Parker's imagination was always out of the box and outside of the lines. He was a deep thinker and a dreamer-- a lot like his Grandpapa. He dreamed BIG. He dreamed globally. He dreamed universally beyond the stratosphere far into space. He led his life with his heart and everyone who truly knows him will vouch for this fact. He believed in loyalty and honesty and being real. He believed in family and belonging and love. He believed in his country and he loved the principles for which it stands--especially freedom and honor. He believed in his teammates and brotherhood. He believed in being humble and helping others without drawing attention to himself. He loved trees and children and animals. He believed in helping the underdog even at his own inconvenience or peril. He did this since the time when he was very young standing up to the school yard bully. He gave the shirt off his back and the last change in his pocket to a homeless man. He cared so much that it hurt. It finally hurt too much.

Parker's experience in Wilderness Therapy in the Great Smokey Mountains of North Carolina in the Fall of 2009 was an experience that changed the course of his life and gave him some of his very brightest years as a young adult. He said in Wilderness the fog lifted and he found himself again. He felt at peace and a sense of self-reliance he had forgotten and most importantly he felt hope for his future. We are certain that this time in Wilderness Therapy gave him and us 5 more priceless years together on earth.

As a family, Parker, Dan, Liz and sister Breanna actively talked and dreamed about doing something to help get more young people to Wilderness. A place, a movement, a community...we even talked about how we would build it and what roles each of us would play. Parker even laughed out loud when we asked him, "what role are you going to play?" and he replied, "I will be at the top. I will be overseeing everything. I will be like the head counselor." He then said, "let's do this!" Well the irony is that it now seems that he is taking the lead role in making this happen. He feels very much alive in our hearts as he inspires us to forge ahead and make his dream a reality to help other young people just like him find their way through Wilderness Therapy and beyond.

The world needs more dreamers. The dreamers are those who can see beyond what is and imagine something better. Thank you Parker for your vision and for inspiring us to "just do this!"

Daniel Johnson is father of Parker Bounds Johnson and Breanna Bounds Johnson and husband of Liz Bounds.

Liz, Breanna and Parker are the love of his life. He has devoted his hands, back, brain, and heart to them. “All that I am, have, do, and dream, is because of them." He was born and raised on a farm in Sunnyside Wa. He has three brothers and four sisters. He learned at a young age to work hard and play hard. He doesn’t sit still well. He would much rather be outside in adventure with family or friends, or working on a “project”. He loves people.

Dan graduated from the University of Washington in 1985 with a BS degree in Construction Management. He went on to construct large commercial projects in San Diego for 5 years before moving “home” to Portland and going to work for Skanska USA Building. In 27 years, he rose in the ranks to become the Vice President of Operations for Skanska’s $450M Portland operations. He has had a hand in many projects covering the Portland, Central Oregon and SW Washington region. He says “Construction is a “people” business like no other. Im lucky to love what I do with great people". His great joy is to witness the success people develop and the benefits that personal and professional growth provides them and their families.

Dan has worked his whole life "making things happen". He has great vision, creativity, organizational and leadership skills. He has proven abilities at turning a vision into actions and reality. He has done a significant amount of public speaking, and has the ability to motivate and inspire.

Dan has witnessed first-hand the devastating impact addiction, substance abuse, mental health challenges and suicide can have on people and their families. He has also seen the power of "Wilderness" and other treatment programs that return young adults back into the arms of their families and friends healthy and with renewed hope for their futures. Dan is committed to sharing with families the possibilities for treatment for their loved ones, supporting the good work of the American Foundation Suicide Prevention and as Parker dreamed--"send one kid a year to Wilderness."

