Criteria for accepting campers include: age range, 12-17 years; each camper must be emotionally disturbed, but not mentally retarded; and nature of offense -- varies from truancy or adolescent incorrigibility to (adult) felony offenses, including murder. Fifty-two percent of the campers are referred to HCWC by juvenile court judges. Each prospective applicant, however, must choose to become a HCWC client as a prerequisite for being accepted as a camper. Throughout the campers' stay the rehabilitation process is integrated into group planning and thinking through their daily activities. Informal campfire discussions, as well as other therapeutic techniques and programs, progressively enhance the campers' bonds of commitment to their respective groups. Studies indicate that 85 percent of ex-campers who graduated from the HCWC do not recidivate during the initial six month period following their release. 1 figure, 7 notes, 7 references. (Author abstract modified)