A Wilderness Camp Experience: Interview with Dillon

If you've just heard that you are on your way to a wilderness camp or you're a parent who wonders if the wilderness camp experience will change your troubled teen's direction, meet Dillon. Dillon is a graduate of a wilderness camp, and LoveToKnow had the chance to hear about his struggles and triumphs and how he changed his life for the better.

LoveToKnow (LTK): What made you go to a wilderness camp?

Dillon (D): I was on probation for doing drugs at school. I was on probation and went to DT. Every time I got out I messed up again. I was doing drugs, so I got into trouble with probation, and then I ran away. They put me into the wilderness camp.

LTK: What were some of your thoughts before entering the treatment at the wilderness camp?

D: 45 days is going to take forever. I hope I pass the program and am not locked up again after this. I didn't really want to cut my hair. I liked my hair long. If I didn't cut my hair, I would fail the program and get locked up in DT, so I let them shave my head.

LTK: What was a normal day like at the camp?

D: Wake up in the morning, brush my teeth, put on overalls and a cowboy hat and boots. We wore a uniform under overalls. We would go to breakfast, stand in line, and say our goals of the day and the ten cowboy ethics. The ones I remember are:

Know where to draw the line. Always finish what you start. Be tough, but fair.

We fed horses, cows, chickens and lamas hay and gave them water to drink. We milked cows and shoveled cow poop. Sometimes during free time we were able to ride horses. We had group therapy at night.

LTK: What surprised you the most about the wilderness camp?

D: How much we had to hike on the trek. How much I could handle that I didn't think I could handle. I felt really good about myself afterwards.

LTK: What are some other experiences you would like to share?

D: Sleeping in caves, drinking from rivers, and being out in nature gave me a lot of alone time think about things. Group therapy helped me learn about people and teamwork. It was spiritual, and many of the boys ended up in tears.

LTK: Who did you find to be the most supportive to you?

D: My guide because he helped with all my questions and assignments.

LTK: How was your family involved in your treatment?

D: My mom and grandpa went up to visit me a couple times. We had family therapy so I could get along with them better. We would talk stuff out and work stuff out that we were going through.

LTK: Did you make friends with anyone at the wilderness camp? Do you keep in touch with them now?

D: Yeah, sometimes I stay in touch on the Internet. There is one person I still talk to about once a week.

LTK: What were some of the most important lessons you learned at the wilderness camp?

D: I learned to be a hard worker. I also learned how to deal with things better without doing drugs. I realized how I hurt people.

LTK: Do you believe that the experience has positively affected your life?

D: I remember what I learned. Sometimes I wish I could go back and do it over again.

LTK: What do you think would have happened if you weren't court ordered to the wilderness camp?

D: I probably would have kept partying and stayed on drugs.

LTK: Do you have any tips for teens who are about to attend a wilderness camp?

D: It may seem like it's hard. You might not want to do it and follow the rules, but it's worth it. You will find that it's fun after awhile. It's good to be away from druggy friends.

LTK: What are some tips for teens who are not going into a wilderness camp but may be headed in that direction.

D: I want to say that a life of partying and all that isn't worth it. It may seem fine now, but it's not in the end. You'll lose friends, become homeless, and drop out of school because of drugs. Most of the time you will have medical issues because of your dependence on the drugs. Drugs will affect your memory, and you'll be haunted by bad memories. Drugs also affect your sleep by giving you nightmares.

LoveToKnow Teens would like to thank Dillon for taking the time to share his experience and wishes him the best in his future.

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Stages of Puberty - No more acne

I don´t know if it was puberty or hormonal upheaval but friends I do know this, my teenage years were miserable because of one thing: Acne.

Well, based on what some people say about Positive thinking and all, I guess I allowed it to have too much control over me. However, at that age, how the heck was I to know about all that? Moreover, with bumps, bumps and more bumps all over my face, it was kind of hard you know. I doubt if any girl would have wanted to kiss a guy with a big red bump nestled on his lip today or his nose the next.

Needless to say those were sad years and had I known then what I know now about acne, folks, it would have been a different story. Either way it goes, I still come across helpless and understandably sad teenagers almost on a daily basis so if it helps any: if you are a teenager or know of a teenager who is plagued with pimples, here are a few tips that should help you cure your acne in no time.

1. First and foremost, I care not what some sites and product endorsers say about how diet doesn't affect acne; you have got to make a change in your eating habits, plain and simple, this includes water! You are what you eat (and drink). If you want to have clearer skin and the added bonus of improved health, of course eating right will be essential. That said: Fruits and vegetables are your friends. Shop more in the produce aisle and steer clear of the snack stands at the cash register, and remember that 1 glass of coke or sugary pop drink needs 35 glasses of water to neutralise its effects on your body. I know it may sound boring for a teenager but trust me, it's worth the sacrifice and this forms the basis of an internal acne treatment right there from its root cause.

