I guess you could call me an Anasazi success story. I am a mom to give kids, and I am almost done with my doctorate degree. I went 22 years ago when I was 15. I didn't want to go, but I learned so much along the way. This is the best experience of my life.
I am Blue Iron Moccasins, and I have spoken.
Best program ever, they helped reunite me with my parents in a way that I thought could never happen again! Anasazi helped me learn so much about myself and how much I meant to the world. Thank you Anasazi!
The Anasazi foundation feels like family. I ve never worked along side a greater group of people. My experience with them was amazing and I would recommend anyone to this incredible group of people
I've never seen a company that loves its employees or its clients more than Anasazi. I saw lives change, and I left Anasazi stronger than ever. I can't say enough good things about them!
I was able to go through this program and it changed my life. Every person who works here cares very deeply about every person they meet and they work hard to make sure we all walk out of there with tools to use to make our lives better. It is absolutely worth every penny and every second of time spent here. It is my most cherished memory and by far the greatest experience of my life so far.
Wonderful organization with lots of very thoughtful, educated, patient, and caring staff. The support during and after my daughter s experience is tremendous. She learned so much in the wilderness that she will forever benefit from. She has expressed she wants to work as a trailwalker when she s 21. 7 weeks may not be enough for some so keep your mind open to a longer stay. This is an amazing investment in your child and yourself. Learning new ways to treat others and your kids successfully is something you ll learn during and after your child leaves. Highly recommend over any wilderness or institutional program. I did tons of research and even had my daughter in a mental health facility before going to ANASAZI. I trust this organization and it s mission to helping troubled kids and parents. Highly recommend!
Our son was thirteen when he attended wilderness here. It was a great experience and one that will last a lifetime. He still needed residential treatment but for the right person it would be life changing.
In 2015 we sent our daughter to Anasazi hoping they could "fix" her; that's when "my" education started. I learned life changing principles during the parent's seminar and while studying books and other materials from the Anasazi Foundation and the Arbinger Institute. I was inspired to attempt my own parallel journey of sorts during my daughter's wilderness walking. Hearts were changed in the process; mine and hers. I will forever be thankful for the staff who walked with my daughter, and stayed with her both physically and emotionally. It's hard to put a price or measure an intangible thing like the degree to which Anasazi helps parents and children turn toward each other with empathy and healing.
I worked for both Anasazi and some other wilderness programs. I believe Anasazi has the best program out there and that they do an outstanding job of giving kids and families the tools they need to overcome problems and build better relationships. I would send my own children there.
Anasazi changed my life when I was 15 years old. At the time I was making very poor choices, running away alot, hanging out with all the wrong people, and causing a lot of pain and worry in my family. My mother put me in Anasazi in June of 2007. I was angry, I didnt want to talk to anyone, i felt betrayed. It took me two weeks to finally open up to the trail walkers, and my Shadow Richard. When i finally let go, and opened up to them about how I was feeling, why I had been making the choices I had, i felt my spirit change. I no longer had a heart at war, but a heart at peace. I learned so much on those beautiful trails of the Arizona landscapes, during beautiful Sunny days, or in the middle of a Mansoon, while hiking a few miles a day, or during siesta on a mountain near a creek bed, I learned more about myself, and made goals for myself. I learned about life, how to make the best out of a situation with very little. I learned to worknwith others, and to not only focus on myself, but as a team, learning to help others, how to push others, and help them when they feel like giving up. Anasazi was an experience I will never forget. Even now 12 years later when I am having a bad day, i rememeber my days on the trail, I close my eyes and imagine it, and it calms me. The girls I was with I am still in contact with, My Shadow, i am still in contact with. I believe if I never experienced Anasazi and had the amazing conversations with the trailwalkers, the awakenings i had about myself and my life, I would not be where I am today. I owe a lot of who i am to Anasazi. If your child is going through a hard time, if you feel helpless, reach out to Anasazi, speak with them about your options. Thank you Anasazi for everything you taught me, to all my trail walkers, that still remember everyones name, thank you, my band, I love you all and have a special place for each of you. Ezekiel, you have done an amazing thing for so many!
With much love,
I am Red River Hummingbird, and I have spoken.
