"Everybody is a genius.."
“..but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its entire life believing it is stupid”
– Albert Einstein
“..but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its entire life believing it is stupid”
– Albert Einstein
At Comeragh Wilderness Academy, we use a wilderness camp setting to provide a structured atmosphere where boys 11-15 years of age can work through problems moving towards behavioural, emotional, and spiritual wholeness.
We believe that financial concerns should never stand in the way of a child’s education and growth, especially considering the unique benefits our boarding school programme offers. If you’re worried about the costs and still want to enrol your child, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We have financial assistance programmes available to ensure that our programme is available to every family that needs it irrespective of financial means.
We’re always happy to discuss the different support options we have, making sure that finances don’t prevent your child from accessing this valuable opportunity for his personal and academic development.
For an average of 18 months, students live together in small groups, developing personal and social skills while working together towards common goals. The great outdoors is an exciting place for boys to explore, learn, and express their curiosity. With the careful guidance of our staff, they uncover their inner problems and in time, learn to master the struggles that have caused conflict and dysfunction in their family and community.
Comeragh Wilderness Academy is registered with TUSLA as an independant school.
The Psychology Behind Habit Formation
Habits, essentially, are the brain’s way of automating actions to save effort. They are formed through a loop process that involves a cue (a trigger for the behaviour), a routine (the behaviour itself), and a reward (a positive reinforcement of the behaviour). For students struggling with behavioural issues or learning in a traditional classroom setting, leaving behind negative habits and forming positive ones is central to their healthy development. Our programme leverages this understanding by creating an environment rich in positive cues, supportive routines, and rewarding outcomes.
The Significance of a Supportive Environment
At the heart of our boarding programme is the understanding that a nurturing and structured environment is crucial for students facing academic and behavioural challenges. A boarding school setting provides a consistent routine and a sense of community, both of which are instrumental in fostering stability and security. This stability is vital for our students, allowing them to form positive habits and attitudes that are often disrupted in less structured environments.
Programme Duration
It takes a student an average of 18 months to graduate from our academy. It has been discovered that this is the average time it takes to not only break away from old habits but also to firmly establish new, more constructive ones. This period allows for the deep, personal transformation that quick fixes cannot achieve. It acknowledges that change is a process, not an event, and provides the time needed for students to internalize new behaviours and mindsets.
Given the developmental stage of our students, this duration also respects the natural pace at which young adolescents grow and learn. It offers ample time for experimentation, failure, learning, and ultimately, mastery of new skills and habits.
Tailoring to Individual Needs
Recognizing that our students come with diverse needs and challenges, our academic programme is designed to be flexible yet structured, allowing for personalized learning experiences. This approach helps students who have previously struggled in conventional settings to discover their learning style and engage with the material in a way that feels meaningful to them. By doing so, we not only address their academic development but also bolster their self-esteem and intrinsic motivation to learn.
Building on Behavioural Change
For those with severe behavioural issues, our programme offers consistent guidance and support, emphasizing accountability, empathy, and social skills. The boarding school setting naturally facilitates this by providing numerous opportunities for social interaction and community living. These experiences are invaluable for practicing new behaviours in a real-world context, reinforcing positive change.
A Transformative Journey
Our boarding programme is more than an educational offering; it’s a transformative journey. By understanding the psychology of habit formation and the unique needs of our students, we’ve crafted an environment that fosters growth, learning, and positive change. Through this supportive and structured setting, students are equipped not just with academic knowledge but with life skills that pave the way for success beyond our school’s walls.
In its 70 years of implementation, the Wilderness Road Therapeutic Camping model of care has demonstrated an 85% success rate in reintegrating boys back into their home and school lives.
Bad habits are hard to break,
Good habits take time to make!
“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105
Hear the story behind Comeragh Wilderness Academy, meet the staff and learn why we do what we do.
Learn more about our academic programme which is based on the Wilderness Road Therapeutic Camping model. This model of education & care has been transforming lives for over 70 years.
We are always happy to answer whatever questions you may have. Please follow this link which will bring you to our ‘Contact us or make a donation’ page.
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