2.For external acne-care, you could learn such simple tips as facial massaging and exercises. However, (now I'm speaking from what I went through and believe me I had acne BAD) simply washing your face with nothing but clean hands and plain cool water may perhaps be the most efficient way to clean the pores. Combined with the facial massaging and occasional steaming of the face, this will be very sufficient to clean the skin.

3. Change your pillowcases daily and make sure you have a towel exclusively for your face or you could employ the use of paper towels.

4. If you use greasy hair-products, shampoo the hair before retiring or at least use a clean do-rag to hinder the introduction of oily substances to the pillowcase and inevitably your face while asleep.

5. On that subject, try to also sleep on the right side. Besides checking against contaminations getting on the face, this is great for the heart and lungs and allows for a better and restful sleep (which co-incidentally helps with controlling acne.)

6. Deal with stressful situations amicably. This is another topic into itself but briefly these work: Proper diet (factor #1), proper thinking habits and exercise.

For stress, allow me to mention Yoga/meditation-don't have the space to explain why, but friends, with its sun-exercises and its derivative, Hindu push-ups, Yoga is awesome for stress-relief. Moreover, for teenagers who are more likely to engage in sports and other recreational activities, you'll be getting the added advantage of improving your fitness levels and with your own body weight at that.

Boy, had I known of some of these in my time. Well, don't let the story of my teenage years be yours, a sad one because of one thing-Acne.

With the tips above, I can confidently assure you it won't be the case.
Just remember you owe me and my payment is to pass it on to your friends if they need it. (I want every teen with acne to know of this chuckle)

Here's to a clearer skin naturally.
Puberty is often a challenging time of change for both boys and girls as they move into the stages of adolescence and adulthood. During puberty, a child’s body goes through a period of development, in which her body is transformed into what she will become. These changes are the result of hormone secretions, which is also why this is an emotionally-charged time, loaded with mood swings. Teens are attempting to navigate their feelings and understand the changes within themselves, as well as their relationships to others during this time.
According to Mass General Hospital for Children, there are certain hormones which are responsible for the onset of puberty. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is released by the hypothalamus in the brain, where it moves to the pituitary gland. This gland is responsible for releasing other important hormones that are also involved with puberty: luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Boys begin to produce testosterone when these hormones travel to the testes, in a process that creates sperm. In girls, LH and FSH stimulate the ovaries to begin releasing eggs during ovulation, which leads to menstruation.
The adrenal glands, which are small glands that sit on top of the kidneys, are responsible for releasing adrenal androgens, hormones which are important for hair growth in both boys and girls.
Girls start puberty earlier than boys, beginning sometimes as early as 8 years old and lasting until about the age of 16. This age range varies among girls and the changes that occur may happen earlier for some and later for others.
Breast development is one of the earliest signs of puberty. Girls initially develop breast buds, which are small lumps that form under the nipples. During this time, a girl may begin to wear a training bra in preparation for continued breast growth. The breasts continue to grow for the next several years through puberty.
A girl will begin to develop pubic hair, which is also one of the earliest stages of puberty. Dark hair begins to grow near the labia and over the pubic bone. Later in puberty, hair growth will develop underneath the arms. The increase in hormones causes more oil production, particularly on the face, resulting in acne.
Girls go through a growth spurt, where they sprout up in height several inches. They also develop more fat around the hips, breasts and thighs. This additional padding is the body’s way of preparing women for carrying babies in pregnancy.
Vaginal discharge starts to occur before actual menstruation. A girl may start her first period between the ages of 9 and 16, but it may take several years before she has regular, monthly menstrual cycles. Girls may have much insecurity during this time, particularly pertaining to their appearances. They may compare themselves with others who have developed more and who need to wear bras or those who are menstruating.
Boys begin puberty approximately one to two years after girls, which may cause some feelings of concern or anxiety. Boys typically begin puberty between the ages of 9 and 10, and continue developing until they are about 17 to 18 years old. Puberty follows a series of stages, which may vary slightly among boys. Some boys may begin showing signs of chages at 9 years old, while others may not change much until closer to 12 years.
A boy will grow taller, between 1 to 2 inches in growth spurts, during the early phases of puberty, and then will continue to grow in height into the teen years. His hands and feet may grow at a faster rate than the rest of his body, which may lead to a clumsy phase. His voice will begin to deepen, leading to vocal cracks while speaking. Eventually, his shoulders will broaden, and he will grow into his hands and feet, his body filling out into that of an adult man.
In the early stages of puberty, a boy begins to grow some pubic hair. The penis and scrotum increase in size. He will have more frequent erections and experience ejaculation and nocturnal emissions, also referred to as “wet dreams.”
The early stages of puberty will result in initial hair growth in the pubic area, which will continue to grow throughout puberty. As a boy enters his teens, he will grow hair under his arms and on his face. Hormone changes may lead to an overproduction of oil from the sebaceous glands, which can lead to acne.
Boys may have many concerns during this time. They may feel shorter than their peers or even some of the girls in their classes, which can cause anxiety. Additionally, sexual feelings and an increase in the number of erections may be stressful for some boys to try to manage.
Puberty can be a very insecure period for both boys and girls. During this time, teens also develop more friendships, and relationships include romantic and sexual feelings. It may be difficult for both teens and parents to know what to expect during these stages. Kids need to know that the changes that are happening are normal and expected. You can assure your child that you love her regardless of her appearance or if she is developing at a different rate than her peers. Reassure your child that she can talk with you about her feelings and that you will be there to help her through some of these rough patches. Managing the many changes associated with puberty may be difficult, but maintaining open and honest communication with your teen is one of the best methods for helping her get through these stages.

