Pacific Quest

PQ gets good reviews!

Pacific Quest received good reviews from Lon Woodbury, an independent educational consultant.  Check out the Visit Report that Lon has published on his website! Lon has visited many therapeutic schools and programs, and is the source of a wealth of information. Visit the Woodbury Reports for more information.

Understanding the Milieu

Pacific Quest therapists Mary Beth Coffman, LCSW and Hilary Moses, LCSW presented a “dry run” of the experiential workshop they are offering at the 7th annual Wilderness Symposium in Boulder, CO.  The presentation was intriguing. Mary Beth and Hilary addressed the importance of utilizing many sources in weekly treatment planning, including the staff that interact

Michelle Obama strives to strengthen communities through organic gardening

As many saw in headlines on March 20, 2009 Michelle Obama began cultivating the first organic garden at the white house. With the help of students from Bancroft Elementary and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Obama created a milestone in our nations history. The White House blog has a series of postings that highlight the importance

Tropical seeds bought locally

Critical to success in organic gardening is seed selection.  While tropical climates are generally conducive to many plant varieties, seeds well adapted to the tropical climate thrive better. Pacific Quest’s garden specialist Scott Ricci found a local farmer/seed distributor with twelve years experience of growing on the Big Island of Hawaii. Tom Brannen, owner and

PQ staff vision quest in November

Here is an excerpt from the initial letter we received from guides Joseph LaZenka and Petra Lentz regarding the PQ staff vision quest.  We are planning a seven day program that focuses on a three day fast and solo experience. The letter sent chills up my spine, as I am faced with “the call.”  Expect

Snorkeling trip to Honaunau

The west side of the Big Island offers protected bays teaming with sea life.  Snorkeling at Pu’uhonua O Honaunau, or two-step as it is commonly referred to is some of the best adventure the Island has to offer.  Last Friday the students and staff set out to explore and learn about the unique underwater ecosystem. 

Hawaii’s clean energy initiative

The Big Island of Hawaii gained national attention today in the New York Times. In an article titled Hawaii Tries Green Tools in Remaking Power Grids, author Felicity Barringer focuses on the potential for green energy in Hawaii.  The article opens with the mention of a wind farm in Na’alehu (pictured above), located at the

Shipman’s beach!

For this outing we drove north to keaau. On the journey we talked about Hawaiian native plants in the national park as we drove through, about the volcanic activity at Halema’uma’u and Pu’u O’o, the legend of Ohia and Lehua and a brief history of sugar in Hawaii, and its influence on the town of

Youth in need of therapy, not punishment

As described recent New York Times article Mentally Ill Offenders Strain Juvenile System, budget cuts in state mental health programs are causing the juvenile detention system to swell.  Youth are not getting the mental help they need in their communities and schools, winding up in prison.  For many, problems are only exacerbated by juvenile prison. 

Volcanoes National Park

Rainy day at Volcanoes National Park! It was coming down pretty heavily when the group departed. By the time the group arrived at the national park the rain let up a bit. As the group approached the park they talked about general geology of the area, highlighting the formation of the landscape and the fault