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Alumni

Once Part of Summit, Always Part of Summit

Your time at Summit Achievement doesn’t end at discharge. Whether you graduated last month or years ago, you remain part of a community that believes in your continued growth. Our alumni program offers ongoing support, connection, and the opportunity to return to the place where your journey began.

A Community That Stays With You

At Summit, we know that growth doesn’t stop when you leave campus. That’s why we’ve built ways for alumni and families to stay connected, access support, and celebrate continued progress.

Virtual Support Groups

We offer three virtual support groups per month for alumni and families. These sessions provide a space to reconnect, share experiences, process challenges, and celebrate wins with others who understand the Summit journey.

Alumni and Parent Newsletters

Stay updated on Summit news, alumni stories, upcoming events, and resources for continued growth. Our regular newsletters keep you connected to the Summit community no matter where life takes you.

Ways to Stay Connected

We welcome alumni to stay connected with Summit. Visit campus to reconnect with staff, explore the trails that challenged you, and see how far you’ve come.
Join Our Alumni Network

Return for a Refresher

Life after treatment isn’t always linear. Sometimes, returning to the place where you found your footing can help you recalibrate, reinforce skills, and reconnect with the tools that worked. Our Alumni Program allows Venture and Traverse graduates to come back for a short-term stay when they need a reset.

Learn More

What the Alumni Program Offers

Alumni students rejoin a current Venture or Traverse team and work with their former therapist whenever possible. Stays typically range from 7-21 days, and participants engage in all aspects of the program — therapy, adventure experiences, and meaningful project work during the academic day.

During your stay, you’ll:

  • Reconnect with your program therapist and positive memories of your time at Summit
  • Create specific treatment goals for your refresher stay
  • Participate fully in the therapeutic community
  • Utilize alumni growth logs to track your progress
  • Receive a clinical discharge summary at the end of your stay

 

Who Benefits from the Alumni Program

The Alumni Program is designed for students who have been doing well since graduation and want to strengthen their foundation. It’s ideal for those who:

  • Have maintained progress for at least three months post-discharge
  • Want to refresh therapeutic and academic skills before a major transition
  • Will serve as a positive example for current students
  • Are ready to positively contribute to the Summit community

 

When the Alumni Program Isn’t the Right Fit

This program is not appropriate for students currently experiencing major relapses, significant ongoing struggles, or those who did not have a positive experience during their initial enrollment. If you’re unsure whether the Alumni Program is right for you, our admissions team can help you explore other options.

Contact Admissions About Alumni Program

What Summit Families Say

“Summit Achievement is a gem of an organization that meets kids where they are when they confront roadblocks in their teen years. The leadership starts with Nichol Ernst, Summit’s CEO and owner, who’s incredibly generous and committed to advocating the benefits of holistic care for adolescents. And it extends to Summit’s gifted staff of guides, educators, and support personnel (including Kate the cook!) Even casual news-readers will note how challenging it is for teens these days, with depression and anxiety at unprecedented levels. We’re so grateful to Summit for being a sanctuary where kids who are stuck can go to help get past some of the blockages they encounter in their personal development.”

– Parent

“The therapist my daughter worked with was incredible and very talented. We met with her once a week as well, so we were kept informed about our daughter’s progress. The parent coach that we worked with was also excellent and very professional. This program is unique because it is more of a hybrid program that offers adventure therapy combined with education, so the children do not fall behind in school. Summit is a top notch program and it provided the reset we all needed!”

– Parent

“The academic part of Summit really stands out. My son was able to complete his school work and not lose time on his academic journey. I was given weekly progress reports. My son was able to collaborate with the Academic Dean to find electives he liked.”

– Parent