My privilege as Parker's and Breanna's mother has shaped me above all else. My children have become my greatest teachers--my dearest treasures on this earth and beyond life. A catastrophic and unfathomable loss occurred that changed me and the course of my life forever. Our son, Parker, took his own life after several difficult years of struggle and suffering just days before his 24th birthday. My grief and healing journey has taken me on a quest for deeper understanding of his plight and of others who may be suffering like he did. It has become my persistent wish to now do something useful to serve these young people who are hurting so deeply. A passionate idea of Parker’s that he enthusiastically shared a short time before his passing is now coming to life under his name: Parker Bounds Johnson Foundation--or PBJWilderness4Life.org

A few facts for the record: I earned my Bachelor or Arts Degree in Business Administration at the University of Washington and an Associates Degree in Interior Design at Portland Community College. I have owned and operated a business in residential and vacation property management for over 30 years. I have been an Interior Designer for nearly 20 years. I have worked for JCPenney as a buyer and merchandise manager and at Nordstom in commission sales. As a teenager I worked through school as utility worker for the City of Bellevue and as a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons to students from pre-school to the elderly at Edgebrook Club and for Bellevue and Mercer Island Park & Recreation. I worked my way through university at Puget Sound Power & Light Company that granted me a 4 year full ride scholarship to the UW. I have taught private art lessons. I have distributed phone books and delivered newspapers door to door. I even owned and operated a pop machine with my husband when we were first married.

My volunteer involvement revolved around my kids--Breanna and Parker, animals, and art. I was enthusiastically involved in the Art Literacy Programs in the Reedville and Beaverton Public Schools for many years. I was selected as a graphic artist for large projects in schools when I was a teenager as well as an adult. I have been involved in my kid's scouting and sports teams and was an assistant to Parker's Barbarian Rugby team--a true highlight. I have been a lifelong personal advocate for the humane treatment of animals and was an involved volunteer at the Oregon Humane Society. I am the Oregon group facilitator of Helping Parents Heal--a grief and healing support group for parents who have lost a child and for their grieving family members and close friends.

Interests lead me toward nature, exercise, family, friends and animals. I am a supporter of Best Friends Animal Society and even visited Angel Canyon in Kanab, Utah with my daughter. We had all just celebrated Parker’s graduation from In Balance Transitional Living in Tucson AZ and were heading back to Oregon. I am a vegetarian. I am learning to climb really big trees. I am a beginning urban bee keeper waiting for my first swarm. I garden. I hike. I backpack. I scuba dive. I ski. I am learning to kite board. I kayak. I water ski. I have run all 200 miles over 12 years from Mt Hood to Seaside in the Hood to Coast Relay with my team. I am privately learning to play the drums in my basement as therapy. I am beginning to practice Xi Gong and Yoga. I draw. I paint. I used to sew all my own clothes. I love animals and have had several pet house rabbits among an array of many scaled, feathered and furry beings. My recent claim to fame is I can make rice crispy treats using just one pan and one spatula. I especially love to spend time with young people and talk about deep subjects about life, the earth, the universe and beyond.

When I am outdoors in the wild places--whether it be oceans, rivers, lakes, forests, mountains, deserts or jungles--in any season-- I can breathe. I can shed my skin. My sadness and anxiety can lift. I feel renewed, nurtured and even empowered when I am in Wilderness. It feels healing of mind, body and spirit and reminds me what is essential. This love of wild places feels innate to my spirit. And it is a gift that has been nurtured by my family to whom I am grateful. I'd like to play a small part in paying this gift forward for another as I honor the legacy of my son's life. It had a significant impact on Parker when he received the gift of healing through a wilderness therapy program in North Carolina. I am certain it added 5 priceless years to his life. For this I am forever thankful.

I am a childhood friend of Parker’s who grew up in the same neighborhood, attended the same schools, and participated in many of the same activities growing up. Parker and I both played high school rugby and football together. Memories made during this time, in particular our rugby memories are something that I will cherish for a lifetime.

Helping people is something that I have always been passionate about, which naturally led me to the field of education. I received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Willamette University and then received an Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology from the graduate school at Lewis & Clark College. I am currently working as a School Psychologist at a middle school in the Battle Ground School District.