I am forever grateful for the Anasazi program! It literally saved the lives of 2 of my children.
My oldest son, shortly before he turned 16 started making some poor choices. We were worried! We saw the path that he was headed down and it caused us great concern. His actions and behavior were hurting the whole family, himself and those who loved and cared about him... He had told me a few weeks before we sent him to Anasazi that he just wanted to go out into the woods and figure things out. A few weeks later I found the Anasazi program. It all made sense. Our son would be out in nature learning about himself and seeing how his actions affected himself and others. He would be learning lifesaving skills that would allow him to survive anywhere. He would be away from peers that were not good for him and dragging him down an empty path and be able to look at his life and see where he wanted to go and become and make decisions that would provide success and happiness for him. Also, Anasazi provided us, as parents, the opportunity to look at ourselves and see where we were contributing to the challenges he was experiencing. it wasn't just about changing him.... but it was about changing us too. While he learned about the wilderness, survival skills, forward walking, learning to ask and tools to get along with others in a positive way we learned about how we were part of the problem and how to make changes to our parenting style to create a better and positive relationship with him. He spent the first 4 weeks on the trail pretending that he got it... at week 6 we received a call from Anasazi that he might be on the trail a bit longer... He had finally stopped playing the game and
decided to take on his life. He told us in a Christmas letter that when he woke up Christmas morning and felt the ground beneath his back and had the sun over his head, he knew that there was a greater plan. He stayed on the trail 13 weeks! Unusual even at that time, it was his choice to really get to know himself and realized he had only played the game the first 5 weeks and wanted to get everything out of it that he could. What a joy it was to pick him up and spend 3 days on the trail with him as he took care of us and we continued to work out our differences with him. We all still work on walking forward and making good choices but now we all have some skills that can assist us! When anyone has serious challenges with their youth, and they ask my opinion my first response is Love them no matter what and send them to Anasazi it's the best gift you can give your child and your whole family!
The Anasazi foundation was an outstanding journey for our child, it was an experience that will be with her for her entire life. As parents it is difficult to turn over your child for someone else to take care of but the foundation became our family, and the teaching helped all of us in our relationship together. Forever thankful!!!
Just as many others have already said, the principles that I learned at Anasazi have changed my life forever. The program is about discovering the Seed of Greatness within each one of us by removing the clutter and business of modern life by returning to simple ways of living and learning. The philosophies taught here are emulated by the staff, and nature serves as the greatest teacher. Parents and youth grow together and turn toward one another by experiencing a mighty change of heart.
Anasazi saved our family's life, literally. We were in the midst of turmoil so profound that it took this team of professionals to unravel us. If you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and call Anasazi. Take the leap of faith it requires. Thank you, Anasazi.
Anasazi has done so much for our family. Myself having 6 years of sobriety and continuing to grow with various types of therapy, Anasazi helped us grow more than anything I ve done before. The level of gratitude I have for this beautiful organization is tremendous. Highly highly recommend!!
I enrolled my 13 year old daughter into the 49 day Wilderness Therapy Program. The staff helped us throughout the program, including through the enrollment process. The Therapy was effective. My daughter, before and after Anasazi, is as different as night and day. I had to adopt a new parenting style. It has impacted how I intereact with people. Our lives were transformed and my daughter has experienced
a total transfiguration. Thank you, Anasazi!!!
When we were looking for help for our child, other options seemed punitive and coercive. I knew my child would not respond well to this. We wanted help for ourselves too, as parents. Anasazi grows self-reliance and confidence in young walkers who discover they can do hard and amazing things. It also helps place parents and children on a path of peace by teaching the individual to honor the inner voice and to recognize the value and worth of every soul. Most crucially, we have learned that regardless of what choices our child makes, we can still give love while holding appropriate boundaries, and feel at peace with our way of being.
This program completely turned my life around. I will forever be grateful for the time I spent in this program!
I attended ANASAZI the summer before my senior year of high school. During that time, I made many lasting friendships which I still have today, more than ten years later. ANASAZI was a positive experience for myself and also for my family. It healed a lot of brokenness and taught me so much about who I am and how strong I am, mentally and physically. My trail walkers and therapist were positive influences and taught me how to be strong and trust myself. I learned so much from the ANASAZI teachings and now use them as I parent my own children.
