The Retreat

A Program for Teens and Young Adults with Asperger's Syndrome and/or NLD

My son Darin benefitted profoundly from the supportive environment and directed study at the Orion Academy in Moraga, CA, a college preparatory school for students with Asperger's and NLD. At the Orion Academy, we all learned what kind of support people on the autism spectrum need. We learned to appreciate the many wonderful qualities of people with this condition and to ask for help in addressing the aspects we did not understand. My husband and I want to offer another type of learning experience in a supportive, compassionate environment. We have designed a sleep-away summer retreat, full of activities that will provide enrichment and learning opportunities for youth on the spectrum ages 15 and up.

Socialization is difficult for any teen, and youth with Asperger's syndrome and NLD face particular challenges to developing the skills they need to thrive in academic environments and in the work world. My 20 years as a psychiatric nurse, my clinical work in psychology, and my experience as the mother of a son with Asperger's have led me to develop this program. Twenty Acre Wood is a safe space in which young people can learn to open themselves as they discover and explore the outdoors. The program will lead and assist participants in developing their social and occupational skills in a supportive environment.

Twenty Acre Wood participants will engage in traditional activities like rafting, hiking, games and crafts. In the context of our outdoor activities, we will explore the self-referential viewpoint, which renders making and keeping friends and jobs so difficult for this group of individuals. While backpacking in the beautiful Sierras, participants will be encouraged to communicate clearly and effectively with one another and with activity leaders. All activities are designed to address the myriad skills affected by poor executive functioning, such as planning, prioritizing, problem-solving and self-correcting.

We are registered nurses and we can anticipate, monitor, and attend to participants' needs regarding medications, foods, and sleeping arrangements. As parents of a son with Asperger's, we understand your hopes and concerns for your teen, and we welcome your questions about the program.

Here is a sample schedule of a typical day at Twenty Acre Wood:

8:30 — Breakfast
9:00 — Straighten up, get ready for the day: Circle time for discussion, planning, information sharing, discussing and setting goals for the day; Learning to make lists that help us complete our goals
10:00 — Out the door for daily activities: Kayaking, boating, rafting, dock time, hiking, cooking camping, swimming, jet skiing, indoor and outdoor living, music, drama
1:00 — More activities
5:30 — Rest period
6:00 — Dinner and campfire activities
7:00 — Free time
8:00 — Evening group
9:00 — Showers, prepare for bed
10:00 — Lights low or out

All activities will provide the context in which we will practice social skills. The first week of the retreat, we will learn how to prepare to be outdoors and practice outdoor safety skills while taking small day hikes. We will then learn about backpacking and take one or two overnight hikes. The second week we will stay out for two nights and the third week we will plan to be out for three nights.

We will encourage participants to take on leadership roles, which we will rotate so that everyone has the chance to lead. All activities—from cooking to camping—provide ample opportunity to learn about preparation, planning, asking for help, and carrying out tasks to execute a plan. We will also learn to appreciate our experiences, evaluate our performance and discuss both successes and areas for improvement.

Twenty Acre Wood Retreat
Truckee-Tahoe, California
Conveniently located near Reno and Sacramento airports

If you have been looking for an intimate, unique and enjoyable vacation experience for your child, I invite you to consider enrolling your child in our summer retreat. Click here to contact us!