Every year in September, our nation celebrates Recovery Month to share the stories of real people in recovery. It’s unfortunate that in fiction and popular culture, the media portrays people suffering from addiction as villains or junkies. Drugs and alcohol have a dramatic effect on every young adult, disabling their judgment. While abusers under the influence may act out of control, like monsters, they are human beings just like you and me. More than anything they need our help, love, and support to get on and stay on the path to recovery.

Enjoying life, clean and sober, is possible after experiencing the damaging effects of substance abuse. Gatehouse Academy gives its residents the opportunity to experience life through renewed eyes, while teaching the life skills necessary for a lifetime of positive choices. Reinforcing the lessons learned with social activities and events gives residents a chance to communicate with each other and rediscover themselves – whether it’s through a week of camping, a night of volunteer work, or a weekend sobriety conference.

On a recent camping trip into the Mogollon Rim Mountains, Andrew P. shares with us the extraordinary benefits of returning to nature as part of the recovery process.

“It has been a little over a week since myself, Dave Birchall (Property and Facilities Director), and 5 other residents piled our camping gear and supplies into one of the vans and headed out for our 5day/4night excursion to the Mogollon Rim in Eastern AZ. After several days of excitement and anticipation, we finally hit the road. We were all ready to get away from civilization and into the wilderness for a few days. On the journey to our campsite, we all found the lush forest below and picturesque blue skies to be absolutely breathtaking.

At an altitude of 7400 feet and atop of a 1000 foot cliff, I couldn’t help but enjoy the scenery I was surrounded by. I felt a deep spiritual connection with my Higher Power.

We made camp at Knoll Lake Campground, and started to settle into where we would be staying the next couple days. Dave gave all of us a journal and asked us, ‘to think of something that each of us wanted to learn from this experience.’ Over the course of the week he wanted us to write whenever we felt compelled to do so. I have never been one to journal, but I found myself doing so, and getting in touch with and learning my inner-self – who Andrew really is...

We went to three different lakes while we were on our Journey; Knoll Lake, Woods Canyon Lake, and Bear Canyon Lake. All three were some of the most beautiful sights my eyes had ever seen. My favorite was Knoll Lake, where we got to fish, swim, and hang out all evening, before heading back to base camp. The lake was so still that the reflections of the sky, sunset, and forest appeared to have been painted on the water.

The trip served as a great opportunity to reflect on my Recovery and the life I am creating for myself while here at Gatehouse. On the last evening, we had a much needed Recovery Meeting around the campfire. It turned out to be one of the best meetings I have been a part of while at Gatehouse. I feel the best gifts I received from the outing were the chances to build stronger friendships with the guys and improve my connection with God, as I understand Him.

All in all, the trip was a success in my book, and something that I will remember for years to come…”