u/1SoFlyMama

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Hi all! I'm a parent here looking for honest, real-world input.

My son is 21 and feeling pretty stuck. He’s overwhelmed by choices and doesn’t have a clear direction right now. I’m not trying to push him into a specific career—I’m just trying to help him get some momentum and confidence.

A bit about him:

enjoys outdoor, hands-on work (landscaping, deliveries/install work)

•spends lots of time hiking and outdoors to put his head together.

made it to Life Scout, so he’s capable and has done camping/backcountry

not interested in a traditional college path at the moment though he is taking a couple of classes that seem to interest him.

uses cannabis fairly regularly

tends to quit when things get uncomfortable (I think partly because home is very comfortable)

I’ve been looking into programs like American Conservation Experience (ACE) as a possible “container" It's something structured where he can just show up, work, and get out of his current environment for a while.

That said, I don’t want to send him into something that’s a poor fit and have it backfire.

What I’m really trying to figure out is:

What actually helps someone like this get unstuck at 21?

Is a structured program like ACE a good move or too much / not the right kind of structure?

Are there better paths for someone who isn’t career-focused yet but needs momentum?

If you were in his position (or have been), what made the biggest difference?

I’m open to anything—programs, jobs, environments, mindset shifts, etc.

Appreciate any insight, especially from people who’ve been in a similar place or helped someone through it.

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American Conservation Experience

Hi all! I'm a parent here looking for real-world input.

My son is 21 and trying to figure out his next step. He’s a great kid, smart and strong but currently pretty overwhelmed by choices and doesn’t have a clear direction.

A bit about him:

enjoys outdoor work and has done hands-on jobs (landscaping, plant delivery/install)

made it to Life Scout, so he’s capable and has experience camping/backcountry

not interested in a traditional college path right now

uses cannabis fairly regularly

tends to quit things when they get uncomfortable (I think partly because home is very comfortable)

•he loves hiking and goes to nature as a refuge and has entertained the idea of working with a park.

We’ve been looking into American Conservation Experience (ACE) as a possible “get him moving” option—something structured but not overly institutional.

I’m not necessarily looking at this as a long-term career path for him (at least not yet), more as a way to help him build:

momentum

confidence

independence

exposure to something different

My questions:

Have you seen ACE work well for someone like this—or backfire?

How strict is the day-to-day environment in reality?

Do people like him tend to stick it out, or leave early?

What separates the ones who succeed vs. the ones who don’t?

Anything you wish you knew before joining?

Also very open to alternatives if there are better fits for someone in this stage.

If you were him at 21, would you have done this—or chosen something else?

Appreciate any honest input—good, bad, or in-between.