Cove Creek Farm is a simple place with a simple mission, to help young men and their families reach their full potential. With this in mind, we have created for our residents an atmosphere where trust and self discipline are expected and rewarded. Cove Creek Farm is not a treatment center nor is it a halfway house; it is an incredibly healing, loving and enlightening living environment designed to help at risk young men aged 16 and older. Our farm is located on 25+ acres of pasture and woodland nestled at the foot of several beautiful mountain ridges. Horses, burros, chickens and ducks reside in the pastures; deer, turkey and numerous other wild creatures abound. Riding trails, fishing in historic Cove Creek and other nearby streams, tubing, kayaking, camping out, hiking, backpacking, basketball, volleyball, billiards and weight lifting are only some of the activities available to residents at Cove Creek Farm. Of course the winter brings skiing and all the other cold weather sports. Our guys live in a large historic farm house. Cove Creek supplies the food, but it is the responsibility of the residents to plan and prepare their meals. High speed internet access, cable TV and telephones are available to the residents (long distance calls home are free).

In this setting, an individual set of goals for each young man is co-developed by the Cove Creek Team, the resident and his family. Parameters are established taking into consideration the maturity, self control and abilities of the young man who wishes to develop his strengths, identifying and overcoming weaknesses and creating a solid foundation of integrity, spirituality and stability. He will learn the difference between a response and a reaction and will understand how to be a contributor instead of a consumer. Working under the assumption that a person's spiritual condition is at least as important as his mental, physical and emotional condition, Cove Creek addresses all areas of our residents' lives. Helping your son grow to be a righteous son, husband and father, full of integrity and confidence as a result of a clear relationship with his Higher Power is our desire. Weekly individual and group sessions with the Cove Creek Team, Sarah Moncelle, our Educational Facilitator at Cove Creek Academy and other residents are built into his schedule. If appropriate, he is able to attend weekly A/A or N/A meetings on and off the farm with the opportunity to interact with older and more experienced sponsors.

Because we do no clinical counseling on site, we have developed a close relationship with Dr. Andrew Shaw, M.D. , a local psychiatrist who is incredibly gifted in working with young men as well as several licensed counselors who are available for long term therapy. All work closely with parents and staff at Cove Creek. The thrust of on site counseling is aimed at helping our residents develop a strong moral base and addressing improper and destructive behavior. Moral, spiritual and ethical counseling is ongoing at Cove Creek.

The houses are supervised 24/7 by two graduates of the Cove Creek Farm program who are in or graduates of the School of Leadership Program. Daily and weekly meetings are held by the house managers to iron out problem areas while offering constructive feedback as well as planning and scheduling for the next week. Each resident, as part of his commitment, works every day on the Farm. This helps him learn skills such as scheduling, time management, thinking ahead and appropriate group interaction and cooperation. We do not seek to be restrictive in our approach to teaching self discipline; instead we look for ways to make being self disciplined and motivated valuable and desirable. As much freedom and responsibility as a young man can handle appropriately is granted him. As his level of comfort with freedom increases (as demonstrated by his ability to be trusted), he is granted more. For instance, when he demonstrates an inability to be trusted, breaks commitments or has trouble maintaining an appropriate GPA, he is confronted and a plan to self-limit is agreed upon. The resident thus helps to design his own natural consequences for behavior, allowing him alone to own any of the negative ramifications resulting from his inappropriate behavior.

As he limits his exposure to the things that keep him from being who he desires to be, he practices becoming independent in his thinking and decision making. At some point he will become practiced at identifying the obstacles standing in the way of the man he desires to become. Although we are not a religious institution, Cove Creek Farm uses the centuries old principles of the Judeo-Christian faiths, assisting each resident to realize his full potential, learning to accept responsibility for his actions and his words and creating a positive attitude and direction for his life. He is also going to have a great time accomplishing it! If you feel your son is ready to explore the next stage of his life, if he has recently graduated from a program and needs time to reintegrate, if he desires a chemical free alternative to dorm life or is simply not equipped to handle the world yet, please allow us the pleasure of your inquiry. I will be happy to discuss with you your unique situation and explore the financial aspects of living at Cove Creek Farm.