By Darcy Ottey, Rite of Passage Supervisor We sit in a circle long into the darkening night, not far from South Point, Hawaii, the southernmost tip of the United States. One by one, each person shares the story of what brought them here, and with this story, the intent that they have been meditating on, …
Blog
A Growing Concern
The following article by Diana Ballon was featured in Cross Currents-The Journal of Addiction and Mental Health Autumn 2012 | Vol 16 No 1. A Growing Concern Horticulture therapy offers potent opportunities for healing and growth By Diana Ballon Work in the garden “takes priority over interacting with my symptoms,” says Toshio Ushiroguchi-Pigott. “It’s …
A Year on the Path of Growth
By Rob Jarrett, Admissions & Parent Communication Director It’s a Thursday afternoon at 2PM PST and my blog article is due tomorrow. I know I’m taking it all way too seriously, but I just reread and deleted the rough draft that I have been working on for the last couple of weeks. As tempted as …
Wilderness Programs Less Risky Than Daily Life
Check out this interesting article! https://www.omglobe.com/2013/03/28/wilderness-therapy-programs-less-risky-than-daily-life/
Essay From Former Student
Below, is a college essay from a former student at Pacific Quest…we are always grateful to hear from past students as they continue on their journey. I was fourteen years old and terrified. I had traveled eight hours by plane to Hawaii, driven three hours up and around the Kilauea volcano with a stranger, and …
Pacific Quest Celebrates Nine Year Anniversary
Pacific Quest is celebrating its nine year anniversary as one of the premier Outdoor Therapy programs for adolescents and young adults in the world. We are forging a new direction for mental health services by integrating naturopathic medicine, horticultural therapy, rites-of-passage, and best practices in clinical psychology and family therapy. Pacific Quest was founded in …
Hawaii Ranks #1 Fifth Year in a Row
Recent results of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index ranked Hawaii as the number one state for overall well-being. The categories that were considered in the index include emotional health, life evaluation, work environment, physical health, healthy behaviors, and basic access to necessities. The Aloha State has ranked number one for five consecutive years!
Staff Vision Fast
By Darcy Ottey, Rite of Passage Supervisor We sit in a circle long into the darkening night, not far from South Point, Hawaii, the southernmost tip of the United States. One by one, each person shares the story of what brought them here, and with this story, the intent that they have been meditating on, …
Adolescents Visit Manuka State Park
Recently, a group of the adolescent students had the opportunity to explore the rare and fascinating, two-mile loop trail at Manuka State Park. Manuka is a Natural Area Reserve, and one of the nineteen different reserves within the statewide Natural Area Reserves System. The Big Island of Hawaii island has eight reserves to call its …
Young Adults Visit the Hamakua Coast
By McLean Eames, Experiential Education Supervisor The Young Adult students recently explored new parts of the island and helped to clean up their local neighborhood. The group traveled north 40 miles up the Hamakua Coast to Kalopa State Park. The park is a Forest Reserve that protects 615 acres of native Hawaiian forest at 2000’ …
Creation, Transformation & Restoration in the Village at Reeds Bay
By Mac MacLaird, Horticultural Supervisor Reeds Bay When the Young Adult program moved to Reeds Bay, Hilo, the transition was similar to the transition plants go through when they get transplanted. For plants, the first couple days are the hardest, the first couple months at Reeds Bay were the most difficult for us. We had …