THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 19, 1995 TAG: 9510190379
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN AND KAREN JOLLY DAVIS, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Mousey, a massive mule, quivered and snorted as 18-year-old Charles stroked its neck. Charles had renamed the animal Ishmael, and it was his to care for.
``They're just like people,'' said Charles. ``Sometimes a little better.''
Charles is one of 55 boys, mostly inner-city kids from Pennsylvania, on the VisionQuest mule train from Franklin, Pa., to Yeehaw, Florida. For more than a week the Conestoga wagons had made their way down the Eastern Shore and had camped near the end of the peninsula.
Then the outfit crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on Tuesday by truck and set up camp at the Triple-R Ranch in Chesapeake.
``We're migrators,'' said Charles. The VisionQuest wagoneers can pull down their camp of teepees in an hour. But it will take more than six months to reach their destination.
VisionQuest adventures are an alternative to incarceration for nonviolent juvenile offenders ages 14-18. The wagon train, and others like it, are part of a variety of programs designed to instill discipline and self-worth in wayward youths.
At any given time, you can find VisionQuest participants sailing ships, in boot camps and on drill teams at various locations in the United States.
The wagon train in Chesapeake has a large support staff. In all there are about 50 high-school teachers, counselors, truck drivers and cooks. A nurse and business manager also are traveling south.
Frederick Newton, assistant wagon master, stopped counting the number of wagon trains he has ridden for VisionQuest when he reached 200. Once he was on the road continuously for six years.
They travel 10 to 15 miles a day, mostly on back roads. Costs - $124.56 a day for each boy - are paid through the courts. Offenses range from truancy to drug dealing and auto theft, Newton said. He keeps his boys on a very short and very busy leash.
``It's an honor thing,'' Newton said. ``They give us their word that they're going to do things proper, and we say `OK we'll take it.' ''
For most of these boys, that means making a big change, said Newton, because they were on the street with no controls at all.
Jose, a wiry 17-year-old from Philadelphia, said he has learned responsibility.
``I thought they'd just send you here to work,'' Jose said, taking a break from serving lunch at the Triple R. ``It sort of taught me how to bring up my kids. It taught me who I was and what I like.''
One of his newfound joys is caring for the mules and horses. When he leaves VisionQuest, he plans to enlist in the Army and then open a horse stable with his cousin.
Maurice, who wants to be a carpenter, said working with the other boys on chores has helped learn teamwork and has helped him make friends.
``You have to stick together to do the hard work,'' said 14-year-old Maurice, who is from Erie, Pa. ``You'll never make it by yourself.''
For Charles and his friends Jihad, Derrick and Justin, the wagon train is a varied and thought-provoking experience. They haven't traveled very much, so everything they see is new and different.
``We ain't locked up and we get to see other cities,'' Justin said.
The clang of a small bell signaled the end of classes held inside the teepees. The boys - dressed in green T-shirts, dark pants or gray sweats - were standing hand-to-shoulder with instructors in a large circle to hear instructions for Wednesday afternoon.
The boys have learned about Native American ceremonies, and have even built sweat lodges where they open up and talk about their ``issues.''
``It's like a purification,'' said Jihad about the sweat lodge experience. ``You've got to be strong.''
The boys said they miss their families, but hope to go home with different attitudes. Jihad is shooting for his high school diploma and dreams of college now.
``I want to be something big, make millions,'' he said.
Charles wants to rap, or be a portrait artist. If that doesn't work, he'll be an electrician. He wants to make enough money to take a pilgrimage to Mecca and become an imam.
Derrick, 16, knows now what he'll teach his children.
``How to have responsibility for themselves,'' said Derrick. ``I'll grow them up the right way, tell them to be better than me, to be somebody, not just a loser on the streets.'' ILLUSTRATION: On a trail of discovery
GARY C. KNAPP
VisionQuest leaders ramrod their young charges through a long,
work-filled day that includes education, discussion and circling
together to hear instructions on whatever comes next. Leaders and
boys are honor-bound to keep their promise to work together. by CNB