I woke up to the sound of running water. The river was still next to us, its icy water rolling over rocks and logs as it headed toward Lake Powell. Birds chirped in the single cottonwood tree that stood guard in our little sandy island, and it was glowing at the top from the sun that was climbing slowly over the top of the narrow opening of the canyon walls.
I sat up and noticed others starting to rise up. My journal had been left out and apparently the moisture in the air had warped some of the pages so I grabbed it hurriedly and stuffed it in my blanket. A counselor blew a whistle.
“Get up guys,” she spoke calmly. “We’re going to make breakfast and then start out again. Crossing the river today a few times, won’t be as bad. You know the drill, and tonight, you’ll get a treat. Just keep up mmmkay?”
She walked over to her area and began to pull small paper packets of flavored Quaker oatmeal for herself. I reached in my blanket and pulled out a baggie with a handful of raw oats and threw them into the empty burnt peach can I used to cook with. I went over to the river to get some water to add to it when I noticed a small shivering body behind some grass.
I stepped closer and saw that it was the small boy from the other night. He was shaking pretty badly and I could see his hands and lips were blue. He wasn’t looking at me but I could see he could hear me.
I went over and knelt down by him. He stuttered something and I didn’t understand him, but the second I got closer to him, I could hear what he was saying.
“C-c-c-c-c-cold.”
I jogged back to my area and grabbed my blanket and took it quickly back to him. I put it over him and got near to his face as he stuttered about his condition. I asked him what he was doing over here so near to the river for.
“I c-c-c-came to p-p-p-pray. I w-w-w-was t-t-tired and I layed d-d-down. Then I didn’t wake u-u-u-up ’til n-n-n-ow.”
I pulled him onto my lap and wondered if we’d be in trouble if we were caught this close. It wasn’t at all sexual, more like a mother/son situation. I rocked him and held his icy hands in my hands til they started to move again. As his skin warmed, I felt the cold from his bones transfer to my hands and I began to tremble too. Once he was warm enough to walk, I sent him back to the camp and looked around where we had been sitting.
Next to a rock by the river was his knife. I looked a bit closer at the knife and noticed that it had small specks of something red on the edge. I slid my finger across it and decided it was blood. This boy had either cut someone else, or himself. I didn’t know which.
I walked back to the camp and set my water and oats in the fire and went over to sit by the boy.
I asked him what he’d done…and he sheepishly denied it until he finally broke.
“I cut myself on the foot. Then I peed in it. I was thinking that maybe I could get a infection. It burned but then I got dizzy so I sat down. Don’t tell nobody. Please?”
I explained to him that I remember hearing how urine was sterile, and how it wouldn’t have infected his wound, but rather, it would cleanse it. I had learned this at Church Girls Camp that I’d attended 4 years in a row. I knew this was true, and he was very disheartened to hear it.
The pain from the burn and the cutting had made him lay down where he’d almost died. He was alone out here. Nobody really talked to him, and he didn’t make any effort to talk to anyone else. He made me sad. I wanted to take him in, but he pushed everyone away. His fits of anger were sudden and fierce. I let him be.
Later that week he’d be suddenly pulled out of the program. None of us knew why, but it wasn’t because of the foot. I heard rumors that one of the parents hadn’t given consent to send the boy to Challenger, and that a lawyer had pulled him out immediately.
I wonder what happened to that kid. He almost froze to death that morning.
alyson Says:
May 25th, 2005 at 6:52 pmVisit alyson
that boy was so lucky to have been taken out of there. thank god you found him when you did!!!!
Becky Says:
May 25th, 2005 at 7:16 pmVisit Becky
How does all of this work? For instance, if your parents had wanted to take you out early, would they have needed a lawyer to do it?
Alli Says:
May 25th, 2005 at 7:29 pmVisit Alli
you know what, ask Michelle Sutton’s mom. She posts here regularly and she’s the parent of a girl who died in the program. She knows the deal. My parents won’t speak of it to me, so I have no idea.
2phat Says:
May 25th, 2005 at 7:51 pmVisit 2phat
hi! i too found this from the mtv bd.i also read more than i post.i saw this today in the paper and had to pass it along.it was a snip in the san diego paper but i found more out of the phoenix paper.
