Participating in the Crossings program allows young people to enhance their repertoire of successful and constructive behaviors. The wilderness provides a new context for participants where the distractions and influences of their daily lives are left behind and new skills and strengths are revealed through new challenges. Teens must work as a team to complete both the expedition goals and the smaller everyday chores that are important for successful community living. In addition, daily group debriefs and overall supervision by Masters Level Counselors ensures maximum support for each participant as they work through personal hardship, self exploration and build self-esteem (character).

Living in the wilderness means getting back to basics. The seemingly simple tasks of finding shelter, keeping dry and cooking meals are suddenly of extreme importance. Nature can provide immediate and undisputable consequences both good and bad for decisions made when working in a group and during scheduled solo activities.