As a field staff, we are called TrailWalkers. I came, ready to work, and emotionally broken. And I didn't realize it until I began to build relationships with outstanding people, learn from mother nature, and feel the Sacred Wind within me. These are also the things that helped heal me. I connect with people better and more easily now. I know who I am and what my goals are. I even know what I like and dislike, AND positively assert those opinions. I found self confidence, a positive self image, and higher self efficacy from my experiences with Anasazi. The effectiveness of the program, in my view, is in the consistent positive relationships (see Carl Rogers, Positive Relationship Theory) and the raw environment that effect individual intrinsic motivation (see intrinsic motivation theory). As has been said, nobody can 'fix' anybody. But you can give experiences that may impact the way they see the world. Experiences that allow new ways to relate to others. And learn how to learn. I was learning WITH the YoungWalkers (participants), and I realized that it is possible to struggle and give aide at the same time, because everyone struggles, even 'grown ups' and TrailWalkers.
I went to Anasazi 3 years ago in April of 2017 and I talk about my experience every single day still! I would do anything to relive my journey there. The staff is super friendly and doesn t push any opinions or religion onto you. The way the program works is all up to you to decide how it turns out. Not one girl that left Anasazi in my group was unhappy or unchanged. I had been to 2 mental hospitals and several therapists before I went and none of it worked. After Anasazi, I never saw a therapist again! Nature has a weird way of helping to overcome mental health and addictions. Was it physically challenging? Of course! But that s the beauty of it- I became much more grateful and felt positive on every aspect in my life after I attended this program. Don t let the stigma against these programs fool you- Wilderness therapy has a far more effective rate of patients than any other rehab or mental health facility. Specifically to the Anasazi Foundation, there s no other program I would ve rather gone to. I m so thankful that it was brought into my life and I HIGHLY recommended going to Anasazi.
Changed my life. Absolutely unbelievable. I look back on these times as the best in my life. Truly happy.
Can t even begin to explain the amazing changes I had in my life because of my experiences at Anasazi. I love this program!
2 of my teenagers and 1 adult son made this journey. It was wonderful. U can totally trust these fine people with your family. They literally act with respect and kindness in all situations.
I was a trailwalker (a counselor on the trail) for Anasazi for 7 short months and it shaped my life and who I am as a person. There is nothing like being out in the wild, learning to be self reliant, having time to disconnect with the world and connect with individuals and the Creator, and taking time to just be still. I watched as young lives that came to us troubled, were changed. Their confidence grew, their self-worth grew, their communication skills grew and they began to see who they could be in life, their true potential. I will be forever grateful for my Anasazi experience!
Anasazi restored the relationship between my daughter and I. It is an amazing program and worth every penny.
I worked here as a TrailWalker in 2014. I thought that I was going there to help others, which I'm sure I did, but this foundation, its principles, teachings, and the other staff members helped fill a hole in my sole I didn't know that I had. I would recommend this program to anyone over any other program out there. There is nothing that can compare with it and its life changing results.
The Anasazi Foundation is an amazing foundation. Its staff and program are a life changing. I have witnessed friends and families achieve life long change. Highly recommend.
Anasazi did an amazing job making us feel good about our decision to bring our son to Anasazi. The staff was so warm and comforting when we arrived. I also think Michael Sanders does an unbelievable job in his parenting class. It was truly a life changing day for us. I am hopeful that our son will have an amazing experience to talk about once he returns.
Anasazi changed my life forever. I was a Trail Walker in 2008. Serving the teenagers at the Anasazi foundation did more for me personally then my LDS mission in making a difference in my life. The principles, culture, instruction, and "Anasazi way" are inspired of God. Anasazi can reach those that cannot be reached in any other way, including myself. I love Ezekiel and his family and have an eternal bond with all those that crossed my path during this period of my life. This is my best attempt to describe with words the impact Anasazi has had on my life.
I was a youngwalker at ANASAZI. It was one of the hardest experiences I have ever had. The first week kicked my butt, I was picky and really out of shape. I learned so much there, things that I could never learn anywhere else. There's just something about being in the wilderness, nothing is more natural, your soul has freedom and nature naturally makes our souls happy. There isn't a single day that I don't think about my experiences and everything that I learned while there.
