Wendigo Lake - Project D.A.R.E.

Wendigo Lake – Project D.A.R.E. is a residential addiction treatment program located in South River, Ontario, offering dual diagnosis treatment in a therapeutic wilderness setting. Part of the Wendigo Lake network of youth-focused programs, Project D.A.R.E. provides holistic, integrated care for individuals dealing with concurrent addiction and mental health disorders.

Dual Diagnosis Residential Treatment

Project D.A.R.E. specializes in treating concurrent mental health and addiction disorders, providing inpatient residential care for individuals dealing with alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioid addictions alongside co-occurring mental health conditions. The integrated treatment model ensures both the addiction and underlying mental health needs are addressed simultaneously.

Holistic and Alternative Therapies

Set in the natural environment of South River, Project D.A.R.E. integrates wilderness-based and holistic therapeutic approaches alongside clinical treatment. Nature immersion, outdoor experiential programming, and alternative healing modalities complement evidence-based therapy, supporting a whole-person approach to recovery.

Therapeutic Community

The Wendigo Lake model is built on the therapeutic community concept — a structured, supportive residential community in which the relationships and routines of daily life become instruments of healing. Clients develop accountability, emotional regulation, and social skills through lived community experience alongside formal therapeutic programming.