NC - 12-year-old dies at Trails Carolina wilderness therapy camp, Lake Toxaway, February 2024

[whiterhino]

100%. He could have had some genetic condition manifesting as behavioral issue, as they are now finding more frequently. This kid needed proper diagnosis and normal treatment.

For all anyone knows, there was no diagnosis whatsoever. He was a victim of cruel and unusual punishment IMHO

 

[Charlot123]

For all anyone knows, there was no diagnosis whatsoever. He was a victim of cruel and unusual punishment IMHO

I don't have any information either way. I wonder who recommended/or, how the parents chose this camp.

In one of the earlier articles,

N.C. report finds wilderness camp failed to ensure boy was breathing before he died

A state inspection report offers new details on the hours leading up to a 12-year-old’s death at Trails Carolina, a camp for troubled adolescents.

www.nbcnews.com

it is stated that

"Founded in 2008, Trails Carolina is a for-profit wilderness camp that treats children with diagnoses such as autism, ADHD, bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders, as well as those struggling with depression or unruly behavior."

So while it could be "unruly behavior", the child could also have had any of the above condition.

I assumed that given his growth delay, the child could have had some undiagnosed, possibly, genetic, problem. However, your words gave me another idea, a possible explanation for being small for age that I didn't think of before.

 

[whiterhino]

I don't have any information either way. I wonder who recommended/or, how the parents chose this camp.

In one of the earlier articles,

N.C. report finds wilderness camp failed to ensure boy was breathing before he died

A state inspection report offers new details on the hours leading up to a 12-year-old’s death at Trails Carolina, a camp for troubled adolescents.

www.nbcnews.com

it is stated that

"Founded in 2008, Trails Carolina is a for-profit wilderness camp that treats children with diagnoses such as autism, ADHD, bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders, as well as those struggling with depression or unruly behavior."

So while it could be "unruly behavior", the child could also have had any of the above condition.

I assumed that given his growth delay, the child could have had some undiagnosed, possibly, genetic, problem. However, your words gave me another idea, a possible explanation for being small for age that I didn't think of before.

RBBM: Neglect? I am just guessing.

Everything about this is so absolutely wrong. A wilderness camp to "treat" children who have been diagnosed with PTSD and/or unruly behavior? Sounds promising

JMO.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Except in theory, a lot of time in nature is actually healing. But you have to want to be there and feel good about the experience.

This was adults literally forcing a child to their will, and that was never going to be healing.

The problem is a lot of teenagers who truly need therapy refuse to go or don't participate in a meaningful way when they go, and that makes parents feel helpless, though. Things get so out of control in their homes, and they are heavily judged for not fixing it.

Unfortunately there isn't an answer for these families, but a lot of people think places like this are the best last resort. However most people also think these camps will be pretty safe for their teen, and actually, this camp really should have been safe, but they failed in the worst way.

 

[tlcya]

A high-end outdoor therapy camp is once again trying to stop the state from revoking its license by filing a petition with the N.C. Office of Administrative Hearings on July 8, about eight days before its license is set to be taken after the death of a 12-year-old camper.

Trails Carolina, based in the Transylvania County community of Lake Toxaway, more than an hour from Asheville, submitted a petition for a contested hearing to challenge the revocation of its operating license, a spokesperson with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services confirmed with the Citizen Times July 12.
WNC camp appeals license revocation by state officials after 12-year-old camper death

Received on July 8, Trails’ petition letter said the state’s “actions are without a reasonable or sufficient basis and are detrimental to the health or safety of the children who would otherwise be in Petitioner’s (Trails Carolina’s) care.”

Trails said the state’s “actions and decision making did not appropriately consider the degree of sanctions necessary to assure compliance” and the state “exceeded its authority, acted erroneously, failed to use proper procedure, and acted arbitrarily and capriciously in its investigation and suspension of admissions.”

Among the reasons for the appeal, Trails put a check mark indicating the state: “substantially prejudiced my rights;” “exceeded its authority or jurisdiction;” “acted erroneously;” “failed to use proper procedure” and “acted arbitrarily or capriciously.”
https://www.transylvaniatimes.com/news/trails-carolina-appeals-license-revocation/article_36774dca-42d9-11ef-b5b8-03e970e69912.html

1st BBM - I beg to differ. As does the death of a 12 year old "camper" that was ruled a homicide MOO

2nd BBM - like you did with the life of a 12 year old "camper" who was in your care?

This camp, grrr, now I am fired up.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

And we're still waiting to see if criminal charges will be filed against someone(s)...

 

[SpicyFruit]

After watching The Program on Netflix I fear that even though the Camp has closed some of these kids have already been moved into a different camp.

 

[iamshadow21]

After watching The Program on Netflix I fear that even though the Camp has closed some of these kids have already been moved into a different camp.

Yeah. It seems to be how these places operate.

The Program was really powerful, really impactful. If you haven't seen it, I also recommend Hell Camp (also on Netflix) which is about wilderness programs specifically. They're all rooted in the same corrupt, abusive structure, though, whether they're in the woods, the desert, or in a prison facility masquerading as a school.

MOO