My job affords me the opportunity to work with amazing kids who with added support, resources, and positive opportunities, I have witnessed the resilience they have to fight whatever struggle they may be having. Nature is one of those resources that I believe invaluable to expose young people to and one that I personally use as a coping skill to deal with life’s daily challenges.

Helping to connect struggling youth with the power of nature through PBJF is why I find so much value in being involved with this foundation.

Taylor Surby is a Oregon native and childhood friend of Parker. Taylor and Parker began their friendship in 1st grade at Sexton Mountain Elementary school in Beaverton.

Over the years they shared in many adventures, such as annual summer rafting trips, hikes, and hanging out with friends on Mt. Hood. Since graduating college, Taylor continues to volunteer for her college sorority Alpha Phi and works as a Corporate Recruiter.

She enjoys spending time with family, a good book, and making new friends. Taylor hopes that through the Parker Johnson Foundation we can provide young people with hope through the power of wilderness therapy programs and outdoor activity.

My life experience is founded on the transformative power of nature and the outdoors have had on growth and change throughout my life and the integral part it has played in my dynamic therapeutic approach. I trace this back to my rural roots from where I was born and raised in a small town (White Salmon) in The Cascade Mountains of Washington State. I later earned my Bachelor of Arts from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and my Masters of Social Work in Oregon at Portland State University. I have spent the better part of the last ten years working in the wilderness therapy field, further developing my passion for serving others and influencing change.

I found my calling in 2007 as a wilderness therapy field guide. For three years I tirelessly dedicated myself to the work until I earned a role as the field supervisor. Wanting more clinical and educational experience, I enrolled into Portland State University’s School of Social Work.

During my graduate program I focused on youth struggling with mental health and addictions both as a case manager and an addictions counselor. I continued to explore the complex issues of youth and mental illness as a school social worker at an alternative high school in the Portland metro area, until I received my graduate degree.

After graduating in 2012, I quickly returned to wilderness therapy as a therapist for an emerging wilderness therapy program in Wisconsin. When the company opened a new field area in Bend, Oregon, I played an integral role in developing foundational elements of the new program as a Primary Therapist and most recently as Clinical Director.

I am a trained level II Brainspotting (BSP) specialist. My focus is on attachment therapy, family systems and trauma informed care. I specialize in the treatment and placement of adolescents and young adults experiencing acute and complex mental health and addiction struggles. I belong to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and am licensed in the state of Oregon as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

When I am not immersed in my work with clients and families, I enjoy and embrace the outdoor lifestyle of Bend, Oregon and can usually be found on top of a mountain, paddling down a river or traveling and exploring the great outdoors with my partner of 17 years.

My name is Jennifer Burnett (Jenn) my son Alex has suffered from depression for most of his 18 years of life. After years of traditional therapy methods failed him, his symptoms became life threatening. It was then that our family made the decision to have Alex go into wilderness therapy. Alex graduated from wilderness therapy in September 2019. After spending three months out doors surrounded with young men with similar backgrounds and a wealth of non-stop therapy, Alex returned home a vibrant and healthy young man.

Enrolling our son into wilderness therapy was not only a big decision it was an expensive one. My husband Bob and I were recommended by our family therapist to reach out to the Parker Bounds Johnson Foundation aka PBJ Wilderness4Life because they offer grants to help cover wilderness therapy cost to the folks who live in Oregon and Washington. We are forever grateful to PBJ Wilderness4Life for their kind generosity! Their generosity doesn’t stop at granting scholarships. PBJ Wilderness4Life also has a group of young volunteers that help lead a tribe of wilderness alumni called Wild Hearts. Wild Hearts meet-ups welcome a wonderful opportunity for the youth and young adults who have attended outdoor wilderness therapy programs to connect and build healthy friendships with peers who understand them. In addition to building friendships these young people also get to connect with nature during monthly excursions that offer hiking, back packing, camping and so much more as well as local weekly meet-ups.