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Fashion Trends for Teenagers Gallery

Given that self expression through fashion is especially revered by the teenage set, it is no surprise that the 2011 fashion trends for teenagers are some of the most varied in recent history. In fact, "history" is a big part of current fashion trends - teenagers have added modern details to popular looks from the '70s, '80s and '90s to give old-fashioned trends a new, fresh feel.

Take, for instance, cross-body bags. These were big in the 70s, then again in the 90s, but the 2011 favorite is smaller, daintier and features chunky buckles and hardware along with distressed leather detailing or fringe. The result is a dainty "saddle bag" look reminescent of oldtime Western movies like this cross-body bag by Bryna.

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Outward Bound for Troubled Teens: Interview with Seth Ruggles

LoveToKnow had the opportunity to interview Seth Ruggles, customer service representative for Outward Bound Intercept Program for troubled teens. If your teenager has started down the wrong path, you may be interested in learning more about this at-risk youth program to help your teen get his or her life back on track.

LoveToKnow (LTK): How does Outward Bound help troubled teens?

Seth Ruggles (SR): Outward Bound helps troubled teens by giving them an extremely positive experience, which is challenging physically and emotionally. We take students out of their comfort zone, which shows them the potential they have not been able to see up to this point.

LTK: What types of problems do teens have in this program?

SR: The teens involved in the Intercept Program, which is one of our at-risk programs in Outward Bound, are generally having issues with poor school performance, anger management, defiance, low motivation, and are engaging in risky behaviors such as drugs, alcohol, sneaking out, or truancy. In general, parents start to see a trend of bad decisions, falling/failing grades, hanging out with a new/wrong crowd, and they want to step in and give their son or daughter a life experience before more serious behaviors present themselves.

LTK: What are typical days like at the program?

SR: A typical day on an Intercept expedition is to wake up with the sun (they camp from day one), break down camp, have breakfast, go over the expedition route for the day, pack up, and head out on the lake, river, or trail. Students are "on" from sun up to sun down continuing on their expedition route and travelling from campsite to campsite. The students and staff travel as a group, rain or shine. Once camp is reached, students have chores such as getting water for the group, setting up the kitchen and getting dinner ready, and setting up their tents or tarps, depending on the location. After dinner, there are group discussions and lessons as well as route planning for the next day. Then it's off to bed for a well deserved night sleep until the morning.

LTK: How much support do teens receive from the program - who is involved in the experience?

SR: During our expeditions, we have a staff-to-student ratio of one staff member to four students. The Intercept Program is extremely structured and with increased staff-to-student ratio, the students receive a great deal of support and positive recognition of their accomplishments. Individual interviews as well as group lessons on decision making versus consequence, anger management, conflict resolution, responsibility versus freedom, as well as communication skills are all integral parts of the Intercept Program. Safety is of the highest priority, both physically and emotionally, for all students while on any Outward Bound course. Our staff are trained in both technical skills and facilitative skills with an emphasis on behavior management. Intercept is designed to be a first stage intervention and as a result, we do not serve youth with serious addictions and/or current criminal background within this program.

LTK: How long are the sessions?

SR: Our 12 and 13 year old courses are 20 days in length, 14-17 and 18-20 year old courses are 28 days in length, and we offer 50-day semesters for 16-18 year olds as well as 18-20 year olds. Unlike other at-risk programs out there, we have a set length for our Intercept expeditions and work with our students to reach the ultimate goal of graduating course.

