PARKER BOUNDS JOHNSON FOUNDATION

Are you a Fire Starter, a Camper, a Walker, a Trail Blazer, a Hiker, a Trekker, a Climber, a Summiter, or a Sherpa?

Events
(click on each to expand)
Mission:
Wilderness4Life was inspired by our son Parker & his beautiful dream, it came to life with incredible support & encouragement of family & friends & is now our mission to serve Oregon & Washington teens, young adults & their families in-crisis find hope & healing through our premier Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Program Partners.

4-Way Focus:
  1. Made possible by our wonderful donors, we are able to provide financial assistance through generous grants for families. Our OBH Accredited Wilderness Therapy Program Partners across the nation match our grants 100%—effectively doubling the grants to families & doubling our donors‘ contributions.
  2. We provide informational resources to families so they may learn about available resources locally and across the country.
  3. We offer a support group for moms, dads & families called Families of Wild Hearts. These are intimate groups where parents can connect before, during & after their child attends a wilderness therapy program.
  4. We are most excited about our Wild Hearts program. It is a club for wilderness program graduates/alumni to get together & hike, camp, backpack & just hang out & have fun in a positive environment that reinforces what they learned at “Wilderness.” Wild Hearts is for OR & WA teens/young adults lead by PBJ’s qualified volunteer leaders.

Affiliations:
We are Friends of OBH Council; NATSAP & AEE Members; Proud supporters of OBH Center for Research; Dedicated AFSP community partners for suicide prevention; & we strive to raise awareness for Mental Health & Traumatic Brain Injury.

Reach Out:
  • If you’d like to learn more about us & how to help a teen or young adult in-crisis please call/text at 503-810-9100.
  • If you’d like to make a donation & receive a FREE GIFT click here to visit our Donations Page.
  • Easily designate us as your preferred charity on Amazon Smile. Click HERE

We look forward to talking with you and to offer hope & healing through “Wilderness.”

Be Well,
Liz & Dan
Parkers Parents & Co-Founders & Team PBJ

#RxOfftheCouch Summer Challenge

A shout out to Ricky, Jake, Debbie, Taylor, Emily, Liz and Oregon Adventure Ministries
for participating in the #rxoffthecouch Challenge! And to Derek Daley of Legacy Outdoor Adventures & Juniper Canyon Recovery for making #rxoffthecouch happen!

If you didn’t get your t-shirt yet, let us know and we’ll make sure you do!

Stacks Image 37

“Wouldn’t it be ‘tight’ if we could send just one kid a year to Wilderness?”Parker

_______________

Stacks Image 39
“May the pine cone’s beauty and mystery inspire wonder, curiosity, strength and the sensation of interconnectedness between you and the natural world like it has inspired me.”

Breanna Bounds Johnson, Artist

The Pine Cone

The Ponderosa Pine is a tree that grows taller than all others in climates that would seem unable to support such life. In our recent history, these trees were landmarks of hope and encouragement to many pioneers coming west on the Oregon Trail.

This pine cone fell from the branch of a mighty Ponderosa growing in arid earth under the central Oregon high desert sun.

The cone's scales follow the same spiral curves as those observed in sunflowers, seashells, and the arms of our Milky Way. This beautiful recurring geometry is described mathematically by the Golden Ratio and the Fibonacci Numbers, which can be observed within our own bodies and throughout our natural world.

Its symbolism has inspired humanity through time and across civilizations. From ancient Rome to ancient Mesopotamia, it is found in art, architecture, and spiritual symbolism. Osiris--The Egyptian god of transition, resurrection, and regeneration--carried a pine cone staff, and many Hindu deities have been depicted holding a pine cone in their outstretched hand.

The pine cone has been historically associated with enlightenment, spiritual awakening, and the "third eye." The pineal gland is thought to be the physiological center of the "third eye", and resembles a tiny pine cone itself.

A single cone contains seeds that could potentially grow a whole forest of Ponderosa Pines. It opens with the warmth of the sun and closes with the saturation of rain, waiting patiently for favorable conditions.

May the pine cone's beauty and mystery inspire wonder, curiosity, strength, and the sensation of interconnectedness between you and the natural world like is has inspired me.


Breanna B Johnson
Artist

Goals

  • Provide financial assistance to young people and their families in need who may not otherwise afford Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare treatment programs.
  • Provide information to families about available therapeutic programs.
  • Contribute 20% of all donations to AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
  • Create community and support through on-going local events that promote a sense of belonging, a healthful lifestyle and connection to the wilderness.
Why?
Accredited Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare programs provide an impactful and rapid first step for our at-risk young people struggling with addiction and related emotional challenges. Most parents don’t even know these therapy programs exist, let alone the huge benefit they provide to our children and families. We want all families to know that there is help, and where they can go to get it.

Sadly, research shows, that the risk of suicide in young people is higher when addiction is involved. That is why we direct 20% of funds raised by the Parker Bounds Johnson Foundation to AFSP. AFSP is doing leading-edge work across our nation to prevent suicide.

Finally, our “Wild Hearts” brings our kids together in local adventure, nature and the outdoors, to provide a positive, sober “community” for our kids. An alternative to the old patterns of life left behind prior to treatment or an alternative to current negative patterns.

If you or someone you care about are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at
1-800-273-TALK (8255), contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741,
or visit
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

© 2021 Wilderness4Life.org - a Non-Profit Public Charity 501(c)3 Tax ID#81-3500151