Get Involved

“Hey Guys and Gals, I would like to encourge you to get involved with groups that promote backpacking and other outdoor sports to youth. I was an Wildreness Instructor in Kentucky at a place called Buckhorn. We took inner city kids that had been adjudicated and took them out of their comfort zone by placing them in a wilderness setting, and helping them deal with their issues that got them in trouble with the Juvenille system. We taught them wilderness skills like backpacking, climbing, map reading, knots, cooking, canoeing and such. They were in the program for 60 days, thats just the wilderness section of it. They had to set goals eveyday, and keep a journal. We introduced them to experamental education. You can make a lesson out of anything.
We had them in a base camp setting for the 1st 30 days, then we took them into Tennasee and walked them back into Kentucky through the mountains for the next 30 days. We then had to compile an assesment of the boys and then submitt it to the court system.
We know we were making progress one night when we heard crying while we were watching the moon along the river, we found to of the tuffest young men crying. We asked what was wrong? They said that they had always seen the moon but have never really looked at it before, and it was beautiful.
If you really want something to bless your life, take a young person outdoors and introduce them to the Great Outdoors!!!!!!
You will make a difference in their lifes.”

“Your lucky thoase animals disdn't kill you and leave you for dead out there. Next time make them fodo somsething constructive like clear trails or clean ppoop out of campsites.”

“they had to do trail work in the Big South Fork and along the Shaltowee Trace. Had to haul a lot of timber and work on trails... They had no weapons and we out weighed each of them by 100lbs, 2 instructors were former Army Rangers, I had been a Police Officer for 12 yrs and Tactical Team Leader for 5 of that. The other 2 instructors were instructors with Blackbelts....”

“Bigkingtut, welcome to the board just click on the line that says, "ignore this user" under bales' name. I have yet to see him add anything worthwhile to this board.”

“North Dakota has a similiar program and that state continues to fund it year after year. Kinda like a boot camp for juveniles. BigKingTut, you were doing God's work using the wilderness and backpacking to straighten out gang bangers and youthful vuiolent criminals. Those programs prevent recidivism because of people like you.

And it beats writting tickets to 60 year old grandmothers, eh?”

“Once a asouless animal always a soulless animal. I'll bet a donut those perps were back robbing little old ladies and liquor stores within a wek of returning to civlization.

And it sounds like the orgnizers expected some kind of trouble with the credentilials the group leaders had.”

“Don't listen to Bales, big guy. I'm a high school teacher and have always been involved in activities with kids. I never regretted a moment and I did manage to turn a few kids round. The payback is later - much later - when they show your their kids in the grocery store and have that smile. Do it.

Some people will never understand, but we know the feeling.”

“Bales, statistically, these programs do lower the recidivism rate.”

“Bales, just what type of experence do you have working with youth are any other type of human???????”

“On Saturday morning, I saw a group of bleery eyed long haired tatooed teenagers wearing orange vests cleaning up the Old Plank Trail (Park Forest, Illinois). A guy who looked like a linebacker wearing an orange vest that said "Police" was watching them toil. I asked him if this was a "community group or court ordered" and he replied "court ordered". I gave him some encouragement and praise. These programs are cropping up everywhere because they work.”

“I wish I had a job where I could help youth turn their lives around before they end up in prison. I can tell them first hand that prison is not a happy place. I have seen so many young men who have thrown their life away with bad decisions. Most of the offenders that are assigned to my facility are in for life or over 50 years. Some day I may try to get on at a juvenile facility where I can make a difference. I do appreciate people like you who care and try to make a difference in others lives.

Bigkingtut After telling me what you did about the proper way to take a dump and use toilet paper in the woods, that was a classic, you need to publish that as a how to guide. I think people would really buy it, if for no other reason, just as a stocking stuffer for a good laugh. Of course you will need pictures to illustrate the proper technique, just don’t ask me to demonstrate. It was good hiking with you; hope to meet up on the trail again sometime.”

“I grew up about 45 minutes southeast of Buckhorn in a county that bordered Perry County. I love eastern Ky.

As far as juveniles, I responded to a complaint the other night where a 16 year old girl begged me to tell her what she had to do to get arrested and sent to the juvenile facility, simply because she didn't want to obey her parents' rules. Luckily I'm not as stupid as Bales, or I might not have been able to talk her out of running away that night.



*Shot at Bales included at no additional cost. More available upon request.”

“I think any time a group of adults (usually safety in numbers-for the kids from predators) spends constructive activities with kids (young adults) is good.Just listening or showing a little interest, sharing time can turn a life around. I think Job Corps is basically good though not perfect.”

“Thanks for all the support folks. When we were on the Caprock Trail I was telling the Prosecutor about Buckhorn and he suggested I post this...”