Community Activities

Life and Living – Understanding

Life and living is what happens in the community. Sommerville staff is in relationship with community members, which is distinct from custodial involvement. We are conscious that every activity involves genuine relationship, growth, and exploration and is interactive and mutual.

In our community, life and living are not “taught” separately from daily activities, but are seamlessly integrated into everyday living and demonstrated through healthy relationships and mentoring. This approach recognizes and accepts that each person’s process and learning pace is different. When part of living, daily activities strengthen time management skills, learning about creating and maintaining a budget, learning to how to change a tire, and planning and cooking nutritious and balanced meals.

As appropriate, and as part of a developmental process, additional activities involve creating résumés and understanding about how to conduct oneself in an interview. Together, the Life and Living component enhances growth toward independence and self reliance, self governance, and successful community membership.

Nature-Based Ecological Activities – Interdependence

Many people with multiple diagnoses are strong hands-on learners. Nature-based activities provide natural opportunities for each person to build on these learning strengths.

We believe that being out in nature is innately healing and empowering for all people. At Sommerville, we gain knowledge about and have options to actively participate in hiking, backpacking, camping, canoeing, rock climbing, fishing, and basic survival skills. We believe that acquiring these and other challenging skills is essential for self esteem and is empowering in and of itself.

Sommerville also utilizes a more natural, proactive, nature-based approach to therapy, which builds on strengths rather than focusing on pathology. This healing is inherent in all activities involving simply being out-of-doors and surrounded by nature. Outdoor options include art, outdoor yoga or meditation, and simply belonging to groups that are active outdoors.

The guiding values of Sommerville are seen in all activities, including nature-based activities. These include respect for the environment, for all life, for ourselves, and for each other. The community practices “Leave No Trace” ethics, as well as other important environmental ethics for being in nature.

Horses and Other Animals – Respect

Our Sommerville community recognizes the healing power that comes with working with horses and other animals. The community works with horses including daily care, learning or increasing riding skills, and equine therapy with certified instructors. This essential component is a daily activity of community members.

There are kennels on the ranch where we breed and train dogs and cats, as well as nurture and care for rescued animals. Working with animals is an amazing path to continued self discovery; we learn to respect and take care of ourselves as we respect and take care of these animals.

Overall Health – Self-Actualization

At Sommerville, we have a commitment to ourselves to be healthy in every way—mind, body, and spirit. To this end, we participate in daily exercise both outdoors and in our gym; communal creation of healthy diets and understanding of the importance of foods; yoga and meditation; arts and crafts; recreational activities; and personal reflection and development. We value play and leisure-time activities as part of establishing a balance in life.

Sommerville recognizes that healthy living means living without drugs and alcohol. We also believe that discovering and building on interests is part of establishing and maintaining an alcohol- and drug-free life. To this end, AA and NA are part of the community; the community further supports sober living by understanding addictions and by building relationships that help to develop new and more effective ways to solve problems.

Group discussions increase understanding of ourselves and each other, validating that each person is normal for him or herself, and shifting members from focusing on problems to developing solutions. We are committed to establishing and maintaining healthy community relationships, relying on each others’ daily experiences to enhance each person’s growth.

Sommerville is a community for young men and women. The decision to be co-educational was not made lightly. By making this decision, Sommerville has emphasized the importance of providing a safe opportunity for community members to experience successful friendships as an essential part of supporting healthy living.

Sommerville has the capacity to provide medication management. Should different therapy be indicated, Sommerville plays an active role in working with youth and adult community members to decide on appropriate strengths-based providers.

Individual Development – Passion

Sommerville also recognizes that the process of growth is individual for each member of the community, whether that growth is in self confidence, practical knowledge, or employment. Accordingly, the community provides a range of options that reflect the range of interests and abilities, including the option to continue to live on the ranch, or to live, work, and function interdependently in a nearby community.

All of the events and activities at Sommerville are designed to foster the growth and skills necessary to live interdependently, and as independently as is feasible. However, we recognize that no time limits should be placed on this process, and we as a community will work together to determine if and when independent living is viable. We will work in unison to incorporate and address individual passions both for hobby or interest and professionally to encourage this possibility. Whether a community member’s passion is carpentry, landscaping, the arts, cooking, music, design, photography, computers, film, or animals—anything is possible at Sommerville.

Sommerville is networked within the wider community, having established relationships with potential mentors who will work one-on-one or in small groups with interested people. Natural networks are important for strengthening the web of support to prevent problems and assure seamless progress.