THE MISSION OF OZARK TRAIL ACADEMY IS TO HELP STRUGGLING TEENS RESTORE THEIR LIVES WITH HANDS-ON THERAPY IN THE OUTDOORS THROUGH WILDERNESS AND ADVENTURE THERAPY.

“In order for real healing change to occur, we have to reach teen hearts. Outdoor activities are a backdrop to breakthrough therapy provided by such methods as equine therapy, farming, wilderness adventure, and so much more at Ozark Trails.” Richard Jones, Director

Ozark Trails Academy is a residential treatment center for troubled teen boys and girls who are experiencing future-impacting relational or emotional difficulties brought on by trauma. Providing outstanding clinical therapy, incredible academic learning, and amazing outdoor responsibility and adventure, teen girls and boys, ages 12-17, who are looking for help will discover real change. We provide family focused and individual treatment care by licensed clinical therapists. Troubled teens experience true healing and growth at our safe, remote residential treatment center home, school and ranch here in the beautiful Ozarks in Missouri. With room for up to 12 teen girls and 12 teen boys, ages 12-17, Ozark Trails Academy offers a “wilderness meets adventure” style program, as well as pure residential treatment, and focused academics.

Students live in separate dormitories, based in our 32,000 square foot building on campus that also includes classrooms, open meeting space, kitchen and a dining room. We also offer students transitional living options as they move from high school into two free years of college through Southwest Missouri State College.

Surrounded by nature, struggling teens learn important life lessons as they work with horses, explore rock climbing, and enjoy canoeing and kayaking on the North Fork River, which flows through our 750 acre ranch. From sunrise to sunset each day, students can find hope, healing and purpose in life, separated from harmful distractions. Instead, as they live and work on the ranch, troubled teens connect with nature, and the Creator, God. They experience a real change of heart, and become the person God wants them to be.

Ozark Trails Academy accepts students year-round and is licensed to provide all levels of therapeutic care for youth, ages 12-17, with mild to moderate emotional and behavioral problems. Ozark Trails residential treatment center teaches teens ways to avoid destructive behavior, make the choice to change for the better, make good decisions, experience real success, develop healthy relationships, and then move back into a new and better life. Therapy Our licensed therapists and trained staff at Ozark Trails Academy residential treatment center work with troubled teens year-round to provide all levels of therapeutic care for mild to moderate emotional and behavioral problems. We typically serve students suffering from trauma, adoption, RAD, and abuse.

An individualized clinical therapy plan and focused care helps our students move to a better place mentally and emotionally in a much shorter period of time, alleviating the difficulties and broken relationships they are currently experiencing. We provide family focused and individual treatment care by licensed clinical therapists.

The environmental components at Ozark Trails Academy allow for an intensive clinical experience to occur while methodically, comprehensively and thoroughly addressing each student’s treatment needs. Research demonstrates better post-treatment outcomes when youth participate in wilderness therapy in conjunction with residential treatment. Riding and caring for horses, exploring, rock-climbing and river activities all contribute to the therapy process that helps teens transform their hearts and minds. Family Restoration

Ozark Trails Academy limits our care to 24 teens allowing for more attention to be given to each struggling teen by our three licensed therapists and several trained staff. An individualized clinical therapy plan and family focused care helps our students move to a better place mentally and emotionally in a much shorter period of time, alleviating the difficulties and broken relationships they are currently experiencing. Our residential treatment center helps struggling teens find positive new ways to manage life’s obstacles and traumas that have strained their well-being and relationships in the past. Families are reunited and relationships are restored after expert treatment at Ozark Trails.