Anasazi Foundation

The Anasazi way has brought hope to our family. We were struggling to keep our daughter safe before we decided to take her to the Anasazi to walk the trail. The lessons both she and we learned through the journey has helped us turn our hearts to trying to walk together. Things are not perfect, but we are in a much better place thanks to the Anasazi Foundation. I highly recommend them.

I attended the Anasazi wilderness program between my junior and senior year of high school. Looking back, it was easily one of the most impactful 42 days of my life. The experience shaped me in ways I’m still grateful for years later. While I’ve seen recent criticism toward wilderness programs as a whole, I feel compelled to speak up for Anasazi. This organization is truly different. The care, intention, and integrity they bring into their work set them apart. It’s not just about time in the wilderness—it’s about healing, growth, and reconnecting with yourself and others in a way that very few environments can offer. Anasazi didn’t just help me get through a tough season of life—it helped lay the foundation for who I am today. I’ll always be thankful for the people there and the journey they guided me through. If you’re considering Anasazi for yourself or a loved one, know this: it’s one of the best—if not the best—programs of its kind. I will forever hold space for the Anasazi Program.

Attending Anasazi when I was 19 was one of the most challenging yet transformative experiences of my life. Being out in the wilderness stripped away all the distractions and comforts I once took for granted, forcing me to truly reflect on who I was and what I wanted for my future. This program taught me resilience, self-reliance, and most importantly, gratitude—even for the smallest things. I realized how good I have it in life, and that no matter what obstacles I face, I always have the choice to walk forward every single day. The lessons I learned in the desert didn’t just stay there; they continue to shape my mindset and the way I approach life. Now, at 25 years old, I still stay in contact with Anasazi because they are truly an incredible organization. The support, wisdom, and kindness they’ve shown me over the years have only deepened my gratitude for everything they gave me. This isn’t just a program—it’s a lifelong connection to a community that genuinely cares. If you’re considering Anasazi, take the leap. It will change your life.

Anasazi was such a great experience for our child as well as our family. It was not about changing how our child behaved. It was about showing them their greatness and giving them a space to learn how to think in a way that leads them forward in life. We were assured that as long as we (as parents) were committed to changing our ways of thinking we would see the same amount of change in our child, and that is how it turned out. 100% would do it again.

The 62 days that I spent in Anasazi were some of the hardest and greatest days of my life. Never have I felt more alive and connected with nature than during the start of my addiction recovery at Anasazi. At first, I hated my parents and I hated wilderness. Most people look at wilderness programs as a punishment that abusive parents bestow, but for my loving parents who almost lost their son, it was the hardest decision they have ever had to make. I never had a senior year of high school. For me, traditional rehab and conventional mental health centers were not going to help me in the slightest. Anasazi was the only program I have ever gone through that has had a real lasting impact on me. It has made me a stronger and better person. The connections I made with the other kids and the staff, as well as the real experiences I have had in nature are irreplaceable. I almost didn’t want to leave! A lot of people who have gone through this program want to come back as staff members because of how much they ended up loving it. Learning to cook, making fire from sticks, sleeping under the stars, and having no real-world responsibilities besides hiking is something I fantasize about re-living all the time. I could not recommend this program enough to any parent who doesn’t know what to do with their child. Although I didn’t write a letter to my parents for over a month, the feelings I felt when I ran to them at family camp are still strong in my memory 3 years later. I was so excited to tell them about everything I had learned and all of the surprises I had in store for them that I had saved for family camp. Drugs weren’t in my mind at all when I left. I was just excited to go to Wendy’s for my first time. I still keep in contact with the boys I went to Anasazi with. I’m still in contact with the program to this day. Anasazi will always be a part of me and I thank them for the experience I was lucky enough to receive.

Anasazi was instrumental in helping our son. We'd tried many counselors, two different IOP's in combination with different prescriptions but he was only getting worse and more distant, and finding ways to self medicate which was severely effecting his health. We started looking for an inpatient program but found Anasazi. Their unique program of learning with natural consequences helped him find himself again. He learned many valuable lessons from the trail that gave him hope and direction. The trail walkers are amazing, were able to guide him and took good care of him. He met with a counselor once a week out on the trail to talk through things in his life and set future goals. The same counselor then met with us on a later day to keep us informed of his progress and help us with our training as well. As parents we went through valuable training to help foster a loving family relationship so we can continue to support him at home. The program didn't end when he returned home. Training and resources for parents continued so we can continue to be supported in our efforts and get help as we run into challenges or set backs. He also has resources available to him anytime he feels he needs the additional support. I wish programs like Anasazi could be available to anyone who needed it.

I was a young trail walker. I loved it and being with the new trail walkers every week! I have made two new best friends out of this program and We still talk to this day. I still bust and I still think about the lovely people who work for Anasazi Foundation, how they have welcomed me with open arms when I walk into the office and I love seeing them when I can. I am happy I did this program and I hope others love it too!