Anasazi Foundation

My wife and I worked for Anasazi as Trail Walker’s. It was simply one of the most amazing opportunities I’ve had. I love seeing the changes the program can make in the hearts of those that participate. I had a couple of my kids contact me years later to let me know how after their time at Anasazi they changed their lives for the better. It was the most rewarding job I’ve ever had.

Anasazi Foundation is not your typical program for at risk youth… it is so much more. My name is Smiling Crystal Streams. I am really proud of my name. Although I was a trail walker I had to earn my name the same way the young walker did when I walked the trail. I value the time I was able to walk with the Anasazi Foundation and consider it to be one of the greatest experiences of my life worth far more than any earthly possession. I am able use the lessons I learned on a daily basis. At Anasazi finding yourself and discovering your purpose is what happens. Families come back together and hearts are healed! I would recommend this program for anyone young or old. There is something Amazing that happens inside of you when you surround yourself with God creations and leave the technical, fast pace, rat race behind.
I would be willing to speak with anyone who seeking more information.
(This little blurb may seem romanticized… I tell you it is not. Walking the Anasazi trail is not easy… there were times it was very challenging. But when you discover the strength within to climb a mountain you thought that day was impossible, and you start to realize that you are so much more than you thought you were. You are capable of reaching the summit… and it was hard. At the end of that day you Thank your Creator for giving you what you needed to succeed, and you go to sleep thinking about everything that is truly important. It was the hard things that made my experience powerful. Finding that inner strength to do what is hard and seems impossible and the peace it gives you knowing you accomplished something great… that is what’s priceless.)

I was sent to Anasazi in the summer of ’99, at the tender age of 16. I had been experiencing considerable turmoil with my parents for a few years at that point, and my self-​esteem was nearly non-​existent. Thus, I found myself in a perpetual cycle of endless groundings and intense arguments. I became predictably and understandably miserable, passive-​aggressive and avoidant… you can imagine the rest (no legal or academic trouble though).
On the trail, I conquered many fears and obstacles, both physically and emotionally. I discovered my own abundance of strength, determination, persistence and self-​worth in the 2+ months hiking through the Arizona wilderness. While I cannot say the difficulties with my family were resolved at the end of my journey, I was a changed individual with newfound courage, clarity and confidence.
For that, Anasazi will always have a piece of my heart, and my unwavering vote of confidence.
HOWEVER, for all those parents anxiously reading reviews in consideration of shipping your child away in hopes that the returned product will be a cookie-​cutter reflection of your unrealized offspring dreams… take a close look at yourself before you invest in what you imagine will be a miracle transformation. Your child may return as a new person, or possibly as a happier, more appreciative version of their former self, but that will quickly vanish if you do not commit to embarking upon similar emotional exploration. While I do not believe that the parents are always to blame, I do believe that a family is a system of working parts. Just as your home may look beautiful with newly installed flooring, that luster will soon fade if the underlying foundation lacks proper care and maintenance as well. You get my drift…
Similarly, if your child returns home and does not encounter the support and encouragement he/​she needs to continue with their ‘forward walking’, a regression to previous behaviors and attitudes may make an unwelcome reappearance.
From my understanding, the required involvement for the parents of ‘Youngwalkers’ is far more intensive today than during my walking in ’99, but again, don’t bother if your intention is to BS your way through those responsibilities. This is true of any treatment geared towards restoring functional family dynamics, and by no means an indication of inadequacy on the part of Anasazi.
If necessary, I would not hesitate to send my own daughter to Anasazi. Regardless of the outcome, at least I could rest assured knowing that I had afforded her the most amazing gift of potential self-​realization I could possibly imagine.
Thank you, Anasazi.
Peace,
Chanting Quail Star

his is a cult. They claim to be non denominational but that is simply not true. The break down kids and then surround them with Mormon beliefs and homophobic beliefs. They monitor all your contact to your parents making it impossible to make them aware of the circumstances. If you write or say things that aren’t a praise of the program they threaten you with extension, basically saying they can keep you till you’re 18. So if you wish that your child ws devoid of any individualism and a devote Mormon who views African Americans as a result of the curse on Kane and that all other beliefs are a sure path to hell and that a loving relationship between people of the same-​sex is equal if not worse then beastiality. Please just speak to your children. Don’t ship them off to a bunch of Mormon in the woods (for what seems like obvious reasons.)