Charles Long, the ex-Marine who ran a tough-love program for troubled youth, was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison for the 2001 death of a teen at Long’s desert boot camp near Buckeye.
Judge Ronald Reinstein of Maricopa County Superior Court also sentenced Long to five years in prison for threatening another teenage camper with a knife. He will serve both sentences at the same time.
As he stood before the judge, Long faced the family of 14-year-old Anthony Haynes to apologize.
“I’d like for you to know that I am a Christian,” he said, “and in the name of Jesus I am sorry I couldn’t bring Anthony back to you.”
Anthony Haynes was a troubled, overweight youth, and his mother, Melanie Hudson, sought out Long’s program, which he called America’s Buffalo Soldiers Re-Enactors Association, because she said she was desperate to find ways to cope with the child.
While sitting in a disciplinary line in the July heat, Haynes began acting erratically, eating dirt and possibly hallucinating.
A counselor and several youths took him to a hotel and placed him, unconscious, in a shower bath, where he inhaled water. Then, they took him back to the camp, where he died despite attempts to resuscitate him.
The counselor, Troy Hutty, pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in exchange for his testimony.
During the court hearing Tuesday, Prosecutor Mark Barry, Hudson and other members of Haynes’ family asked that Long be sentenced to the maximum sentences, which, if served consecutively, would total 27 1/2 years.
But other former campers and parents testified that Long had helped their children and urged leniency. Reinstein imposed the minimum sentence on the aggravated assault charge and a slightly aggravated sentence for manslaughter.
mary
Catherine Sutton Says:
May 25th, 2005 at 8:55 pmVisit Catherine Sutton
It would take me writing a book to tell you how this all works.
I will tell you that I know of 2 laws that “should” protect kids from being kidnapped into one of these programs and abused. One law is the ICPC (Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children) and the other is the Child Protection Act (known as the Opray Winfrey Bill). These are the only two National Laws that are out there while I wait for a Federal Law to govern the industry as a whole.
This industry has found ways around these two laws. For instance; taking kids to a Hospital and holding them there for observation before sending them out of the country. This is how they get AROUND the ICPC. Claiming the situation with the minor is an acute matter.
In a split family situation, the parent sending the child MUST get the consent of the other parent.
You can check these laws out online.
Catherine
Becky Says:
May 25th, 2005 at 9:35 pmVisit Becky
Thanks. It all seemed like it was voluntary on behalf of the parents…sort of like sending your kids to camp and if you wanted them to come home early, or if they ran away, the camp had no legal backup to get the kids back.
Papka Says:
May 25th, 2005 at 9:50 pmVisit Papka
At first I wondered why somethng wasnt done right then. I wondered why, after that boy’s parents got him back home, they didnt alert some authority about the treatment there.
But its probably just like what happened to you. They probably didnt believe him at all.
Alli Says:
May 25th, 2005 at 10:48 pmVisit Alli
nobody ever does.
Thanks Catherine for your explaination. You’re appreciated.
Caren Says:
May 25th, 2005 at 11:24 pmVisit Caren
You probably saved that kid’s life. That is so sad.
I’ve been reading the Sutton webpage. It’s unbelievable how she wasn’t even allowed to withdraw from the program after she entered it voluntarily, and how there’s a PHOTO of her lying there dead for almost a day! At least her story will help others, and so will yours.
Catherine Sutton Says:
May 25th, 2005 at 11:34 pmVisit Catherine Sutton
Imagine yourself as the parent of a child whom you sent to a program for troubled teens.
I call you on the phone and tell you that the man who SOLD you this program is NOT who he says he is.
I direct you to the internet and inform you of the following article.
http://outside.away.com/magazine/1095/10f_deth.html
What would you do? What would you say? Would you bring YOUR son or daughter home IMEDIATELY?
I received different responses from parents when I alerted them of Cartisano’s involvement in an out of country program. Some were in shock and disbelief and did bring their child home. Some left their child in the program even after learning the truth. They desperately wanted their son or daughter to receive help, so they chose to have faith in the people who were caring for their child. Their were a few parents who threatened me with a law suit and told me to mind my own business.