I believe in giving back and I also believe that the youth of today needs strong healthy connections more than ever! That’s why I am happy to volunteer my time to building a community of people who want more out of life, who desire real conversations, deeper connections as well as provide a space of ease and play. That’s what Wild Hearts is all about! It doesn’t stop with our kids. Parents, we need each other, too. PBJ Wild Hearts offers parent meetups--a time for parents to connect and support each other. We call the parent group Families of PBJ Wild Hearts (because siblings are welcome, too). It can be a lonely place for a parent when their child is suffering, we can often feel lost and even hold a lot of shame and guilt. PBJ Wild Hearts for our teens and young adults as well as for parent meetups are sprouting up throughout the states of Washington and Oregon. We welcome you with open arms! If you don’t have a PBJ Wild Hearts Tribe near you and want to start one in your town, please feel free to reach out to me.

In addition to volunteering and being my kid’s mom, I am a proud wife to my husband and partner in crime, Bob Burnett (who also volunteers as a Volunteer Leader of Families of PBJ Wild Hearts and is the Dad’s Tribe Leader). As well, I am a positive body image health and fitness coach for women. I love being outdoors and connecting with nature. Living in Bend, Oregon provides countless opportunities for outdoor adventures in which I thrive.

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth, find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” -Rachel Carson

My name is Bob Burnett; I am a husband of more than 20 years to my loving wife Jennifer and we have two boys, Logan (20) and Alex (18). Our family has been effected by depression for several years, beginning with my father’s suicide in 2002. Our son, Alex, has struggled with depression for all of his life and we have tried various traditional methods to address this, from one on one therapy, to enrollment in social clubs and youth groups, to medication and even relocating across the country (from MD to OR) in order to establish a better quality of life for our family. Early in 2019, Alex’s symptoms became severe and we feared he would do something drastic, so we looked into wilderness therapy; wilderness was previously suggested by his primary therapist in our home in Bend, OR but we opted not to do it due to the cost and instead attempted to make the best of our situation. When faced with a life or death decision, it is amazing how quickly cost concerns go out the window.

Alex ended up spending 11 weeks at wilderness in Colorado and put in the emotional and physical work to face his “dragons” and identify effective coping skills. The immersive nature of wilderness and the peer interaction in an “emotionally safe” space did wonders for Alex. He is more engaging and open than he has ever been before and he is sticking to his daily routine of journaling, meditating and getting in physical movement; all things that were instilled during his time in wilderness.
Once Alex was enrolled, we began scouring every avenue seeking grants or scholarships to assist in paying for wilderness, and this is how we came to meet Liz at PBJ Wilderness4life! I remember listening to my wife speak with Liz for over an hour on their very first call, and the feeling of no longer being alone in this journey, we had found an advocate and a person who had been in our shoes before. In addition to grants, PBJ also provides events and resources for wilderness alumni and their families so that they can get together with other people who have shared experiences. The program for wilderness alumni is called Wild Hearts; the intent is to get the kids outdoors and socializing with each other and to not lose that wilderness vibe that was discovered while in the back country. When we learned about PBJ, we realized we had found an outlet for Jennifer and I to get involved and help other families and kids who have participated in wilderness therapy. Before Alex had come home, we had already decided we would help spread the PBJ word in Bend, OR. We agreed to coordinate a local Wild Hearts tribe in Bend to compliment the existing group in Portland. Additionally, Jenn is coordinating a Mom’s group and I am doing so for the Dads. This is exactly what we have wanted for Alex for so many years, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to be involved.

