For years, outdoor enthusiast Derek Safley has taught young boys life lessons through Iron John Outdoor Programs. Now, Safley hopes to use his expertise to help the youth of Cottage Grove.

Safley has spent time as a corporate team builder for Fortune 500 companies and worked as a wilderness therapist in Aspen, Colorado. But his true passion lies in helping kids, especially boys who need a positive role model. As the founder of Iron John Outdoor Programs, Safley is able to be that role model.

Named for a Grimm's fairy tale involving a man of iron who teaches life lessons to a young prince, the Iron John Programs offer boys the chance to experience lessons firsthand in the wilderness . Safley taught countless youths in the deserts of Idaho during the summer, but after moving to Cottage Grove six months ago, he hopes to bring his program with him.

"The after-school program is for kids too old for day care that still need supervision," Safley said. "There are a lot of one-parent families around today. A lot of boys around ages 10 to 14 who don't have a father around have a little hole growing inside them. They aren't sure how a positive adult male behaves. These programs are a great opportunity for Cottage Grove kids to get in touch with nature." Iron John Programs would ideally take place after school, and all wilderness forays would take place within a twomile radius of downtown Cottage Grove. Instruction includes techniques and skills like fire building, building traps, navigating with a map and compass and constructing a shelter.

"Lots of the puzzles and activities we offer can be frustrating ," Safley said. "And through dealing with them, patterns of behavior emerge. The kids get to see the way a man r e s p o n d s positively to such situations ."

I r o n John's after-school program begins as soon as the last bell rings.

"Our instructors meet your son at school and decide as a group where to go," says the program's website. "A navigator is chosen and the adventure begins. Hiking to our chosen site while telling stories and communicating about our day, we set up camp. Through building a shelter, making a fire , making our tea and building traps or other primitive skills we learn about what it means to be the king, the knight and the farmer what it means to be men."

Hikes take place on public land or private land where permission has previously been obtained. Safley said that the upcoming winter rains can only help him teach his students.

"Weather is a great learning tool," he said. "Young adults often like to try to control every aspect of their lives. But there are things over which we have no control. You can either get mad at the rain or throw on a poncho. That's a great lesson."

Safley is currently working to develop programs with Lane Community College, Lane County Mental Health, Looking Glass, Al Kennedy Alternative School and Child's Way Charter School. He is licensed by the Child Care Division of Oregon and by South Lane School District . To learn more about Iron John Outdoor Programs, contact Safley at 541-531-9316 or email him at dereksafley @ironjohnprograms .com.