If you don’t know it already. This is a very controversial issue. Desperate Parents are what keep this lucrative, out-of-control business going.
Years back I hand delivered the ICPC (Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children) into the hands of a District Attorney who was handling a case where a boy was sent to an out of country program by his parents. The neighbors had received a call from the boy pleading for their help. This turned out to be a Parents Rights VS Childrens Rights case. I was present in the courtroom when the Judge favored the Parents Rights inspite of all the negative publicity and the ICPC. The courtroom was filled with parents who supported the boys parents. The Judge was swayed by this. Controversy………….It stinks!
Catherine
Virginia Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 12:32 amVisit Virginia
Hello,
I found your site through Bust magazine.
I was sent to a camp in the 90’s called New Beginnings (later shut down by the board of health). It was not nearly as bad as your experience. There was no death or rape that I know of but there was a lot of sick psychological abuse and physical neglect.
Thank you for telling your story.
Alli F. Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 1:59 amVisit Alli F.
I found your site through the Blogette Award. I’ve cried and prayed for you. I am so sorry this happened to you.
By the way, you have an awesome name. 
Ian Tailyour Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 3:12 amVisit Ian Tailyour
Hi I was on the Challenger program 86-87, can’t remember exactly it was summer time, just after my freshman year of High School.
Before I went I was under the impression that it was an Outward Bound type program. That all changed when I arrived at the airport in Salt Lake City, greeted by bouncers, I was wearing a tie die t-shirt, and had an earring in my ear. The bouncers had a picture of me that my parents had sent to them before I arrived. They escorted me to a van in the parking lot, where there were other ‘attendee’s’ some of which were dragged from their beds, and escorted to the program. It was then I started wondering, ‘what the hell sort of program is this’. I was never a bad kid growing up, just normal rebellious behavior, but I was my parent’s first child and they didn’t know what to do. Steve Cartesian and Challenger had a great sales plan and pitch, which obviously influenced my parents to send me on the program.
When I went on the program it was rite after their Hawaii program, I think we were the fist ones in Utah. It was made up of three groups’ two boys groups and one girls group. I was on the younger boys groups. There were two guys I remember clearly, Folger and Frank, there was also a small little pathetic kid named Jason, who was bullshitting the staff about his family, or mother in a comma or something, then there was a gayish Indian looking kid, can’t remember.
We had two kids try and escape, I must admit I helped to propagate, motivate their escape, but didn’t do it myself. My family has a long lineage of military, and I knew the reason the first night they drove us into the Escalante valley, the reason was because it was dark and this way we wouldn’t know where we were, it worked, we had no clue to our location. The first fun sixteen days were impact, and impact it was, this is where you have stupid kids test the system, fail, and learn the hard way. We had kids eating all their rations in the first two days, then saying they will feed us, then to surprise no food turned up, and we starved, I lost a lot of weight on that trip. But the impact idea worked, it broke us all down, and the ones who still wanted to fight, it was just a matter of time before we all submitted and followed their lead.
I remember this one kid didn’t follow the rules about digging a hole, shitting in the hole, and then covering it up. One of the staff cam back asking who crapped and didn’t bury it, of course no one owned up to it, so the counselor went to the scene and was able to see the shoe print next to the shit, and then made us all show the soles of our shoes, then they found out who it was, then they made the poor kid carry his shit around in a plastic bag, by the 4th or 5th day no one wanted to go near the kid, because he smelt like crap. After that we all buried our dumps!
I myself pulled fast one, faked a respiratory problem and was air lifted out to some small Utah hospital with a girl from the girls group it was rite before we arrived at Lake Powell. Sorry Steve, I am sure your insurance premium went up because of that one, too bad
We had two days off, and stayed at the head counselor’s house somewhere in Utah. He took my shoes so I couldn’t escape. Then we re-joined the group back at Lake Powell.
All we would talk about was food. It was the main thing on our mind, all the time.
I have tons of stories about the Challenger experience, as most people who went on it will. Anyway, I liked the program all in all; it taught me how to survive.