My dad has worked at multiple youth programs as a therapist like ANASAZI and he chose to send me to ANASAZI because it is simply the best one out there.
Anasazi is awesome- such a great program that does so much for so many :)
I love the guiding principles of ANASAZI. It results in a program invested in not just outward behavioral changes but changes of the heart, changes that affect the whole family, and all that done without discrediting the youth as a person of worth with great potential. I loved my experiences with ANASAZI both on the trail and off.
It has been about 24 years ago now that my daughter was in Anasazi. In am not going to disclose all the things that landed upon her at the time, only to say that she was required to carry a load that far exceeded what any teen age girl should have to carry and involved severe trauma.
I still remember meeting with her on the trail at the last portion of her time there. Her self confidence had grown immeasurable and her self worth was restored. Upon leaving, she still had to face the difficulties that continued to exist in her life, one of them being the divorce of her mother and I and all the complications of continuing a family life with such different dynamics.
But she did it, and she did it in her own way and she did it well. Today she is a loving, giving mother with well grounded children. I feel that the things that she internalised while in Anasazi have played a major role in her success.
I am convinced that if had not been for Anasazi, she in all likelihood just would not have been able to survive that very traumatic time in her life, and we would not have each other today.
Anasazi, never was a punitive approach but instead a teaching opportunity for both my daughter and my wife (my daughter's step mother). We all learned and benefited from the experience.
My experience with the Anasazi Foundation forever changed me for the better. It's an inspired program that helps individuals by focusing on the family as a whole, and the greatness that is in each of us. I was able to be a part of the team at Anasazi and saw 1st hand the true change that comes from walking in the wilderness.
It was great to see the light in our daughters eyes again after 56 days of living primitively in the desert with a band of teens. I particularly enjoyed her story telling of her experiences on the trail. We will always be able to use and come back to the learning that took place with the Anasazi Foundation.
I am begging you, do not send your teen here. The wilderness program is horrific, abusive, and is sold as this amazing program that will straighten out your trouble teen with a strong focus on God. Its not. It is a excuse for sadistic, unqualified people abuse your teen. I cannot put into words, how twisted the people running and working this program are. There is nothing helpful or positive about making your teen hate themselves
I attended Anasazi as a Young Walker at the age of 16. I was, as many young people are, making bad choices while trying to navigate my young adult life. I was fortunate in circumstance to have two caring and loving parents who wanted the best for me. We looked at many programs and decided on Anasazi. I am so very grateful for that decision.
I was in the Arizona wilderness as a Young Walker for 72 days. I cannot explain what a profound positive impact that piece of time had on my life and continues to have in my life. I learned I was strong. I learned to be myself, and that I was worthy of lots and lots of love! I learned to ask for help when I needed it and to give help, kindness, and compassion freely to my fellow walkers.
As a 40+ year old woman with a loving husband and two wonderful children, I know I am one of the lucky ones. I was lucky to have the opportunity to attend Anasazi during a formative time of life; a time of life that can make or break learning how to "do life" for the long haul.
If you have the opportunity to send a young person to Anasazi(weather they are struggling or not), do it! The experience is something all young people should have. A coming of age expedition. Unfortunately in modern society we don't have enough of this.
If given the opportunity I would 100% give my children the Anasazi experience in their coming of age years. I will be forever grateful of my time there, and the strong woman I am today.
Sincerely, "Silver Dove of the Seeing Heart"
It is amazing that with all the money this place charges, has no real program in diagnosing and custom tailoring a treatment plan for each individual. They do not do MMPI test to see what the problem is . It is a camp not a treatment plan. We met very nice people there. But their plan is flawed. Would not recommend them. There are other camps with solid testing and treatment plans. This is merely a hardship and nature survival wilderness camp. We wasted our money and now paying again to get real treatment done by real professionals.
I love Anasazi! The best place I have ever been. There were so many Awakenings or spiritual experiences while out in the wilderness. My time there sunk deep into my heart and life. Thank you Anasazi!
Anasazi is a great program that helps bring families in crisis closer together.
