A Typical Day at NorthStar Center

At NorthStar Center, our goal is to help young people grow into independent adults with the skills of daily living that they need to enjoy productive, fulfilling lives.

Phase I
Students in Phase I live in one of three charming and conveniently located homes, and follow a structured daily schedule. Most days begin at 7 a.m. with a workout or racquetball or basketball game at a fully equipped gym or a swim at the local aquatic center. After completing morning chores, students head to our Academic Resource Center (ARC) for academic, therapeutic and independent living classes.

Centrally located in the downtown area of Bend and set among the tall pine and juniper trees, the ARC offers students access to computers, Internet, individual tutoring and study rooms. In the afternoons, Phase I students participate in therapy appointments, committees, or one of the many recreational activities available in the region.

Four nights a week, the students gather for a community dinner, which is prepared on a rotating basis by the students themselves. Because we are committed to 90 meetings in 90 days, our students attend an in-house recovery or outside AA/NA meeting every day. The remainder of the evening is dedicated to group therapy sessions or free time before bed.

Weekends are a time when students have more freedom to test their new skills by structuring their own schedules and completing tasks like grocery shopping, cleaning and preparing for the week ahead. Those who wish to attend religious services may do so.

As students progress through the program, they gradually earn more unstructured time, which they can fill with a part-time job or internship, classes at the local community college, AA/NA meetings, community service, or other activities. However they choose to budget their time, students have ongoing opportunities to socialize with other students and meet with staff for therapeutic support.

NorthStar Center Sample Phase I Schedule

Phase II
In Phase II, young people at NorthStar gradually move toward independent living. They plan and prepare their own meals, choose their own recreational and leisure activities, and determine the majority of their schedule. Whether students live in our garden-style apartments or our Second Street House, they are within close proximity to downtown Bend, the library, shopping, and a variety of outdoor sports and activities.

This stage is an opportunity for young people to apply what they’ve learned about healthy living, while remaining connected to the NorthStar community and participating in our committees, meetings and recreational activities. During this phase, most students attend college or work full-time, or do a combination of both.

Because the schedule during Phase II is modeled after everyday adult life, each student’s days will look different from another’s. Click here for a sample of one student’s week during Phase II.

NorthStar Center Sample Phase II Schedule

Committees
Every NorthStar student serves on one of five committees:

• Activities Committee – Plans weekly recreational activities and sober fun
• Student Life Committee – Plans larger activities and celebrations based on the interests of the students
• Recovery Committee – Plans recovery activities, such as bringing speakers to 12-Step meetings, sharing life stories and finding new ways to look at recovery
• Honor Committee – Oversees consequences when a student violates the honor code, and helps students accept accountability and make amends
• Leadership Committee – Helps determine level changes and takes on a mentoring role for newer students

Recreation
NorthStar students enjoy a wide range of recreational activities, which they plan as a group and individually. Bend, Oregon is a recreation mecca along the Deschutes River with 280 days of sunshine each year, snow-capped mountains, and a bustling downtown. Our students take full advantage of the resources of the region, including skiing, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, canoeing, sporting leagues, local rodeos and festivals, and more.

Treatment Review
Students meet with the clinical team to review their progress and set goals.