Hey Steve C, if you’re out there drop me a line, I have no hard feelings, and support what you were trying to do.
Diane aka 2OLD2BE Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 5:30 amVisit Diane aka 2OLD2BE
2phat~Glad to see you made your way here.
Catherine, I sent you a email a few weeks ago. I’m glad you found Allis blog. I think your input every now and then will be of great value.
Alli~I read each entry with a flutter in my chest. It is riveting. I hope you one day write a book to reach a wider audience. Best wishes Alli!
Diane
Ashia Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 8:15 amVisit Ashia
The gentleman above Ian seems like he did not handle coming out of challenger as well as others…..
How could someone support this behavior? His tone and language says everything about his peronality now.
Be careful.
SweetSereen Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 8:33 amVisit SweetSereen
Wow Ian,
You support this stuff? Even after experiencing it for yourself. Maybe they didn’t rape the boys. *rolls eyes*
MIssi Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 9:42 amVisit MIssi
You know, you guys have no right to flame on Ian for giving his opinion. He did not say what Alli was saying was not true, as well as he did not say anything derogatory at all. He gave his opinion. Some people may have benefited from the Challenger experience and some people were obviously abused and did not benefit.
I support Alli and think she is a strong woman to have survived and is now telling her story. BUT I also support Ian, who is allowed to have his own opinion. If he went through Challenger and benefited from it, that is awesome. Maybe there is some good in all that bad.
Catherine Sutton Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 10:00 amVisit Catherine Sutton
If the Challenger Program helped Ian with his life, we should be happy for him. He is one of the “lucky” ones.
But, there were MANY who were not so “lucky.” We can’t forget that.
Catherine
MIssi Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 10:10 amVisit MIssi
I’m with you, Catherine.
It must be really hard to hear that someone has benefited from a program that was obviously such a horrific part of your own life. I’m sorry about what your daughter went through and we can only hope that your work in making the camps more safe saves the lives of other’s people daughters.
Catherine Sutton Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 10:45 amVisit Catherine Sutton
Ian:
Hey, if you want to find Cartisano, AKA, Scott Richard’s, Steve Michael’s, I’m sure he can be found. Go to the internet and type in any of the three names he has gone by thus far.
Also, the Director of my daughters program, Gayle Palmer DeGraff, and Cartisano are old buddies. Gayle now works for Top Flight Academy right back in good ole’ Utah where corporal punishment of children is legal. Call Gayle. I’m sure she knows right where Cartisano is. Cartisano might even offer you a job in his program, if he has one at the moment, and hasn’t been shut down again. The so-called survival experts running these programs are mostly made up of children who “survived” the program. Don’t worry, background checks aren’t always run. One of Michelle’s counselors turned out to be an Ex-Felon.
While Steve Cartisano, AKA, Scott Richard’s, Steve Michael’s is making $14,000.00 to $20,000.00 per kid because he “cares” SOOOOO MUCH about kids, he might pay you minimum wage to work for him. Then again, he might not have the money come time to pay you. He loves to live like the rich and famous.
It was said of us that we didn’t do our homework before sending Michelle to the program where she died. I would suggest you do your homework before hooking up with the “Darth Vador” of this industry. My files are filled with not just children who fell victim to this man…….Adults too!
My Michelle died in a program that SOLD itself as a Health Care Facility with Doctors, Nurses, Psychologist and Nutritioist, but turned out to be a “DO or DIE” experience. She was denied a doctor, saw no psychologist, and the Nutritionist we were SOLD turned out to be just a friend of Gayle’s. Michelle was supposed to be able to go at her own pace….we were SOLD. Instead, she died because stupid is as stupid does.
Catherine
Catherine Sutton Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 11:04 amVisit Catherine Sutton
Diane:
I did answer your email. I thanked you for telling me about Alli’s site and to hang in there with your son. I also mentioned the phone call you will most likely receive once your son is up and out of the house.
I have almost finished raising seven children since Michelle. I have received the phone call I mentioned to you. The one where your son or daughter says, “thanks Mom, Dad for putting up with me.” One of my daughters told me it was our unconditional love that helped her. None of our children was perfect growing up. No child is.