This place is awesome. I m so grateful to be part of the ANASAZI family now
My sister went through ANASAZI as a Sinagua Walker, and I later became a trailwalker. ANASAZI is a place where imperfect people learn the skills to live at peace with themselves and others in imperfect environments; I ve learned that first hand as my sister went through the program and as I saw myself change as a member of the staff. I m a firm believer that if you give 100% you can receive 100%. That being said, it may not be in the way you or your family expect but there can be growth as you walk the ANASAZI way.
As a struggling youth, ANASAZI was integral in opening the channels of communication between me and my parents. It is because of this amazing program that I now have a very positive and healthy relationship with my mom and dad. I also learned a great many skills on the trail that I believe established a foundation of principles to help me overcome challenges and ultimately live a happy and productive life. I love the culture, I love the people, I love the message: Within every child is a seed of greatness.
I've known about the Anasazi Foundation since I was a very young child. My step-mom was one of the first guides on the trail when it was just starting. The work they do for youth is amazing. I recommend it to everyone who asks for help with their youth.
I have a son who was making some poor choices, we enrolled him in the Anasazi Program best decision we ever made! Then let's fast forward 10 years, almost to the date! I had a daughter who was struggling! She was being bullied at church and finally decided that it would be better to end her life. Take her life, my beautiful daughter wanted to end her life!! She made a video that she wanted to be shown at her funeral and thanks for promptings from God, I found it on her computer. She had taken it to school to give to one of her friends. When I found the video my husband and I picked her up from school, before she had a chance to give it to her friend, and took her to the hospital..... It didn't take us long to make a call to Anasazi to find out if they worked with suicide ideation. Knowing and trusting the Anasazi Program, from out son's experience, for completely different reasons, we took our beautiful daughter to Anasazi. She didn't know she was going, we knewshe wouldn't agree to go....So when we arrived and she recognized the name on the building, she jumped out of the car to try and run away. She ran for about 3 miles before she stopped. A beautiful trail walker ran with her to protect her and be with her until she stopped. She finally came back to the Anasazi office ready, but not necessarily willing, to go out on the Anasazi trail. She called her older brother who had walked the same trail. He shared his love for her and told it would change her life. Little did she know that day that her life would never be the same. She grew in skills, and an appreciation of nature, grew closer to her supreme being and learned how strong she was. She learned new skills about defending herself against bullies and how not to give them power! As a family we once again grew closer, learned new skills and remembered forgotten ones. WE all learned about forward walking and learning to ask. Eight long weeks later we picked up our loving daughter with a new outlook on life! She came home and made changes to allow the new young woman that she was, to keep the skills she had learned. While she had changed, her old "friends" had not, and she needed a new start! A new school, new friends, new sports and new clubs! Once again there are constant opportunities to use our Anasazi skills as challenges present themselves to choose to make a choice to walk forward and make positive choices. Thank you God for Anasazi! Anasazi is a gift to all and especially families that are facing children that are making poor choices!
Very positive program for helping young people through contact with nature and universal spirituality.
I love this organization. What a blessing it is to be a part of it.
I love Anasazi. Growing up I knew many people who left the program with a better understanding of themselves, a greater love for their families, and desire and strength to be better. I also had the opportunity to work there as a trailwalker, it was one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experience of my life.
I attended Anasazi as a wayward teenager 13 years ago. I learned so much about myself and the beauty this world has to offer. I can't recommend this program enough, the people and the teachings are so basic and powerful. Much love to the collective heart and soul this program provides.
Anasazi absolutely changes lives. I saw it happen reapeatedly in the students I got to work with there. In addition I saw it change my own life as a staff member, understanding my own walking.
Anasazi is a nonprofit wilderness program dedicated to improving the lives of young people and their families. I will be forever grateful to the TrailWalkers at Anasazi, as well as the administrative staff, who helped us in our time of need. I truly believe that Anasazi saved our son's life and showed our son and our daughter a way of being that they have drawn on as they have walked forward in their lives. It also showed my husband and me a different way of being that has made us better people. I will be forever grateful to Anasazi, to Ezekiel, to TrailWalkers who may not even be there anymore, to Tate, Mike Merchant, Sean, and to all the people at Anasazi!
