BlueFire Wilderness

What BlueFire Wilderness does

BlueFire Wilderness is a privately held, for-profit wilderness therapy program operating from southcentral Idaho that serves youth and young adults ages 11-28 struggling with emotional, behavioral, and social challenges. The company runs four age- and gender-segmented programs—Embers (boys 11-14), Sunfire (girls 13-17), Bonfire (boys 14-17), and PulsaR (young adults 18-28)—each combining licensed clinical therapy, wilderness immersion, adventure activities, and weekly equine therapy under a hybrid basecamp model featuring heated yurts, geodesic domes, and tent accommodations. Average length of stay is 10-12 weeks, with a 4:1 client-to-staff ratio and a minimum of two staff per group.

The program architecture embeds licensed therapists with clients 4-5 days per week, delivering two individual therapy sessions and four therapist-led group therapy sessions weekly, integrating modalities including EMDR, Brainspotting, Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), Community Resiliency Model (CRM), CBT, DBT, and the proprietary IHT (Idaho Horse Therapy) method built on a C.R.E.A.T.E. framework. Family systems work is central to the model: weekly parent therapy, consistent family therapy, the 4-day Family Spark workshop for adolescent discharges, the Family Flow workshop for the PulsaR cohort, and an expanded monthly parent support program (three groups plus a psychoeducational group as of April 2024) extend therapeutic engagement beyond the identified client. In-field video conferencing and video journals support remote family sessions, and the program offers up to 3.5 academic credits for middle and high school completion.

The business operates on a fee-for-service basis with private pay and insurance as payment options; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Revenue derives from program tuition over the 10-12 week average stay, with financial aid available through a partnership with the Sky's the Limit Fund. Go-to-market is primarily referral-driven through educational consultants, school counselors, healthcare providers, and alumni families, supplemented by content marketing, SEO, paid digital advertising, social media, and YouTube video content. The company is independently owned by co-founders Kathy Rex (Executive Director) and Jon Worbets (Clinical Director) alongside leadership team member Reid, with no institutional investment, parent company, or acquisition activity disclosed. It is licensed by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association, accredited by the Association for Experiential Education, and holds professional memberships in NATSAP and the OBH Council.

Name

BlueFire Wilderness

Legal name

blueFire Wilderness Therapy

Website

https://bluefirewilderness.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BlueFire Wilderness Therapy is a privately held Idaho-based wilderness therapy program serving youth ages 11-28 across four age- and gender-segmented programs (Embers, Sunfire, Bonfire, PulsaR), combining licensed clinical therapy, wilderness immersion, adventure activities, and equine therapy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wilderness Therapy Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG)

Keywords

• Wilderness therapy
• Youth therapy programs
• Adventure therapy
• Equine therapy
• Family systems therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Gooding

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Wilderness Therapy Program Fees: blueFire generates revenue through fees for its wilderness therapy programs for youth ages 11-28. Programs include Embers (boys 11-14), Sunfire (girls 13-17), Bonfire (boys 14-17), and PulsaR (young adults 18-28). Payment options include Private Pay and Insurance. Financial aid is available through Sky's the Limit Fund.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

BlueFire Wilderness is an outdoor behavioral healthcare program for youth ages 11-28 that combines licensed clinical therapy, wilderness immersion, adventure therapy, and equine therapy within a hybrid basecamp model in southcentral Idaho. It operates four distinct age- and gender-segmented programs (Embers for boys 11-14, Sunfire for girls 13-17, Bonfire for boys 14-17, and PulsaR for young adults 18-28) plus family workshops, with embedded therapists delivering individual and group sessions.

Product overview

BlueFire Wilderness is a wilderness therapy program for youth ages 11-28 that combines clinical expertise, wilderness immersion, adventure therapy, and equine therapy. The company operates four distinct age- and gender-specific programs: Embers (boys 11-14), Sunfire (girls 13-17), Bonfire (boys 14-17), and PulsaR (young adults 18-28). Each program features a licensed therapist embedded with clients 4-5 days per week, individual and group therapy, weekly equine therapy, and adventure activities. The company's hybrid basecamp model provides heated yurts with stability in cooler months and individual tents during summer. BlueFire also offers family-centered programming including weekly parent therapy, Family Spark workshops (4-day for adolescents), and Family Flow workshops (for young adults), making it a comprehensive multi-faceted approach to treating struggling teens and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sunfire: Wilderness therapy program for adolescent girls ages 13-17, focusing on emotional safety, identity development, and healthy relationships.
• Embers
• Bonfire
• PulsaR

Products and services

• Embers

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 10-12 week program duration producing lasting change
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Sky's the Limit FundsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial aid partnership allowing blueFire to accept donations through Sky's the Limit Fund for families seeking financial assistance for treatment.
• Association for Experiential Education (AEE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEE provides accreditation for blueFire's Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare program, setting standards for best practices in safety, experiential education, and trauma-informed care.
• National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional membership organization providing guidance and standards for therapeutic schools and programs including wilderness therapy.
• Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH) CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization for wilderness therapy programs that establishes standards and best practices for outdoor behavioral healthcare.
• Idaho Outfitters and Guides AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensing partnership allowing blueFire guides to operate on Idaho lands; guides are licensed through this association.
• Idaho Department of Health and WelfarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState regulatory body that licenses blueFire and sets safety regulations the program must meet or exceed.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Evoke Therapy Programs: Evoke operates wilderness therapy programs for adolescents and young adults using adventure-based, family-centered treatment models. Directly comparable to blueFire across age range, modality mix, and referral-driven GTM.
• Trails Carolina: Trails Carolina runs a wilderness therapy program for pre-teens, teens, and young adults combining clinical therapy, adventure activities, and family work — a near-identical value proposition to blueFire's Embers/Sunfire/Bonfire tracks.
• Open Sky Wilderness Therapy: Open Sky provides wilderness therapy for adolescents and young adults with a holistic, family-systems approach and licensed therapists in the field — closely mirroring blueFire's clinical model and target demographic.
• Second Nature Wilderness Programs: Second Nature offers wilderness therapy programs for teens and young adults in the western U.S., with clinical therapy, adventure activities, and family programming. Comparable to blueFire in modality, age range, and referral-driven admissions.
• Summit Achievement: Summit Achievement operates a wilderness therapy program in Maine for adolescents and young adults, blending clinical therapy, adventure, and family systems work. Comparable to blueFire across clinical depth and target population.
• Pacific Quest: Pacific Quest runs wilderness and outdoor therapeutic programs for adolescents and young adults in Hawaii, integrating clinical therapy with horticultural and adventure work. Comparable to blueFire in modality, clinical integration, and family programming.
• RedCliff Ascent: RedCliff Ascent provides wilderness therapy for adolescents and young adults in Utah with licensed clinicians in the field. Directly comparable to blueFire's core clinical-plus-wilderness delivery model.
• Anasazi Foundation: Anasazi Foundation runs wilderness therapy programs for youth and young adults emphasizing self-awareness, family healing, and adventure-based reflection. Comparable to blueFire in family-systems orientation and wilderness modality.

Broad incumbents

• Embark Behavioral Health: Embark is a multi-program behavioral health platform operating residential, wilderness, and outpatient programs for adolescents and young adults. Comparable to blueFire at the program level but operating at substantially greater scale and with PE backing.
• Newport Academy: Newport Academy operates a nationwide network of residential and outpatient treatment programs for teens and young adults with mental health and substance use challenges. Comparable to blueFire's therapeutic positioning but as a multi-site incumbent with broader service lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bluefirewild

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BlueFire Wilderness