Jason’s Day Virtual 5K – Sign Up Today!
October is Therapeutic Wilderness Awareness Month! In recognition of this, we invite you to join The Jason William Hunt Foundation (JWHF) and wilderness programs across the country in the Jason’s Day Virtual 5K Charity Event! The JWHF exists to raise and provide financial aid for teens at-risk to attend to Therapeutic Wilderness Expedition Treatment Programs […]
Open Sky Launches New YouTube Channel
Open Sky has launched a new YouTube channel! Visit and subscribe today! On Open Sky’s new YouTube channel, you can get a virtual glimpse of our mountain and canyon country course areas, get to know our clinical experts, learn about field guiding, and discover what sets Open Sky apart in the field of wilderness therapy. […]
“The Weekly” Online Magazine Features Open Sky
The online magazine “The Weekly” featured Open Sky in their June 23 issue. The Weekly is a publication of Outdoor Retailer, and “brings retailers, brands, reps, designers, athletes, media, nonprofits, activists, artists, political decision makers, influencers, and other attendees of the trade show in-depth news about the outdoor industry, products, conservation, and the ongoing effort […]
SKYlights Podcast returns with all new episodes!
Open Sky Wilderness Therapy’s SKYlights Podcast returns this week with brand new episodes! Executive Director Emily Fernandes hosts new conversations with our clinical experts on a variety of topics such as healthy communication, parenting styles, the link between trauma and addiction, and successful transitions, to name a few. The SKYlights podcast is geared toward parents […]
“Osprey Stories” Features Open Sky Article on Mental Health
Open Sky is proud to outfit students with the highest quality gear, including Osprey backpacks. The Osprey company was founded more than 25 years ago and is headquartered in Cortez, Colorado—neighbors to Open Sky’s home base in Durango. We are grateful to be featured in the “Osprey Stories” on their website, which shares inspiration, stories, […]
Antibody & PCR Swab Testing Program, Launched April 15, 2020, for Open Sky Staff and Students
The core of Open Sky’s COVID-19 risk-management plan is prevention. To this end, we have all the systems in place outlined in our Navigating the Pandemic Response Timeline, including health symptom screening, social distancing, rigorous hygiene practices, education, and more. In addition, we recognized early on that an essential part of any successful action plan to prevail against this […]
Meeting the Needs of Families in Crisis During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As an organization committed to health and healing, Open Sky would like to take a moment to share the heightened preventative measures we have taken to continue serving adolescents, young adults, and families in crisis, while concurrently responding to COVID-19 concerns. We are committed to supporting public health officials in containing this pandemic while continuing […]
Open Sky Celebrates Clinical Therapist Jonathan Mitchell’s 10-Year Anniversary
Open Sky is proud to celebrate Clinical Therapist for Adolescent Boys, Jonathan “Badger” Mitchell’s 10-year anniversary at Open Sky Wilderness Therapy. For the past decade, Jonathan has shared his extensive expertise serving adolescents, young adults, and families, while delivering an unmatched positivity and passion for his work. Following his undergraduate education in math and physics, Jonathan […]
Guiding through Challenge with Grit and Grace: Welcome, New Field Guides!
Open Sky is pleased to welcome 12 new field guides to the team! This cohort brings highly positive energy to the field and to the organization as a whole. They are deeply committed to the work of connecting with, supervising, leading, and encouraging our students as they embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth. […]
“Stories From the Field” Podcast Features Norman Elizondo, Open Sky Family Wellness Counselor
Open Sky Family Wellness Counselor Norman Elizondo was recently featured on the podcast, “Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy”. In this podcast episode, listeners get a glimpse into Norman’s past and how he found his way to a career in wilderness therapy. Norman immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines when he was six years old. A “city […]
Morgan Seymour Contributes Article to OutThere Colorado
Adolescent Boys Therapist Morgan Seymour, LCSW recently wrote an article featured on the OutThere Colorado online site. Her article, “8 health-focused reasons to spend more time outdoors,” incorporates research and her perspective as a wilderness therapist. The article covers reasons why people would benefit from more time outdoors, whether or not they face challenging diagnoses […]
Open Sky Presents at NOLS Wilderness Risk Management Conference
Open Sky Family Wellness Counselor Norman Elizondo, Senior Clinical Therapist Mariah Loftin, MA, LPC and Assistant Health Director Coulter Stone, MAT, W-EMT were honored to present at the recent Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC). The WRMC, presented by NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), offers education and training in mitigating the risks inherent to exploring, working […]
Open Sky Founder & CEO Aaron Fernandes Delivers Closing Keynote Presentation at Local Economic Summit
Open Sky Founder & CEO Aaron Fernandes was honored to present at the 2019 Economic Summit of the La Plata County Development Alliance on October 23. The Economic Summit engages our region’s top leaders and decision-makers from the business, government, and academic communities with strategic dialogue related to the current economic impacts and future growth […]
Digital Media Overuse: Clinical Training for Assessment, Intervention, and Treatment
As our society adapts to the expanding presence of technology, researchers and professionals have been looking at its effects on mental, social, and behavioral health. In fact, the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases will list “gaming disorder” for the first time in its 11th revision, taking effect in 2022. Recently, Open Sky primary […]
Denver Area Alumni Reunion 2019: Share, Encourage, Inspire
We had an incredible time reconnecting with and celebrating our alumni last week at the Denver Alumni Reunion! Open Sky staff, alumni students, and alumni families gathered in Denver on Thursday, September 26 to share, encourage, and inspire. Open Sky alumni events are designed to bring together alumni at all stages of their journey post-Open […]
“Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy” Podcast Features Emily Fernandes, Open Sky Co-founder & Executive Director
Open Sky Executive Director & Co-founder Emily Fernandes was recently featured on the podcast, “Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy”. In this podcast episode, Emily speaks with podcast host Dr. Will White about her early years and her journey to the field of wilderness therapy. Emily shares stories from more than 1000 field days as a field guide at Aspen […]
Open Sky Denver Alumni Reunion!