This amazing group of people are there for you and your child when you are wondering if anyone else is. They instill hope in the hearts of young people, encourage them to walk forward when they have lost their way and give them the courage to see they CAN climb the mountain before them. Their gift is, simply put, a life changing event for both the child and the parents. I could never thank them enough for the difference they made.
I spent a summer and fall working on the trail for Anasazi. It is such an amazing program. Even as an employee, the program, staff and kids changed my heart and life forever.
If I could rate this program with 6 stars, I would. I got off of the Anasazi trail just over a year ago, and it has changed my life. Not only were the other girls in my band the best friends I've ever had, but the staff that accompanied my journey were simply amazing. Everyone I met here were people that genuinely cared about our well-being. Everybody wanted to see us get better, and they were willing to sit with me every day to talk about my 7 week stay in the woods. The TrailWalkers especially have taught me on and off the trail to be vulnerable. I use these lessons every single day and I have made some friends that help me walk forward and vice versa.
I am originally from New Hampshire and after returning from Anasazi, I knew I had to go back to help other kids like me. I moved from NH to Arizona and now my goal is to become a TrailWalker. I knew I wanted this as a goal as soon as I completed my first week on the trail. I love every single person that has helped me along my journey, and there is no way I could ever forget them. What really helped me continue my life post-trail were the calls I got from alumni services. Even though I was so far away from Anasazi, I got to look forward to calls from my favorite people ever. If you are looking for a program that truly cares about you or your child, consider Anasazi. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about the trail.
I am Dawn of the Eternal Sunrise and I have spoken.
Anasazi was an amazing and life changing experience for our son as well as for us as parents. The lessons we learned will be with us for a lifetime. Can t express how worthwhile this experience was!
After almost 15 years, I still think back on my experience at Anasazi often and fondly. It was such a unique and rewarding program and i couldn't be more thankful for what they do.
Long before our daughter had the privilege of working at Anasazi as a trail walker, I was reading about the principles that move the work done there, in the Arbinger Institute books. It is clear to me that the Anasazi program is so successful because it is founded upon true principles. I applaud all the people who work to exemplify those principles, and everyone who goes there to give it a try. Well done, Anasazi.
I've been working with the Anasazi Foundation for a couple years. The experiences I've had here have been very dear and precious to me. The staff and the people coming through the program are in the same boat- the same problems, the same joys, they learn the same things, they even eat the same things. It's been a beautiful ride.
My brother participated in this program and was able to finally grab hold of the light he was so desperately trying for. He had some issues with addiction and wanted to get away from it, but just couldn't. During Anasazi, he learned how to trust God and how important family is. He came back free from the addiction and happy. It was so good to have my brother back again! My family will forever be grateful for the help of the trail walkers, ridge walkers, counselors and all the staff (it's been a while, so I don't remember all of the names...) that helped my brother free himself and find his way back to the light, God, and his family.
We are so impressed with the work this company does with the youth. We keep talking and sharing our experience.with others. We are walking forward thanks to Anasazi.
Working at Anasazi changed my life. I learned so much about myself and how to be a better person and live peaceably in the world. I learned to genuinely love and care for young walkers - they can become so much.
Incredible organization that my family and I have been involved with for decades. The people who run this organization are truly inspired people and change lives with their program.
I got the opportunity to walk with three Anasazi foundation. I learned to trust others and work together as We. It helped me builds a platform for forwards walking choices in my life.
This is an amazing foundation. I can not say enough about the entire staff, they are some of the most caring and compassionate people that i have ever met. You have changed our lives and now we walk as we. Thank you.
Holy mackerel. The weirdest people with the biggest hearts work here at this really weird job that somehow changes lives.
This is the best treatment place I have ever sent my daughter. They are fabulous and their program is very effective.
I used to work here as a trail walker and I've never had a job I enjoyed more. As an organization they are ethical and really care about helping families heal. There are many other therapeutic wilderness programs out there but anasazi was one of the first and is still one of the best.
When I was 16 years old, I had a terrible relationship with my parents. I was very angry all the time and looking back now I really don't know why. But I blamed them for every little thing that I felt and blamed them for the troubles I had with friends and school. It got to the point to where my parents didn't know what to do. They didn't know where to turn. They had a friend who had sent their child to Anasazi and it had really had an impact on their family so they decided to give it a shot.