LTK: Where are the programs located?

SR: Our Intercept courses are located in Maine, Minnesota, California, Florida, and Alabama. The expeditions involve canoeing, backpacking, rock climbing, and/or a ropes course element depending on which base camp it runs out of.

LTK: What is your success rate (if you have one) - what are some of the reasons why some teens do not find success at Outward Bound?

SR: Surveys filled out by students both pre and post course show significant to extensive growth in the areas of Character Development (self confidence, self actualization, compassion, and living a healthy life), Leadership (goal setting, conflict resolution, group collaboration, and problem solving), and Service (both social and environmental responsibility). Students who complete the Intercept Program have a decrease in school problems, family conflict, substance use/abuse as well as an increase in self-esteem and confidence.

Some teens do not find success at Outward Bound because they are not at a point of seeing a need to make any changes in their life. If a student is unwilling to participate in the course or does not follow our policies, they are asked to withdraw.

LTK: What about after they leave the program - do teens have any type of continuum support or how does the program continue to help after the teen leaves?

SR: Due to the numbers of students served we cannot personally support them after they leave this program. We do provide the students, as well as the parents, with resources if they need additional support once they leave the program.

LTK: How are families involved in the experience at Outward Bound?

SR: At the end of all of the courses (minus the 18-20 courses) we require at least one parent or guardian to attend a seminar that is facilitated by the instructors who were working with the students during the expedition. The purpose of the seminar is to give the parents an overview of what we have been working on with their son or daughter for the past 25 days.

We also teach the parents the skills and tools we have taught their teenager so once both return home, they will have the same tools to build a more open and trusting relationship.

During the seminar, we also facilitate a one-on-one with the parents and instructor that has been working with their son or daughter. Instructors meet with the family to create a plan to assist them in a successful transition home continuing on the positive path created during their course.

LTK: What are some tips for teens who are about to enter the program?

SR: One tip is to realize everyone is nervous going into expeditions and it is to be expected. It is a normal reaction when one is going into a different environment, taking part in activities they have never done with people they don't know. It is a great idea to prepare for courses both physically and mentally. Outward Bound has found that coming physically fit to courses enables the student to have an even better experience, and coming in with the right mindset is a huge plus as well. Lastly, remember it is going to be hard, but it is going to be fun!

LTK: What are some tips for parents who may be interested in using a program such as this one for their teen?

SR: One tip is when introducing the Intercept Program to their son or daughter to try have their child view it as an opportunity rather than a punishment. Another tool is to take them to our website to have him/her watch videos or read testimonials from past students. You can view our videos and testimonials at OutwardBound.org. Lastly, most students in the beginning are resistant, which is to be expected. In most cases, when they find out more about the program, what they will be doing, and there is less of the "unknown," they tend to be more willing to attend and have an experience in the wilderness they will remember for a lifetime.

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By: Athar

While we were in Cannes Brad asked me to throw out a number for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. I went with $106m, a number that now looks around 25 percent heavy. Whoops. That's what I get for not factoring in the overall decline of the franchise. Let's break it down!Laremy predicted the #1 movie correctly 3 Weeks In A RowThere are two factors that could still push it toward a $100m opening. The first is the 3-D toll. Will you pay extra for it? There are at least two scenes it is used for, so enjoy! The second is the length, theaters should be able to get in at least an additional screening time per day given the 126 minute running time. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention there is an end credits scene. It's no Fast Five end credits scene, but I feel like you should head in equipped if you're taking the plunge.

With all that in mind, the smart money is still in the $80 - $90m range. The second version made $32k per screen, while At World's End managed only $26k. So if we take another $6k per screen away, and then add in another thousand per screen to cover 3-D and extra times you get $84m. But as the max here is something around $120m and the minimum $72m, I'm definitely more bearish here. I should also note that it's going to crush internationally.

Prediction: $84.42 million

$357m worldwide on a budget of $150m means this little gamble paid off, especially given the main goal had to be getting Avengers near $750m worldwide. Paramount is playing the long game.The great untold story of last weekend was that Bridesmaids was the champion of the weekend ... per theater. Shoulda put that bad boy in 3-D, eh?$458m on $125m means that they'll throw money at whomever they need to to ensure F6st and Fa7t. They are playing with house money.Still, it had to have been better than The Tourist, right? They played Salt and The Tourist back to back on my flight back from France. I tried to walk out.Another hit, $433m on a $90m production budget. Looks like Eisenberg can demand a voiceover raise.The budget was just too high for this sort of project.This, on the other hand, was made for a fiscally responsible $6.6m. Which means it is all profit from here on out.It's not going to hit $70m domestically, but it's got a great shot at $100m worldwide.A million bucks and you too can make the top ten!

