BlueFire Wilderness
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersGooding, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
BlueFire Wilderness firmographics
Firmographics- 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
BlueFire Wilderness industry classification
Industry- 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
Where BlueFire Wilderness is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gooding
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
BlueFire Wilderness business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- 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
BlueFire Wilderness product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use BlueFire Wilderness
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
BlueFire Wilderness technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
BlueFire Wilderness partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- Sky's the Limit FundsupportingFinancial 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)coreAEE 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)coreProfessional membership organization providing guidance and standards for therapeutic schools and programs including wilderness therapy.
- Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH) CouncilcoreIndustry organization for wilderness therapy programs that establishes standards and best practices for outdoor behavioral healthcare.
- Idaho Outfitters and Guides AssociationcoreLicensing partnership allowing blueFire guides to operate on Idaho lands; guides are licensed through this association.
- Idaho Department of Health and WelfarecoreState regulatory body that licenses blueFire and sets safety regulations the program must meet or exceed.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BlueFire Wilderness competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
BlueFire Wilderness social profiles
Digital presenceBlueFire Wilderness compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
BlueFire Wilderness financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BlueFire Wilderness leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
BlueFire Wilderness funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BlueFire Wilderness M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BlueFire Wilderness
What does BlueFire Wilderness do?
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.
Is BlueFire Wilderness a public or private company?
BlueFire Wilderness is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was BlueFire Wilderness founded?
BlueFire Wilderness was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BlueFire Wilderness based?
BlueFire Wilderness is headquartered in Gooding, United States, in the North America region.
How does BlueFire Wilderness make money?
One revenue line is on record: wilderness Therapy Program Fees.
Who are BlueFire Wilderness's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Evoke Therapy Programs, Trails Carolina, Open Sky Wilderness Therapy, Second Nature Wilderness Programs, Summit Achievement, Pacific Quest, RedCliff Ascent and Anasazi Foundation. Broad incumbents are Embark Behavioral Health and Newport Academy.
Does BlueFire Wilderness have an API?
No public API is recorded for BlueFire Wilderness.
What industry is BlueFire Wilderness in?
BlueFire Wilderness's product category is Wilderness Therapy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAOAG, Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs, with a secondary code of EDAMALAO, Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills). Its NAICS code is 721214 and its SIC code is 7000.