Programs

New Life Adventure programs offer a variety of experiential and interactive learning activities which introduce participants to the principles of Adventure Based Learning and how they apply to personal development. These programs focus on the following set of skills and competencies.



  • Self Reflection and Awareness
  • Trust in one’s Self (Self confidence based on Self worth)
  • Open and honest communication
  • Personal authenticity (Being true to one’s inner self)
  • Willingness to own one’s thoughts, ideas and feelings
  • Taking risks that make life an adventure
  • Willingness to be vulnerable
  • The courage to learn
  • Appreciation of the natural world









First Ascents Program - First Steps

Introduction

The First Ascents Program consists of a developmental series of exciting learning activities called “Initiatives.” Initiatives are challenges that give participants information about themselves through a process of exploration, experimentation and feedback. They require individual initiative, communication and teamwork to accomplish. The “solution” often requires out of the box thinking, hence the challenge. These kind of activities are suited for everyone regardless of physical ability. Their main purpose is to build trust and confidence in the participants, and to get them communicating openly with each other.

Features

Each session is 4 hours long and includes:

  • An introduction – description of the activity and guidelines
  • Time to do the activity (1-2 hours)
  • A de-brief (Shared stories and lessons learned)
  • Integration time (How lessons learned apply to real life)
  • Next Action Steps

By sharing these activities and the lessons learned participants naturally become bonded to each other. A sense of “team” emerges quickly and then evolves into a sense of community. This community becomes a critical resource for individual support after primary treatment is completed.

Benefits

In the First Ascents Programs, clients will learn how to:

  • Communicate more openly
  • Form a trust based supportive community
  • Explore and experiment without fear of being judged
  • Give and receive supportive feedback
  • Increase willingness to risk to achieve excellence
  • Give and receive supportive feedback
  • Enhance sense of self worth and self confidence
  • Learn how to have fun without drugs or alcohol
  • Challenge each other to be and do their best




Day of Discovery Program - Discovering the Hero Within

"The most addictive substance known to man is the human mind."
-anonymous

Introduction

Day of Discovery is an intensive hands on learning adventure for clients seeking the ultimate mental and physical challenge. It is an experience of self discovery and personal achievement. It challenges the body and the mind to breakthrough and change the limiting beliefs we hold about ourselves and what we are able to do.

Features

Day of Discovery utilizes an event called the “power pole” or “pamper pole” as it’s central activity. Wearing a parachute type full body harness, participants climb a pole while connected to a safety system consisting of two climbing ropes. These ropes are held by the other members of the team. This is known as a “team belay” system.

The climber ascends to the top of the pole, maneuvers to stand on top and then jumps for a ring or trapeze suspended just above eye level about five feet away. This requires a “leap of faith” by the climber, trust in the system, trust in the people holding the ropes, and finally trust in one’s self. By choosing to face this challenge the climber takes an enormous set of risks. By completing this challenge, no matter how she or he “performs,” the climber accomplishes something heretofore considered “impossible” and comes away with an enhanced sense of self confidence in what can be accomplished.

NewLife Adventures conducts its Day of Discovery program once per month at Milestones Ranch Malibu, a drug and alcohol treatment center in Malibu, California. Other sites are available throughout Southern and Northern California, the US, Europe, South America and Asia.

Benefits

Client and therapist testimonials indicate that the Day of Discovery Program can empower and change participants view of themselves with its dynamic design and unique supportive facilitation techniques.

Results speak for themselves. Along with these, some additional benefits of the Day of Discovery program include:

  • No longer letting fear stand in the way of accomplishment
  • Exploring and overcoming self limiting beliefs
  • Succeed at doing the “impossible”
  • Not allowing being “stuck” stop moving forward
  • Completing something difficult
  • Learning how to support others with empathy and compassion
  • Experiencing a natural “high” without drugs or alcohol
  • Enrolling others in our recovery process
  • Trusting others with personal thoughts, ideas and feelings
  • Learning that recovery is more than just stopping drugs or alcohol
  • Changing the picture we have of ourselves




The Solo - The Hero's Journey

The Solo Program is designed to assist people making dramatic changes in their personal and/or professional lives. It is time away from distractions to reflect on the past, the present and the future. It combines group support with individual reflection time.

Features

Current Solo sites include Joshua Tree National Monument, San Rafael Wilderness Area and the Santa Cruz Islands

The Solo Journey is a weekend program starting on Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm and ending Sunday afternoon at 4:00 pm.
Before spending 24 hours alone in the wilderness, participants prepare by sharing their stories with other members of the group.

After 24 hours alone in the wilderness, the group supports each member in designing his/her own future based on what each person has learned about themselves during their solo.

Benefits

Many adults have never spent 24 hours alone in the wilderness. To do so is a unique and personally empowering experience. Many indigenous people in different parts of the world use an experience like this as a rites of passage from youth to adulthood. It is time alone, a day and a night, in nature, away from human culture, away from the distractions and noises of cities and societies. A time for reflection and meditation with and for ourselves.

The benefits are very personal. Here, from past participants, are a few in the form of quotes:

"It was completely different than I thought. Afterwards, I appreciated my family more than I ever have before. I never thought I could do this, and am very proud of myself. I will never take anything for granted again."
William T.

"I was terrified. The group helped me get the courage to do it. The group leaders were very supportive. I came back to base camp for an hour and decided to return to my site. I’m glad I did. I know I can do things I’m afraid of. I’m braver than I thought."
David L.

"I found out so much about myself. It’s clear to me now that I need to do things for myself too and not just for others. I discovered a part of me I never knew existed, an adventurer, a powerful and courageous woman. My family appreciates me more now. They know I have a new sense of myself."
Gayle G.

"When I turned 45 I thought there was no more for me to learn. I have always lived in cities. Going out to Joshua Tree expanded my view of the world. Nature is so powerful. It puts everything in perspective. I was afraid of it before but now realize I feel more comfortable in the world because I know nature’s there. The wild is there. It’s strange how I feel safer now in the wild than I do in my own city. After my Solo experience I made a decision to move so I’ll be closer to nature and natural places."
Patricia N.

FOR ALL PROGRAMS

Please contact CWT Inc. by e-mail or telephone: (760) 341-2004