Father/Son Challenge
Much like in the spirit of the book, “Wild At Heart”, The Father/Son Challenge will lead five Father and Son pairs (for sons that have just graduated from high school or college) in five days of wilderness activities that provide intensive interactions between them. Backpacking, archery, fishing, climbing/repelling, goat packing/leading, and orienteering serve as the “playing fields” for the pairs to evaluate their relational patterns.
Minister and Family Therapist, Randy Stanko, will engage each pair in learning new relationship skills. Each Father/Son will face natural challenges which provide the opportunity for functional and healthy ways of relating with one another. Randy will encourage each father and son throughout the five days to share their deeper thoughts and feelings that have grown into walls between them.
By the end of the 5 days together, Fathers will “BLESS” their sons and launch them into a positive future. Sons will be encouraged to "FORGIVE" their fathers for their imperfections and for any hurts that occured during their formative teens. The fireside "Blessing" and "Forgiveness" is what lauches both father and son into the future with a changed and renewed relationship. As they leave their Challenge, fathers and sons have a renewed opening for son to have his father's support, encouragement, and guidence into adult life.
A Professionally Guided 5 Day Trip
Our outfitter/wrangler, Kenneth Henson, has many years experience providing outfitting services; he will be guiding the group up the trail, providing delicious food for you to enjoy, and taking care of the communal equipment provided. He is trained and ready for any necessary emergency response. The Challenge operates from a base camp relatively close to the drop off point where vehicles have access in case emergency services are necessary.
Bob Burk serves as the fly fishing and orienteering expert with 30 years experience and will provide the teaching and coaching of orienteering and archery (including goat handling).
The climbing guides we use are professional guides who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and are eager to share their testimonies. Each challenge may use a different guide as scheduling guides depends upon their professional availability.
Randy Stanko is our family therapist with 27 years experience working with families including traditional office therapy, extended intensive family therapy, and wilderness challenges. He will be providing the coaching and therapeutic experiences which encourage the emergence of a new relationship that the fathers and sons hunger for. Randy will be available throughout the 5 days ahead to each father/son pair as he sees a pair's need for intervention, and as a pair requests his involvement. Each Father and each son recieve a field manual to guide them in the process of letting the other see their heart.