But, all children deserve to grow up.
Catherine
Jen Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 12:22 pmVisit Jen
Missy,
I know you feel that some may not have a right to be skeptical about Ian’s response but who are you to say that?
I have read every one of Alli’s entries and I am disgusted by the program that hurt her and Michelle. I cannot imagine the pain that they must have gone through and to have someone come on here and say “no hard feelings Steve” is amazing to me. I am glad to hear that Ian survived and benefitted from the program however, I wonder if he truly read what others have gone through and if so, why he would want to keep in touch with these awful people.
Jen Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 12:25 pmVisit Jen
Ms. Sutton,
I read that you have a website. Is there anyway that you can post the link whenever you get a chance?
Thanks and God Bless
Catherine Sutton Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 12:34 pmVisit Catherine Sutton
It is one thing to share your experience of survival. It is another to disregard what happened to another. I am glad that Ian was ONE of the “lucky” ones who survived. But, I don’t feel he is showing compassion and respect to Allison by using her site to slap the hand of Cartisano and say, “drop me a line sometime.” This to me is a slap in the face to someone who has suffered what Allison is describing to us here on this website.
Catherine
Alli Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 1:03 pmVisit Alli
her website is on the right sidebar. It says “Remembering Michelle Sutton”
Alli Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 1:08 pmVisit Alli
by the way… Ian said what he had to say. Steve does not read my website, if he wants to leave him a message, he can google him and/or call him himself. I do not want anything to do with Steve Cartisano. If anyone has anything to say to him, they can go to him wherever he is, but leave the correspondence with him off of my website.
Ian, I’m glad you came out ok. Reading your story made me feel a tiny bit better about things, but remember kid…Michelle Sutton died, Stephanie was dragged, other kids perished, we were abused, and he went out of business for a reason. If nothing happened, then he would still be up and running. God bless you kid.
Allison
Amanda Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 1:25 pmVisit Amanda
Your amazing!!
Amanda
Holy Schmidt! Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 1:41 pmVisit Holy Schmidt!
I can’t believe how this place has blown up. Alli, I think about your situation all the time and pray that you’re able to heal from all of it.
We love the Alli!
MIssi Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 2:54 pmVisit MIssi
Jen,
This comment is one of the ones I am referring to.
“You support this stuff? Even after experiencing it for yourself. Maybe they didn’t rape the boys. *rolls eyes* ”
THAT is totally uncalled for. I have never said that anyone should not be SKEPTICAL of Ian’s story. All I ask is that we all treat each other with a little respect. Perhaps the last sentence of Ian’s message wasn’t the most polite, considering where he was posting, however he did not blatantly flame anyone as others have done to him.
SweetSereen Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 2:55 pmVisit SweetSereen
No, I won’t be kind to anyone who supports a man who allows young girls to be raped. I don’t care if the program “worked for him”.
Shut up Mike, and go away.
MIssi Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 3:04 pmVisit MIssi
SweetSereen,
I’m not asking you to support Ian. I am asking you to treat a human being like a human being. All the rape and abuse came out of people who decided that they did not want treat others with respect. Growing up and becoming a decent person requires you to respect others, no matter their opinions, ethnicity, etc. Hating someone for an opinion they have is just immature and ridiculous high school drama.
dianna Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 3:06 pmVisit dianna
Ah alli, the comments you are getting are horrible
big hugs and that boy who you helped who was freezing was so lucky to have you.
HUgs
Dianna
Catherine Sutton Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 3:53 pmVisit Catherine Sutton
I don’t know what started all this, but it’s definately not healthy and isn’t going anywhere. Perhaps a misunderstanding.
Mike:
In answer to your question, I don’t have my own website at this time. If I did I wouldn’t want to see this kind of language on my site. A wall goes up in front of me when someone curses at me. I no longer hear what the person is trying to say. All I hear is the cursing.
I did allow Teen Advocates USA, Barbe Stamps to post a Memorial about my daughter on her site. I did this last year in May on Michelle’s 14th anniversary of her death.
When I do put up a website, it will be to inform the public as to what is happening to children all over the country, and even out of the country, in the name of help and therapy. I won’t get into a HE said, SHE said, controversy. I WILL however stand up for what I believe to be right.
