Take A Hike!

Your teen needs you, perhaps now more than ever before in his or her life. Build the right relational bridges, establish the lines of communication well, and you might find yourself really enjoying that teenaged boy or girl in your home.

In a previous post I referenced "Preparing for Adolesence," which involves a trip with your teen or pre-teen. This time I want to direct your attention to another trip, this one designed exclusively for a mother and her teen daughter, or a father and his teen son.

"Christ in the Tetons" is a relatively new ministry that offers a fantastic one week adventure experience in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Nothing unites a parent and their teen quite like the challenge and excitement of mountain adventure! Christ in the Tetons offers a memorable, meaningful time of excitement and reflection. Note that they describe their courses for parents and their children, but welcome and encourage the attendance of committed mentors and their protégés.

Consider their course adventures (this is what they do with fathers and sons, and I am uncertain as to how they will approach their first mother-daughter course offering this summer): rock climbing, mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking, trips to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, sightseeing in Jackson Hole, a Chuckwagon Dinner and Old West Show.

If you can set aside a week, you won't find a better way to spend quality, spiritually-oriented time with your son or daughter than at Christ in the Tetons. I've spent the past two summers taking each of my oldest sons on adventures with this ministry, and am thoroughly pleased with the outstanding activities, speakers, fellowship, food, personal challenge - and most importantly, the talk time with my boys.

Priceless!