Open Sky alumni students and families are invited to join us at our upcoming reunion! Denver, Colorado Area Alumni Reunion Gathering Thursday, September 26, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Event includes tacos and other tasty bites – hosted by Open Sky RSVP by Friday, September 13 Immerse yourself in the Open Sky wilderness therapy community, catch up with Open […]
2019 Jumping Mouse Award Recipient: Emily “Jonesie” Jones
Every year at the National Wilderness Therapy Symposium, a select group of field guides are honored for their excellence and grit at the Jumping Mouse Ceremony. Each participating program is invited to nominate one exceptional field guide to receive the Jumping Mouse Award, which recognizes a guide for his or her excellence and commitment to […]
Open Sky to Present at 2019 Wilderness Therapy Symposium
This week at the Wilderness Therapy Symposium, catch presentations by Family Wellness Counselor, Norman Elizondo; Program Director, Danny Frazer; and Executive Director, Emily Fernandes! Details on their presentations are below. Open Sky is proud to be a member of the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council, committed to collaborating with others in the industry on best practices […]
“Deconstructing Motivation” Podcast with Dr. Aaron Wallis
What is motivation? Is it simply willpower? The desire for a specific action? The actual implementation of that action? In episode 5 of the SKYlights podcast, “Deconstructing Motivation”, Young Adults Therapist, Dr. Aaron Wallis, breaks it down for listeners. Dr. Wallis discusses motivation through the therapeutic lens of “behavioral apathy”. Behavioral apathy is what keeps […]
Open Sky Wilderness Therapy Launches SKYlights Podcast
Open Sky, a wilderness therapy program nestled in the mountains of Colorado and the canyonlands of Utah, is excited to announce the launch of its podcast.
Open Sky Seeks Clinical Therapist to Join Our Team!
Open Sky is seeking a passionate Clinical Therapist to join our team. Driven by our core belief that all people have the capacity to thrive, Open Sky provides individuals and their families with the skills needed for lasting success.
Open Sky Launches Alumni reConnect Call!
Open Sky is pleased to launch the Alumni reConnect Call! Open Sky’s mission of “inspiring people to learn and live in a way that honors values and strengthens relationships” applies not only to current students, but to alumni students as well. The Alumni reConnect Call will be held on the third Thursday of each month and […]
Are You Ready to Make a Difference? Open Sky is Hiring Field Guides
Updated November 2019 The Raven is the iconic and majestic “mascot” of the high desert; its familiarity matched only by its mystery. The clever bird finds solace from the realities of the desert in many places, among them the resilient and adaptable branches of the Utah Juniper. The tree’s metallic blue pinecones, often confused by […]
Open Sky Welcomes Dr. Melia Snyder, Clinical Therapist & Education Director
Open Sky is excited to welcome Dr. Melia Snyder as Clinical Therapist and Education Director! As Education Director, Dr. Melia will focus on developing an educational curriculum for Open Sky students. As a Clinical Therapist, she will work primarily with young adults as they overcome challenge, form connection in healthy relationships, and begin to thrive. […]
Experience Matters: Program Director, Danny Frazer
Danny Frazer always dreamed of a career path that would allow him to help young people become the best version of themselves. Early on, he envisioned being a leader and role model for young people as a college basketball coach. However, after a summer internship with a Montana-based, family-run wilderness therapy program in 1996, […]
Dr. Aaron Wallis Featured in Woodbury Reports Podcast Series
Dr. Aaron Wallis, a Clinical Therapist at Open Sky serving the Young Adult population, was recently featured in Woodbury Reports. In an installment of Lon Woodbury’s podcast series “In Their Own Voice”, Dr. Wallis and Woodbury discuss the topic of motivation in young adults. Parents often question how to motivate their young adult who struggles […]
From Student to Guide to Jumping Mouse Award Recipient!
