Set in SageWalk, Oregon, a wilderness therapy program.
Troubled teens arrive at SageWalk, where they are confronted with the harsh realities of camp life; after a 10-mile hike carrying 40-lb backpacks, the youths celebrate Thanksgiving without their families.
After a 10-mile hike carrying 40-lb backpacks, the youths celebrate Thanksgiving without their families.
Two new field instructors are summoned to control the kids, who are taken on a seven-mile hike through snow, which turns into a blizzard and is particularly hard on Derek. Also: teens and therapists have one-on-one sessions; parents' share reactions to letters from their kids.
Lexie is scared to rappel down a cliff; Lauren deals with her emotions on the anniversary of her father's death; and Little Bear helps Nick make a fire.
The teens' challenge is for each to spend three days and nights alone in the wilderness, which proves especially hard for Derek, who dreads being by himself. Those who complete the task receive their own Earth names. Also: Lexie bonds with Glacier; Jada tries to persuade her parents to bring her home early.
The teens experience an "empty-chair exercise," in which they address feelings to a chair that represents painful memories. Elsewhere, fights break out and the kids wonder whether they'll be home for the holidays.
In the first-season finale, the teens who didn't complete the program in time to return home for the holidays spend Christmas and New Year's at SageWalk, where they face additional challenges before graduation. Included: a reunion with parents.