What makes Anasazi different than other adolescent intervention programs—
They are non-​profit. The best interest of the kids and families is the bottom line. This also allows them to be considerably more affordable. They even do fund-​raising year round in order to provide scholarships to those who otherwise could not afford help.
They embrace spirituality. Having worked with other programs, I saw the difference that made. In this natural environment and humbling experience, almost all of the kids begin to think more deeply. At Anasazi, this is a big part of recovery and study shows that recovery attached to faith is far more lasting. They do not speak in the language of or point the children to a particular religion but use the foundation of the faith that may be a part of their family and use a language that can easily apply to principles taught across denominations.
Anasazi asks their trail staff (trailwalkers) to walk the walk. Trailwalkers are trusted to live a code of conduct, even off of the clock, that is in congruence with the principles that they are teaching on the trail. No one will buy what you’re selling if you don’t believe in it. This is another very recognizable difference that I noticed as I have worked with other programs.
Along the same lines, as trailwalkers we were trained to avoid ego trips and power trips. We were told to be careful how we label the youngwalkers and avoid terms like «troubled youth» as we all have troubles. We were told that we should be working right alongside the kids, to set an example. We were to improve our own family relationships, overcome unhealthy habits, and improve our «way of being» or way of walking in the world. As a result, MY life changed exponentially for the better!
Most adolescent intervention programs focus on changing behavior. Essentially bribes and/​or threats. But this is manipulation and it invites the kids to manipulate — to say and do what you want them to, while they are with you, so as to advance in levels or graduate the program. Anasazi focuses on teaching principles and changing hearts.
«No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care». At a previous job, I was warned to not ever let my relationship with the kids be personal, to not invest basically. At Anasazi, there are boundaries to be sure, but we were to empathize with these kids, to remember the sacred trust of their parents and their great worth to their Creator and to treat them as we would want to be treated. I was surprised to find that if I loved the people I was serving, I did NOT «burn out» as I had been warned but was all the more energized and motivated.
Anasazi has been one of the best parts of my life. I know that it changes hearts and lives!

I can’t say enough about the Anasazi Foundation. It was one year ago this month that our son spent 49 days with them on the trail learning about himself and how to walk forward. The trail walkers are amazing people who walk the walk. Everyone who works with Anasazi is amazing and I’m so glad our family found them. It saved our sons life and we are grateful everyday. Right now we are preparing to send gifts to the young walkers who are on the trail during this holiday season. Our son was there on Christmas and was important for him to know he was loved and missed. Thank you Anasazi!

Our son needed treatment for severe depression and we did not know where to turn. The recommendation was to find placement in a residential treatment center for 3 to 9 months. We were overwhelmed by the immediacy and urgency of the situation, trying to research programs in and out of state, and battling with the insurance company. If you need to send your teen into a therapeutic recovery program, it can be heartwrenching. I cannot emphasize how lucky we were to have found Anasazi. This is not the kind of program where you drop your child off and say, «Here — fix my kid.» This is the kind of program that asks you to work on yourself and your family whild your child works extremely hard both physically and emotionally. It’s been 6 months since we went to family camp with our son, and he still talks about how great Anasazi was. The biggest change I see in him is his self confidence. He still has his struggles, but he really talks to me now, and he no longer turns to self harm. I feel that he got more out of 6 weeks at Anasazi than he could have at any 6 month residential program. Anasazi truly helps heal individuals and families.

I can honestly say that Anasazi saved my life. When i was sent to Anasazi i was living in a downward spiral and needed a major change quickly. Anasazi and the people there, especially Zeke, Larry, Mike and Sterling were loving and supportive of my situation, and I never felt like they judged me or the decisions I had made in life. They only wanted to provide me with the tools and support I needed to make major changes in life.
If I ever get to the point that I have the money, I would send all three of my kids, just so that they can experience the incredible growth that I did, even if they don’t «need» it in their lives.
It has been nearly 20 years now and I still draw on the lessons learned and the confidence I gained from my trip to the wilderness.
Thank you Anasazi! I love you all!

Anasazi Foundation is one of the greatest companies I’ve ever had the opportunity to work for. I did a short stint as a Trail Walker and it changed my life.
Anyone who has the means to contribute to this charity, wouldn’t make a better investment in our youth. I have seen many lives changed as a result of this program.
Considering the type of program it is, I was also very impressed with the way it was run. Ezekiel, one of the founders of the program, takes an active part in the programs and works directly with the family members of youth who attend.
Definitely a worthy youth rehabilitation program.