While many families and teens praise wilderness therapy programs for their positive transformational effects, troubling allegations involving physical and emotional abuse against Trails Carolina must be taken seriously and fully investigated.
These accounts paint an alarming picture of abusive conduct involving physical restraint, isolation and forced labor without adequate equipment or supervision. Former participants also report being denied basic needs such as food and water.
1. Abusive Behavior
Although many individuals credit Trails Carolina Horror Stories with dramatically improving their lives, the program has also received criticism and allegations of abuse that have resulted in lawsuits, investigations, and controversy – though not all claims may be accurate.
Some former participants have shared horror stories of emotional neglect and physical mistreatment at the hands of their mentors, including being forced to go without food and water as punishment, sleeping on the ground or facing sexual or physical harassment as punishments.
Counselor-student relationships are an integral component of rehabilitation, yet often blur the line between mentorship and manipulation. Furthermore, some individuals have reported only receiving limited training prior to being assigned clients in wilderness environments which may explain why such claims are prevalent. Furthermore, isolation as a form of discipline can cause psychological trauma that exacerbates any preexisting mental health conditions that already existed prior to placement in wilderness camps.
2. Dangerous Conditions
Wilderness therapy programs provide troubled teens the chance to reconnect with nature and themselves; however, like any treatment method they come with their own risks. Former students have shared terrifying Trails Carolina horror stories detailing abusive staff and dangerous conditions in the wilderness.
Stories such as these have made some parents reluctant to enroll their children in wilderness therapy programs and highlighted the need for better oversight and regulation of wilderness therapy programs. It should provide safe environments, clear communication channels and ongoing oversight.
Unfortunately, not all programs are regulated. One such incident was Seth Lansing, a 16-year-old who died while on a wilderness trip with Trails Carolina in 2016 and was later discovered in a creek 12 days after having climbed a tree and fallen to his death – yet staff at camp waited five hours before calling emergency services for assistance.
3. Neglect of Basic Needs
Trails Carolina is a wilderness therapy program for troubled teens. While the program has an established record of successful outcomes, recent stories from former participants and their families reveal it has its own dark side – including allegations of physical abuse and emotional neglect as well as safety concerns that were voiced during discussions amongst alumni and their family members.
Stories of abuse and neglect have caused some parents to reconsider sending their children to wilderness therapy programs, prompting greater scrutiny of this industry as well as calls for enhanced training and oversight of these programs.
Former students of Trails Carolina staff have made numerous allegations of emotional abuse, such as being humiliated or degraded during group therapy sessions, not receiving enough food or sleep, being cut off from family and friends, etc. Some claims have even been verified through state investigations or media coverage.
4. Shared Narratives
Trails Carolina is a therapeutic program for troubled adolescents that offers hope of personal growth and redemption through wilderness escapades and traditional remedial techniques to address defiance, chronic lying and depression/anxiety issues among other issues.
Unfortunately, however, is far from ideal. Many former participants have shared disconcerting tales of abuse and mistreatment while participating in wilderness therapy programs – these accounts being amplified online to remind everyone that not all wilderness therapy programs are created equal.
Trails Carolina allegations serve to highlight the need for increased oversight and accountability within this industry. Parents must conduct due diligence prior to enrolling their children in any wilderness therapy programs; those who have already been injured while enrolling must receive comprehensive aftercare support services as soon as possible.