Take Care,
Catherine
Caroline Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 4:18 pmVisit Caroline
Mike, what is your problem? No one said anything mean to you before your childish rants, so obviously you have nothing better to do than go online and insult random people (with really unoriginal and idiotic comments, might I add). Get a better hobby, and a life.
Alli, I don’t know how you can deal with people like that all the time. I admire you.
Serenity Says:
May 26th, 2005 at 7:31 pmVisit Serenity
My only question is this: How did Ian take part in the Challenger program in 86 when anything I can find about Challenger states it didn’t start in Utah until 88?
Ashia Says:
May 27th, 2005 at 7:32 amVisit Ashia
I’m sorry, I’m not trying to continue to stir worms here..but did you not see Ian’s speech patterns?
How about his gruffness? You think the program actually helped him?
I mean no offense, if Ian is happy with himself, but to me -in my world, he doesn’t seem like such a stable individual.
Becky Says:
May 27th, 2005 at 8:24 amVisit Becky
Ian,
If you truely think that Cartisano had kids best interests at heart and designed his programs with that in mind, you are obviously mistaken.
Papka Says:
May 28th, 2005 at 4:47 pmVisit Papka
Guys… take a deep breath and relax.
Dont you see that it doesnt help if we start a fight or controversy every single time Alli makes a post.
If you dont have something to say in the way of supporting Alli, Cathrine, or any survivor, then simply dont say it. It has to hurt Alli like hell to read these horrible comments every day, it is devistating her healing process.
Shylah Says:
May 28th, 2005 at 9:35 pmVisit Shylah
Catherine - drop me an email, please? It’s shylah at simplyshylah dot com.
Esther Says:
May 30th, 2005 at 8:32 amVisit Esther
I’ve been reading your posts for a while now and find it fascinating and what happened to you frightening.
the queen Says:
May 31st, 2005 at 8:53 pmVisit the queen
um what happend here???? Did I miss something???
Jeanette Says:
June 1st, 2005 at 10:58 amVisit Jeanette
I’m not entirely convinced that this blog is telling a real story of a real person. I’m always, always, always a skeptic. It’s nothing personal.
HOWEVER.
I think that these kinds of things did happen at these camps, and that people need to know about them. So I’m willing to suspend my disbelief for a good cause, since even if this isn’t an exactly-correct story, even if Alli never existed, even if this is fiction, it’s fiction people need to hear.
Everyone who whines and complains that maybe it’s not true, or whatever, is ignoring that fact. I’m still not convinced it’s true (please, Alli, if it is, understand — this isn’t personal. If it is all true, I wish I could give you so many hugs) BUT I know that if these exact experiences didn’t happen to this exact person, very similar things happened to very similar people. And even if it took a work of fiction to get out the story about these evil bastards, well, so what? Works of fictionalized reality have often been the easiest and best way to notify the public about a larger problem.
So for the people who want to troll, well, stop to think. Even if it was all false — would that make it any less valid? Would that diminish the points being made? I don’t think so.
Lizz in NY Says:
June 1st, 2005 at 1:36 pmVisit Lizz in NY
alli? please keep writing—i want to know how you made it out of there.
Molly Says:
June 1st, 2005 at 6:09 pmVisit Molly
I’ve read your site completely since I got back from lunch about three hours ago. I was so caught up in all of this that I didn’t even hear one of my coworkers ask me a question. Your story is horrifying, but your writing is captivating. I look forward to reading more.
Julie Says:
June 2nd, 2005 at 10:50 amVisit Julie
I’ve read every single entry up to this one, I stayed up a long time last night. haha. I cant believe what happend to you I never knew of these kinds of camps. Or at least I never knew what they did in them. You are a very strong women now, I hope you have healed from the challenger although I imagine it would be hard! I read in another comment of yours that you went back to the challenger why did your parents send you back? and for how long this time? i cant wait to read the rest.
Thank you for your time, it is truly a great gift to educate the people about this!
