Recre8

Recre8 is an immersive adventure therapy program offered to existing Activ8 participants when therapeutically appropriate. The program takes a fundamentally different approach to how young people access mental health support, by creating an intensive and immersive therapeutic experience outdoors in nature, facilitated by our team of mental health professionals and outdoor adventure specialists. Unlike other adventure camps, participants in the Recre8 program participate in adventures and challenges in nature alongside their trained therapists and mentors, with intentional and evidence-based therapy built into the design of the program. This is radically different to clinical counselling settings.

My relationship with nature has been largely impacted by Recre8. Before the expedition, I largely took my surroundings for granted and didn’t take opportunities to be thankful for the AMAZING place we call home. I’ve learnt how to come back to centre using nature, even if that is just standing outside and waiting for my feelings to pass.

Recre8 participant

Young people choose to participate in Recre8 because of the unique opportunity to take a break from their life challenges  and have an adventure in nature with peers and trusted therapists and mentors. What they don’t anticipate is the transformative experience that comes from receiving intensive and continuous mental health support throughout the journey. 

Recre8 is offered as an enhancement to the ongoing therapeutic support provided through Activ8. After completing a Recre8 program, participants continue to receive support for as long as needed through a tailored combination of group and individual sessions. 

The program offers both expeditions, which include a hiking journey and camps which are shorter format and operate from a basecamp. The offering is tailored to meet the needs of the young people who are selected to participate.

During Recre8, participants learn new positive mental health strategies and coping mechanisms, and begin to implement them to process their trauma and overcome the challenges they face at different transitional points in their life. This program aims to provide young people who are experiencing persistent life challenges with innovative and responsive mental health support that fundamentally changes their life trajectory, redirecting them towards positive future pathways. As they experience the satisfaction and reward of being supported to overcome physical challenges, they begin to develop the confidence and ability to overcome challenges in other areas of their life too. 

A significant point of difference from other adventure camps is our investment in qualified mental health clinicians. Their expertise is applied in the relaxed setting of nature to provide an unmatched opportunity to form long-lasting therapeutic alliances.

The five key stages of the Recre8 program

1. Clinical assessment – young people in Activ8 are assessed for their suitability for an overnight or multi night experience
2. Preparation – Young people begin to prepare and attend preparation activities in nature to further assess their capacity and commitment to the program. This also serves as a gentle introduction to being in an outdoor environment and developing the skills required for an extended camp or expedition. 
3. Multi-day Therapeutic Camp or Expedition – Participants develop resilience and confidence as they complete the program and overcome the physical challenges. Throughout this entire journey, each participant has 24/7 access to our team of psychologists, social workers, and therapeutic mentors who provide mental health support whenever it’s needed. 
4. Follow-up Support – After the expedition, continued support is provided by their therapist or mentor through the Activ8 program, providing good continuity of care.  Participants are invited to join Elev8 where they can co–create more group adventures with the peers from their event as well as a community of young people with lived experience. 
5. Reunion – The Recre8 program concludes with a reunion event where participants can reflect on their experience with their peers and begin to integrate new learnings into their daily lives.