I resented my parents for sending me at first. I felt like they had lied to me. Going to Anasazi was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but it is also the best thing I've done in my life. Those hikes are hard. Physically and emotionally. You are around other people who are going through so much and are sometimes angry and cruel. But through the struggles of walking forward, you learn to listen to the people around you. You see these troubled people who are just like you and you learn to love them. You learn from their struggles. You help eachother heal. And us young walkers would never be able to turn into the people we are supposed to be without the trail walkers who guide us every step of the way. I have never met more kind, wise and loving people in my life. The talks I had with my trail walkers saved my life. They taught me to love myself and to look at life differently. They taught me how to love differently. They taught me how to understand myself and my feelings, along with my parents and their feelings.
Going to Anasazi was the most incredible experience of my life. I will always be greatful for the young walkers and trail walkers I met on my journey. They changed my life. And they changed my relationship with my family. I know what is important in life now. I adore my family and wouldn't change them for the world. I talk to my parents every day now. They are my best friends even though I've been gone from the house for eight years now. I don't know how I could ever feel about my family the way I did back before I went to Anasazi and I will always be so incredibly grateful for the people there that helped me get to where I am now.
My Anasazi experience helped me become a better version of myself, someone I always hoped I could be. I believe my continued involvement with the foundation will keep making me a better person.
Went there as a young walker in 2001. Changed my life. I will never forget it.
No doubt the experience of a lifetime. If your child is struggling more than the average teenager or young adult, this will be an incredible time for them filled with affirmation from others and then themselves.
Two young people in my family have been young walkers. The strength it gave them to face what lay ahead of them and leave behind their past cannot be expressed. Anasazi is one of a kind.
As a trailwalker at Anasazi I saw and experienced incredible changes of heart. We experienced together some of the hardest trials of my life that brought out the needed answers to the troubles of the soul. Anasazi has a sacred trust with so many families whose hearts have been brought back together and lives have changed directions. I give it my highest recommendation for any parent searching for help and closeness with a struggling child. You don't send them away to be "fixed", you come together to be healed as a family and to better understand the lessons earth was designed to teach us.
I am River Otter at sunset and I have spoken
I was an instructor for SUWS, which was founded by Larry D. Olsen and Zeke. Sanchez. The samefounders of Anasazi. After spending 3 years of my life working with troubled kids, I've come to see the great importance of the program. It truly changes lives
I had the amazing opportunity to work as a "Shadow" at the Anasazi Foundation. The amazing experience of working with the wonderful staff and young people in that program has changed my life. As a Family Therapist that has worked with many young people & families facing challenges, I highly recommend Anasazi.
I cannot say enough about how great Anasazi is. My family has been involved with the program as young walkers and trail walkers for years. There is simply no experience that compares to the transformative power of this program. Anasazi heals hearts, brings families together and forges character in unique and potent way. This program has helped me and many others close to me, my family will be forever grateful that we got involved with Anasazi.
I had such a great experience with everyone I walked with. You learn things about yourself you didn't even know! I truly have a heart of peace, now.
I have known several adults who have worked for Anasazi and youth who have participated in the programs. They have told stories of the process working beautiful miracles in the lives of teens and families, both for those wanting to find a little more direction in life all the way to those who are in desperate and deep trouble. Anasazi is well worth the investment and time for families and communities.
I worked as a Trailwalker for Anasazi for twelve months in 2014. I've worked in a few different youth treatment centers since then and Anasazi is still the best program I have come across with the best, long-lasting results. It is also, to this day, the best company/foundation I have ever worked for. It is a life-changing program with the most loving and pure-hearted people. It is a program whose teachings will follow me throughout my life and translate to how I raise my own children. It is not easy by any means, but it is exquisitely worth every effort.
We sent our son here just over a year ago this week and we are so greatfull to them he now stops and thinks about his choices anasazi just let him work through his issues how he needed and figure how to sustain what he has learned from his walking we could not be more greatfull to them for the love and greatness they have brought out in our son
Anasazi changed my life for the better. I will always think back fondly of the memories, and friends I made hiking in the Arizona wilderness.
