Faus assisting Back2Basics resident during rock climbing trip at Joshua Tree National Park.

Robb Faus came to Back2Basics a year ago and has now moved up as the Outdoor Adventure Director with hopes to develop the program even more so.  With his experience as a Firefighter/Paramedic specializing in SCBA, rope rescue and urban search and rescue, back country guiding, personal training, participation in triathlons and holds a degree in Fire Science, stepping into the role of Outdoor Adventure Director came naturally.

“Through my firefighting experience I’ve see a lot of things go bad. Having to remain calm and cool has definitely been an asset. Being a trainer has prepared me by staying mentally and physically strong. School can’t teach you the real life experiences that I’ve gone through,” said Faus.

Despite Faus’ extensive background and ability to keep calm even in intensive situations, he admits there is a difference in assisting young adults struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. “In my previous experience [being outdoors] was something my clients wanted to do. At Back2Basics the residents don’t always want to be out there doing 20 mile hikes. At first, negotiating that was difficult,” said Faus.

Faus has to keep in mind the residents physical and emotional capabilities when planning an outdoor adventure. “Trip planning is a regular part of my job.  [I also act as a] personal trainer by assessing what they are capable of doing at the time.  A back country, backpacking trip to Grand Canyon is hard without a large backpack on, let alone with.  I also check weather patterns,” said Faus.

Faus carried an outdoor adventure assistant role before moving in as the director. He has been able to watch the program progress. He has also seen former Back2Basics resident Chase Christensen assume the Assistant Outdoor Adventure Guide position, which Faus says has been extremely rewarding.

“Chase brings so much to the table. Seeing him go through sobriety, and then now be a success at B2B is great. He is a role model.  Chase can identify with the residents.  He can talk the talk because he’s walked the walk,” said Faus.

Although Faus has not gone through a drug and alcohol recovery program himself, (he identifies with Al-Anon) he has witnessed, first-hand the benefits of Back2Basics.

“Best thing is to see the process work – they get something valuable out of something that they didn’t want to do, or believe they could do,” said Faus. “They are forced to trust me. I want to challenge [the residents], and [have them] establish trust not just in me, but in someone.”

“Joshua Tree National Park is located in Southern California.  It is an interesting place because the Colorado and Mojave deserts intersect at Joshua Tree, so it creates a rather unique ecosystem.  It is definitely a place I never thought I would visit, but I am glad that I had the opportunity to camp and hike there.  Because Joshua Tree is located in the desert, a lot of the plants and animals that are not common, are found here.  I think it is rather interesting here.  The unique factors of the environment have created plants and animals that have adapted really well to the harsh temperatures.  While at the visitor center here in Joshua Tree, I was able to learn about the different adaptations found in the animals that live here.  For instance, I learned that the kangaroo rat has specialized kidneys that make it so that the rat never has to take a drink of water.  It can get all of its hydration from the food it eats.  The evolutionary adaptations of the plants and animals in this harsh environment remind me of how life can flourish even in the most unforgiving climates.  It also reminds me a little of myself.  Over the years, I have developed coping skills to adapt to periods of my life that were overwhelming and difficult.” B2B Resident

Twenty-one year-old and Bay Area native, Lucas Smith* had been through three, 30-day rehab facilities prior to coming to Back2Bacics Sober Living. Even prior to his attendance as a Political Science major at San Diego State University, he fell victim to the powers heroin.

Now, in his fourth month of recovery at B2B, he is attending college courses – one Spanish conversation course and one Philosophy course at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Through his course work Smith is beginning to understand the benefits of living a sober lifestyle.

Smith noted that he hated Political Science while attending SDSU, but is enjoying his college courses through B2B, in particular the conversational Spanish class. “Both are interesting. I’ve taken six years of Spanish growing up in California, so I find it easy and entertaining speaking another language,” said Smith.

Back2Basics is built on the concept that those struggling with alcohol and drug addiction must follow the 12 Steps of Recovery, in addition to re-learning life skills. Some of the other life-skill building at Back2Basics includes nutrition classes, the Outdoor Adventure Program and volunteer opportunities.

“Before getting to Back2Basics, I didn’t like camping at all. Now the outdoors is something that I have learned to enjoy.  We have gone on some pretty cool hikes, anywhere from five to 20 miles per day. At first [this] was really hard to do, but now that I am in good shape it’s gotten easier,” said Smith.

With exposure to various activities, these young men struggling with alcohol and drug addiction can learn about the benefits to not only becoming a better individual, but also a better citizen and community member.

“I know I can transfer into NAU with my San Diego State credits, so I might do that next semester. I definitely understand the value of a Bachelor’s degree and plan on getting one,” said Smith.

