Fort Lewis College. He has extensive background in managing wilderness educational programs, one being with REI Adventures of Seattle. He often incorporates "spiritual reconnection and a sense of place" in his teachings.
He recently attended training and has instructed the Heroic Journey program at Outward Bound in Leadville Colorado.
Bob also teaches other courses for Outward Bound Widerness during the summer in Colorado and Washington State, and serves as Vice President on the board or Mountain Spirit.
Co Facilitators: Amanda Richards, Randy Richards
Read more on our blog post.
Register
To register:
1)
download the forms below
2) Print and fill the three forms
3)
Scan all forms,
4)
and send back as an attachment to randy(at)mtnspirit.org
Download application Form
Download release Form
Download HAWK '10 Med Form
Forms require free Acrobat Reader:
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Header Image: Mt. Washington Observatory |