How say you? Wanna go higher or lower on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides? Have a different idea on Thor or Bridesmaids? Predictions away!

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subscribe to our updated Box-Office RSS feed here

View the original article here

By: Stiggy

While we were in Cannes Brad asked me to throw out a number for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. I went with $106m, a number that now looks around 25 percent heavy. Whoops. That's what I get for not factoring in the overall decline of the franchise. Let's break it down!Laremy predicted the #1 movie correctly 3 Weeks In A RowThere are two factors that could still push it toward a $100m opening. The first is the 3-D toll. Will you pay extra for it? There are at least two scenes it is used for, so enjoy! The second is the length, theaters should be able to get in at least an additional screening time per day given the 126 minute running time. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention there is an end credits scene. It's no Fast Five end credits scene, but I feel like you should head in equipped if you're taking the plunge.

With all that in mind, the smart money is still in the $80 - $90m range. The second version made $32k per screen, while At World's End managed only $26k. So if we take another $6k per screen away, and then add in another thousand per screen to cover 3-D and extra times you get $84m. But as the max here is something around $120m and the minimum $72m, I'm definitely more bearish here. I should also note that it's going to crush internationally.

Prediction: $84.42 million

$357m worldwide on a budget of $150m means this little gamble paid off, especially given the main goal had to be getting Avengers near $750m worldwide. Paramount is playing the long game.The great untold story of last weekend was that Bridesmaids was the champion of the weekend ... per theater. Shoulda put that bad boy in 3-D, eh?$458m on $125m means that they'll throw money at whomever they need to to ensure F6st and Fa7t. They are playing with house money.Still, it had to have been better than The Tourist, right? They played Salt and The Tourist back to back on my flight back from France. I tried to walk out.Another hit, $433m on a $90m production budget. Looks like Eisenberg can demand a voiceover raise.The budget was just too high for this sort of project.This, on the other hand, was made for a fiscally responsible $6.6m. Which means it is all profit from here on out.It's not going to hit $70m domestically, but it's got a great shot at $100m worldwide.A million bucks and you too can make the top ten!

How say you? Wanna go higher or lower on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides? Have a different idea on Thor or Bridesmaids? Predictions away!

Check out our complete Box-Office charts here and
subscribe to our updated Box-Office RSS feed here

View the original article here

By: Winchester

While we were in Cannes Brad asked me to throw out a number for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. I went with $106m, a number that now looks around 25 percent heavy. Whoops. That's what I get for not factoring in the overall decline of the franchise. Let's break it down!Laremy predicted the #1 movie correctly 3 Weeks In A RowThere are two factors that could still push it toward a $100m opening. The first is the 3-D toll. Will you pay extra for it? There are at least two scenes it is used for, so enjoy! The second is the length, theaters should be able to get in at least an additional screening time per day given the 126 minute running time. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention there is an end credits scene. It's no Fast Five end credits scene, but I feel like you should head in equipped if you're taking the plunge.

With all that in mind, the smart money is still in the $80 - $90m range. The second version made $32k per screen, while At World's End managed only $26k. So if we take another $6k per screen away, and then add in another thousand per screen to cover 3-D and extra times you get $84m. But as the max here is something around $120m and the minimum $72m, I'm definitely more bearish here. I should also note that it's going to crush internationally.

Prediction: $84.42 million

$357m worldwide on a budget of $150m means this little gamble paid off, especially given the main goal had to be getting Avengers near $750m worldwide. Paramount is playing the long game.The great untold story of last weekend was that Bridesmaids was the champion of the weekend ... per theater. Shoulda put that bad boy in 3-D, eh?$458m on $125m means that they'll throw money at whomever they need to to ensure F6st and Fa7t. They are playing with house money.Still, it had to have been better than The Tourist, right? They played Salt and The Tourist back to back on my flight back from France. I tried to walk out.Another hit, $433m on a $90m production budget. Looks like Eisenberg can demand a voiceover raise.The budget was just too high for this sort of project.This, on the other hand, was made for a fiscally responsible $6.6m. Which means it is all profit from here on out.It's not going to hit $70m domestically, but it's got a great shot at $100m worldwide.A million bucks and you too can make the top ten!

How say you? Wanna go higher or lower on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides? Have a different idea on Thor or Bridesmaids? Predictions away!

Check out our complete Box-Office charts here and
subscribe to our updated Box-Office RSS feed here

View the original article here