While many rehab facilities and recovery programs work, they don’t foster the fundamentals. “Back2Basics provides a residential rehabilitation center in the Flagstaff, Arizona community and addresses addiction recovery by allowing participants to engage in real life, safe and sober activities, in order to learn to live life sober,” Back2Basics website.

“I’ve definitely come a long way physically and mentally since I stopped using heroin. It’s all thanks to this program and Alcoholics Anonymous,” said Smith.

*Name has been changed to keep confidentially of the resident and to adhere to the Alcoholics Anonymous and Back2Basics Sober Living programs.

The new B2B layout is sleek, modern and user friendly.

Back2Basics is re-launching its website to give the families of struggling young men facing addiction, a more dynamic look into the outdoor adventure program and life skill building activities.

“The Back2Basics team wanted to create a website that would be easy to navigate and aesthetically pleasing. Between the creativity led by Carly [Robertson] and myself, we have developed a great platform that I hope better services our families and those seeking advice about recovery programs,” founder and CEO, Roy DuPrez said.

Despite the small business and intimate atmosphere at B2B, this unique approach to drug and alcohol recovery is going above and beyond to be available as a resource for families in crisis.

“I really like the ‘Why Flagstaff?’ page. The idea of my son going to Flagstaff demonstrates the natural outdoor environment, and provides healing [that] the city can’t,” B2B father from California said.

While many treatment centers fall under the corporate umbrella, B2B has remained intimate and hands on for almost two years, and intends to keep it that way.

“It was a great challenge to mesh the simplicity and naturalness of the program with the modern digital world. I really think we captured Roy’s vision,” Back2Basics Marketing Coordinator, Carly Robertson said.

“I love the outdoor pictures [on the website]. They are genuine; I can feel that outdoor experience through these images,” B2B mother from California said.

The program is geared toward young men with addiction problems, and seeks out creative, intuitive and constructive ways to help them find recovery. From surfing in Ixtapa, Mexico, to healthy food consumption by a trained culinary professional Back2Basics Outdoor Adventures has given the term “sober living” a facelift.

“Roy has been so adamant about keeping B2B’s online presence true to the business’ roots. Back2Basics is exactly what it sounds like – teaching young men who are fighting alcohol and drug addiction to go ‘back to the basics’ of living. It was a great challenge to mesh the simplicity and naturalness of the program with the modern digital world. I really think we captured Roy’s vision,” Back2Basics Marketing Coordinator, Carly Robertson said.

In addition to the re-launch of the website B2B has also hired, Robertson included, who will focus on the company’s online presence – social media, the Back2Basics blog and a new YouTube account, which will give outsiders a dynamic look into the outdoor adventure program.

Back2Basics has an experiential approach to recovery and its new website allows the viewer to experience what the program has to offer.

“Although, I have only been working with Back2Basics for a short time, I can tell there is major difference between this recovery program and the others. The online changes B2B is making will truly set it apart, even more so, from the rest,” Robertson said.

Back2Basics kicks off 2012 by adding Chase Christensen as the newest, fully certified staff member to serve as both a leader and an example to those in recovery.

“The outdoor adventure component [of Back2Basics] gives our residents the opportunity to accomplish things they never thought possible,” Christensen said.  “Through this they can find growth in many other aspects of their lives.  These types of small victories can show them that if they show up, they have a chance.”

Upon completion of his Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, Christensen, met the medically trained criteria needed in order to be an effective resource throughout the variety of wilderness circumstances that the Back2Basics outdoor adventure program encounters.

“The outdoor adventure component [of Back2Basics] gives our residents the opportunity to accomplish things they never thought possible.” – Chase Christensen

Christensen has supported Outdoor Program Director, Robb Faus, as a wilderness intern for three months prior to earning his certification–a requirement for all B2B adventure guides. “Being a part of Back2Basics is an incredible opportunity for me,” Christensen said.  “I am a Wilderness First Responder, in the process of pursuing a psychology degree, and was a member of the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers, which educates people on ‘leave-no-trace’ ethics and outdoor etiquette.”

B2B promotes health and wellness through daily living of the 12 Steps, in-depth study of Kung Fu and the internal arts, outdoor adventure and therapeutic modalities that specifically assist in healing those in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. The foremost theme at Back2Basics is both personal and group accountability and responsibility–characteristics that tend to be unfamiliar to most addicts and alcoholics.

“Chase has proved to be a natural leader to these young men, in the Back2Basics community, since day one,” Roy DuPrez, founder of Back2Basics said. “I have been nothing short of impressed with his enthusiasm and attentiveness while working in the recovery field of alcohol abuse and drug addiction.”

Before he got to Back2Basics, Tyler had been out of the country only once before, on a family trip to the Caribbean when he was 10 years old.