Two of my adult children have been trail walkers at Anasazi. Their experiences have been life changing for them and being with the young walkers has been something they will never forget. If you have a child in need of returning to their true self, I highly recommend Anasazi. You and they won't regret it!
I can't say enough good things about the Anasazi Foundation. Anasazi helped me get through a really dark and difficult time. I had been struggling with depression and addiction and Anasazi offered me a safe place to have a new beginning and consider the ways in which I could change. As an added benefit, Anasazi Foundation also helped me improve my relationships and it helped me find my true purpose. I'm so thankful that my parents suggested I go to Anasazi. Anasazi Foundation is the best addiction recovery program out there.
Anasazi did not ask me to write this review.
I was the RN for the program 1994-1996, 2 years as the intake and field/wilderness RN, I did the intake physicals & psych evals of nearly 400 kids while there. The program took the harshest of kids, most have had 1/2 dozen therapists and been in a couple of other inpatient programs. The program took kids from famous people, doctors, middle class and there were those that came in where the relatives pooled their funds together so the child could attend.
Nurse Bud (RN)
I left to work in a hospital setting, I since have 7 years ER and 15 years of high acuity ICU (CVICU fresh hearts, Burn ICU, Trauma ICU and surgery dept)
I worked at Anasazi for 4 months. I can't say enough good about it. The Anasazi philosophy is life changing and the quality people there were an honor to get to work with. Whether as a young walker, sinagua walker, or as staff I seriously think the whole world would benefit from going to Anasazi!
My daughter of 14 was exploding as she entered her freshman year of high school. She had been struggling all through middle school too with special attention and IEPs and other therapies and none of it helped. She was becoming more and more volitile and bullying her younger sibling and creating havoc in the house. Anasazi was a place of peace where she could get out of her own space and get back to the Creator and find herself. We participated fully in all the therapies and together we embraced one another. It was life changing. We still had work to do when she came home and for the next several years, but we were on a MUCH better trajectory. She's now 20, in college commuting from home and we love one another, all of us as a family, enjoying life together. She still speaks of it as a wonderful experience and is proud of it. She really wants to go back to AZ! Thank you Anasazi. I am Gentle Wood Owl and I have spoken.
I went to Anasazi almost 15 years ago, and I still think of it all the time. It absolutely changed my trajectory in life, and showed me my innate worth and capability. I can t recommend this program enough, to anyone considering it.
Anasazi was an extraordinary gift that we stumbled upon by accident. The trail walkers, the staff and administration, they are all amazing people who truly care about the families they serve. We chose this program for many reasons but a huge piece was the parental involvement. Parents have weekly therapy sessions, they have their own "walking" to do. This is not the place for you if as a parent, you aren't willing to take a look at yourself and your family as a unit. It is a lot of work, not just for your child but for the family as a whole. The after care is amazing. Our son is still in touch with his Anasazi family, three years later. We now have another son at Anasazi, and it was his brother who suggested we take this path...this time, sooner rather than later. We wouldn't trust our children with any other program.
We have nothing but great things to say about our experience with each person at Anasazi. They have a culture of respect, peace, resolution and discovery of one's inner gifts. Both parent and child are well prepared for what to expect. Meeting our daughter on the trail after her time on the mountain will go down as one of the neatest moments of our lives. I continue to use the tools we were taught and try to walk forward with a heart of peace each day. This is a life changing experience. While the trail is not easy, the work and effort is so worth it in the end. We have the utmost respect for this team, mission and corporation. I am Sunrise Glacier....and I have spoken.
Misty
Words cannot express my love and appreciation for this organization (and for my parents making me attend). I attended Anasazi over 18 years ago and I can honestly say that what I learned there has impacted every day of my life since. Anasazi helped me see the value in myself and others, skills to succeed, and how to have peace within my life. Anasazi is not a place that is going to "fix" your kid, rather help your child and your family gain skills to regain peace, respect, and love with each other and within. I am deeply indebted to the staff at Anasazi. They brought me out of the darkest places and gave me hope. I would recommend Anasazi over and over again.
Gentle Bear Walking
anasazi.org