Article contributed by Field Director, Evan Meyer. Every year at the OBH Wilderness Therapy Symposium, a Jumping Mouse Ceremony is held to recognize an exceptional Field Guide from each participating program. Award recipients demonstrate outstanding commitment to the work of field guiding and represent the qualities and characteristics most valued by the programs for which […]
Diversity Education Series at Wilderness Therapy Symposium
Open Sky Wilderness Therapy is proud to be a Diversity Education Series sponsor at the upcoming Wilderness Therapy Symposium. The Symposium will take place August 23-25 in Park City, Utah. The Symposium brings together a cross-section of clinicians, field instructors, educators, educational consultants, professors, research specialists, students, and programs to share theories, insights and best […]
Riding to Pay-It-Forward: Greg Arpante’s Bicycle Tour to Support Sky’s the Limit Fund
On May 27, 2018, Greg Arpante dipped his bicycle into Washington state’s Pacific coast and started pedaling east. So began his dual trans-US bicycle tour, a ride from Seattle to Bar Harbor and from Canada to Mexico. What was born as simply a personal summer challenge evolved to be a ride for a cause: a […]
Pedaling Through the Mountains to Support Courageous Kids
Last week, Open Sky Finance Director, Erin Pinkham pedaled more than 100 miles up and down mountain passes (roughly 7,500 feet of elevation gain) in the Courage Classic bicycle tour to raise money for local families in need. Open Sky was proud to sponsor her team and the Courage Classic event. Learn more about the […]
Open Sky Seeking All-Star Human Resources Director
Open Sky is seeking a Human Resources Director to help shape our future. The Human Resources Department serves as a strategic and solutions-oriented partner across our organization. Having grown in size, complexity, and sophistication, Open Sky is dedicated to providing leadership through Human Resources to make our organization stronger and more effective and to reflect […]
Open Sky Alumni Reunions: Coming to a City Near YOU!
We are pleased to announce Open Sky will soon begin hosting Alumni Reunions across the United States! Open Sky Alumni Reunions will provide unique and meaningful opportunities to reconnect with Open Sky staff, alumni students, and alumni parents. “I am struck by the strong bonds we share through our individual, yet connected Open Sky experience,” […]
Renewal of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Accreditation
We are proud to announce that the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) has renewed Open Sky’s Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Accreditation. This accreditation is a symbol of our unending commitment to providing our students, families, and team members with the highest quality practices in the industry. AEE has a long-standing reputation for accreditation of experiential and […]
Reflections from Thanksgiving in the Field
“I’m grateful that we share our ‘gratitudes’ not just on Thanksgiving, but on every day at Open Sky,” shared one student, referencing our daily practice of sharing “gratefuls” before evening meals. On this Thanksgiving, the gratitudes shared were even more potent than usual, for staff and students alike: family, friendship, fresh starts, the desert, food, […]
Together, We Can Make a Difference!
Have you witnessed the healing power of wilderness therapy in your own life or in the life of a family member, friend, colleague or client? We are reaching out to you for help! Open Sky is a proud partner and enthusiastic supporter of Sky’s the Limit Fund (STLF), a non-profit organization dedicated to making wilderness […]
Wilderness Therapy Symposium: Learn, Grow, and Honor
Last week, Open Sky staff members had the opportunity to attend the 2017 Wilderness Therapy Symposium in Park City, Utah. The Wilderness Therapy Symposiumprovides opportunities to explore topics related to wilderness therapy, advance knowledge, build community, and recognize excellence. The event is held bi-annually by the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council (OBHC). Open Sky’s Program Director, […]
Aaron Fernandes and Danny Frazer featured in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council’s new video
Open Sky Founder & CEO, Aaron Fernandes, and Open Sky Program Director, Danny Frazer, were honored to participate in the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council’s new video, which highlights the council’s flagship event, the Wilderness Therapy Symposium! The Wilderness Therapy Symposium is an annual gathering of wilderness and adventure therapy programs and practitioners. Danny Frazer also […]
Open Sky announces dates and locations for Alumni Parent Wellness Retreats
Connect, Recharge, and Thrive with Open Sky! Open Sky is pleased to announce dates and locations for our Alumni Parent Wellness Retreats! These inspiring two-day wellness retreats will be facilitated by Family Therapist, Kendall Smith, MA, LPC, NCC and Wellness Counselor, Norman Elizondo. Open Sky Alumni Parent Wellness Retreats are designed to further personal […]
Open Sky Therapists Author Chapters In New Book
Dr. Tony Issenmann, Kirsten Bolt and Kendall Smith, author chapters in the recently published book: Family Therapy with Adolescents in Residential Treatment Open Sky Clinical Team and Family Services Team members Tony Issenmann, Ph.D., LMFT; Kirsten Bolt, MEd, LMFT; and Kendall R.E. Smith, MA, LPC, NCC were honored to contribute chapters to Family Therapy with Adolescents in Residential […]