So he was taken completely off guard by an invitation earlier this year from Back2Basics Founder and CEO Roy Duprez and Director of Admissions Adam McLean. “It was very out of the blue,” Tyler remembers. “I had no idea they would ask me to go.”

Just a few days later, Tyler arrived in Mexico along with Duprez, McLean and a handful of other residents. They’d be spending their time in the area of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. “Ixtapa was touristy part, but mostly Mexican nationals, whereas Zihuatanejo was more locals,” Tyler explained. The residents immersed themselves in the local culture, took Spanish classes nearly every day, and attended 12 Step meetings every night. But whenever they could, they surfed.

“I had surfed a very small amount,” Tyler said, adding that at first, “It was hard to get out past where the water was breaking.”

Despite some frustration in the first couple of days, Tyler caught a couple of waves straight towards the shore, and he remembers thinking that by itself was amazing.

“… learning to support myself would be the next step in recovery for me. From what I’ve learned at Back 2 Basics, sobriety has to be first, or everything I want to do won’t work as well.” – Tyler

“I remember being out at Sala Dita and I caught this wave and I was riding it. I was just in shock that I was actually staying up on a wave. I ended up falling, but it was a good feeling,” he said. “The next day I actually caught one really good wave where I was riding it for a while and the wave would start to flatten out, then go right again. That’s when I got the feeling like, ‘yeah, this is awesome.’”

And from there, he was pretty much hooked. Tyler says surfing brought him an “awesome feeling of accomplishment… I guess from there I just kept trying to push myself surfing-wise, go for bigger waves than I was before. I started really looking forward to going surfing.

I could completely understand why people spend their whole lives surfing.” He says the experience beat out anything he did when he was using drugs.

“I thought that when I got sober, the fast-paced lifestyle would disappear,” he said. “It’s kind of a reminder that you can have a ton of fun and still get these naturally high feelings in sobriety.” Tyler said Duprez and McLean wanted him to go to Mexico in the first place so he might break out of his shell: “I was pretty lazy. I slept a lot and was somewhat withdrawn. The first two months I was here I was thinking about leaving, sort of fighting the process. In Mexico I realized, ‘I’m going to be here at least six months. If I surrender to the process, I can learn to enjoy my life as sober young man.’”

These days, Tyler is contemplating what life will look like after his stay at Back2Basics. He’s thinking of staying in Flagstaff, partly because of a strong recovery community in town – although he’s feeling pulled toward finishing a music producing and audio engineering certificate he’d started under a cherished mentor in Philadelphia.

“I’d like to get a job and support myself,” he said. “I’ve never done that before. Learning to support myself would be the next step in recovery for me. From what I’ve learned at Back2Basics, sobriety has to be first, or everything I want to do won’t work as well.”

Call Back2Basics at 877-399-4222 for a complete copy of the Back2Basics winter newsletter!

The content of the Kung-fu/Qi Gong curriculum is similar to many other martial arts but has a distinct difference in development of the body’s natural energy (chi), internal awareness and maintaining a sense of relaxation. Relaxation allows the body to move naturally and without restrictions which can help with adapting to stressful situations. Specific exercises are employed to rid the body of toxins and rebuild the muscular-skeletal system in a balanced, complete manner. The classes also practice two-person exercises, which require concentration and presence in the moment. This builds trust, nonverbal communication skills, confidence, instincts and fosters healthy relationships within Back 2 Basics cohort.

In the beginning all B2B participants struggle with the 6:30 a.m. training, but by completion of the program most recognize the importance of waking early and beginning their day in positive manner. Although there is no exact number of days in which a habit is formed, the involvement of exercise in the program has shown substantial results in achieving sobriety. During all classes participants are encouraged to look closer at the idea of health promotion, or caring for one’s self through informal health promotion discussion. Common topics of discussion are proper posture for health of the spine, joint function and longevity with proper exercises, structures of the body and organs, learning how to physically apply one’s self, importance of a healthy diet and how this all relates to mental well being.

In addition, motivating participants to consider being healthy as a way of life is invaluable. Regular exercise has been proven to release naturally occurring feel-good chemicals (endorphins), relieve stress and improve emotional well being, which can ultimately help with stimulating active productive behavior and sobriety. Watching participant’s progress over the six months is astounding. I am amazed at the unconditioned state participants arrive in, and then how fit and balanced they become when they exit the program.

I have witnessed graduated B2B participants waking up early and heading off to work for fulfilling days whereas before B2B this probably would not have happened. Throughout the program, participants learn to push themselves and develop stable attitudes and behavior. The unique blend of therapeutic methods are proving to work very well with ensuring B2B participants have sufficient knowledge and experience to make better informed decisions regarding life’s path they are to walk.

Benjamin Scharfenberger – Kung-fu/Chi Gong Class Instructor

Ross
Age: 20
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