I can’t say that I have always been a died in the wool outdoorsman, but I was in scouts and have camped all my life; additionally, I have volunteered for every activity both of my boys have participated in: soccer, lacrosse, scouts, youth groups, VBS, etc. Since moving to Bend, I have definitely taken advantage of the outdoor opportunities surrounding us and wholeheartedly believe in the therapeutic affects of nature. I am looking forward to meeting other parents and getting a regularly recurring Dad’s group together to chat about life, lessons learned, best practices and simply to provide an attentive ear. I am always up for a hike or to throw a frisbee, and look forward to growing the Wild Hearts group in Bend.

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” – Marcus Aurelius. A maxim that is useful in 100% of situations and also describes the wilderness experience quite well.

As a mom, I’ve tried to go it alone during times of personal struggle and it never goes as well as when I ask for help and make myself vulnerable to share.

I’m thankful for PBJWilderness4life because we see the great importance of not only helping kids get into an outdoor behavioral healthcare/wilderness therapy program but also we recognize the support we families need during the new and on going journey.

I facilitate our PBJ Wild Heart Moms Tribe in the Portland area. It is a safe place where moms can come and just be, without judgement. An hour or so of release, where our at the end, our problems haven’t necessarily changed but our energy feels stronger to get through the next moment. We also share information about local activities to help connect our kids with other kids on similar paths.

Connecting with other parents who are going through similar situations with their child(ren) in regards to mental health/addiction makes the struggle hopeful. Hearing others stories so similar to my own makes me feel comforted and safe.

I’m thankful to have such a wonderful group of moms whom I get to be around every other week and to help connect people and their kiddos.

My other PBJ role is to help introduce and bring “Wilderness Kids” (and their families) together and invite them to be a part of our Portland area PBJ Wild Hearts Meet-Ups.

Our Portland area PBJ Wild Hearts Moms Tribe meets every other Tuesday 7pm at Ava Roasteria Coffee House in Lake Oswego, OR. Please join anytime—come as you are—you are always welcome.

Our PBJ Wild Hearts Meet Ups for our kiddos meets every Wednesday evening at 5pm at Tryon Creek Park beginning in January 2020 and once a month on Saturday at 9am in Lake Oswego.

If you’d like to connect with me to just talk, or join our Portland Area Moms Tribe, or to get more information on local Portland area weekly and monthly Wild Hearts Meet-Ups for our teens/young adults, I am here to help welcome you and get you connected with our other team leaders.

Thank you!

Emily

Hello Everyone,

My name is Joe Gilcrest and I’m 2008 alumni of wilderness therapy. Upon completion, I moved into a transitional living program where I met Parker who had arrived there the day before I had. Through the program our friendship started, and he and I became closer friends living together afterwards for some time.

I spent a couple years working as a staff member at the Transitional Living Program before moving back to my hometown of San Diego, where I worked as a finish carpenter for 7 years. During that time I hiked 1000 miles of PCT.

I currently live in Portland, Oregon with my girlfriend working towards a career in the Fire Service and Emergency Medical Services.

My drive to be a part of PBJF is near to my heart in many ways;

I understand firsthand what the wilderness therapy experience is like, as an alumni, and as a friend of many who have had the opportunity to go through it.

I understand that the wilderness environment provides opportunities for growth and introspection that cannot be offered elsewhere.

Suffering from mental health is familiar to me with many close relationships.

I get the opportunity to help carry forth my good friend Parker’s amazing idea with his family and friends.

My name is Hailey Aspinall and like many, I have been personally touched by losing a loved one to mental illness. I am passionate about advocating for mental health care, particularly for those who have barriers advocating for themselves.

I received my degree in sociology and psychology from UCLA and am working toward becoming a mental health counselor. I live in Portland and work as a Psychiatric Technician at a residential psychiatric facility for children and adolescents. I have seen firsthand how wilderness therapy can benefit those who struggle with mental health issues and I wish that it was more accessible to kids, which is why I think that PBJ Foundation is so wonderful.

Though I never met Parker, I have gotten to know his wonderful parents and I am proud to work with them and this network of other caring individuals. I am excited to be involved with PBJ Foundation with its powerful mission to help people.