Ginger Says:
June 2nd, 2005 at 4:17 pmVisit Ginger
Wow! Allison, not only do you have an incredible flair for writing (you kept me glued to the computer screen for hours last night), but you also have an important and inspiring story to tell. I know others have said this, but please consider turning this blog into a book. I would buy it! I wish you the best of luck in overcoming the tragedies you’ve experienced. You are such a strong person, and thank you for sharing your story.
Jessica Says:
June 2nd, 2005 at 11:33 pmVisit Jessica
You have true strength. I am from Las Vegas, too, and I feel like I am watching the desert through your eyes when you describe it. I also know what it is like to forgive a parent that hurt you — and how essential it is for one’s own survival, to be at peace. But mainly, there is a power that comes from forgiving the ones that you love and who hurt you — being the one to say “you hurt me, but I love you and I forgive you” feels so much more masterful and controlled than anger ever could.
phoenix Says:
June 6th, 2005 at 5:51 pmVisit phoenix
I hope you are ok Allie. If you need anything and I can help, I surely will. We all miss you and your story sweety. Hugsssssss
Henry 1972 Says:
June 14th, 2005 at 5:32 amVisit Henry 1972
I had a good friend go on this program, help him out. Alli good story, thanks
Enigma Says:
June 14th, 2005 at 10:41 amVisit Enigma
I heard that one of the networks was hosting a new show called Brat Pack and I immediatly thought of you.
I am sickened as well.
I pray that you are well.
William C. Fisher Says:
June 26th, 2005 at 4:07 pmVisit William C. Fisher
When I was a teenager back in 1981, I lost a friend who died when one of these idiot horror camps sent a bunch of kids and two badly trained “counselors” out into the Gulf of California in an open sailboat. Of course, they perished in the first storm that came by.
The program was called “Visionquest”. I wonder if anyone here had every heard about it or if the evil bastards that ran it were ever charged with anything.
Thanks for sharing your youth “re-education camp” experience and God bless,
Bill
lexi Says:
October 7th, 2006 at 2:38 amVisit lexi
visionquest… so many kids have died in that program and it theyre still in business. god, my stomach hurts just thinking about it.
lexi Says:
October 7th, 2006 at 2:39 amVisit lexi
*and theyre still in business.. typo
Rose Says:
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:36 pmVisit Rose
wow I am a surviver of challenger foundation umm I have my own poop storey what happen is we are suppose to bury our #2 bowl movement and counclers would check camp before we left on our trail to hike. So the counclers gathered us up and said okay who for got to bury there poop and everyone remained silenced no one would confess so there fore the counclers went to the poop and divided the poop enough for every one to have to carry a piece until the person confessed well it was placed in a little zip lock baggie for each of us and what happen was when the zip lock bag was handed to me with someone elses poop in it when they placed it in the zip lock they got it on the rim of the lock of bag there for the smell coming from my poop baggie was herendous.At the end of every day the counclers would check to see if each of us had our poop bag and a check in the morning until finally the fella confessed that he was the one that for got to bury it. See when the councler first noticed the uncovered poop they made sure they showed all of us it before it got divided and the fella I guess was afraid to confess cause he didnt know what was going to happen to him. A week later he finally confesed and thats how lonf we all carried it for .
CHARLES DAULA Says:
November 21st, 2006 at 5:59 pmVisit CHARLES DAULA
I WAS IN THE CHALLENGER PROGRAM AND IT WAS NOT A VERY FUN EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST!!! HOWEVER I DID LEARN SOMETHING OUT THERE!
IF I COULD SURVIVE THAT SHIT I CAN SURVIVE ANYTHING.
I BELIVE IT MADE ME A STRONGER PERSON I HAVE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH LANCE JAGGER A.K.A. HORSEHAIR!!!
INFACT I HAPPEN TO HAVE HIS CELL# I TRUELY BELIVE THAT HE REALLY WAS OUT TO HELP TROUBLED TEENS NOT TO HURT THEM I BLAME STEPHEN CARTISANO FOR HE IS A SICK
TWISTED SALESMAN WHO SOLD EVERYONE INCLUDING HIS OWN STAFF AND OUR PARRENTS. WHAT A PIECE OF SHIT HE IS!
Chambers Says:
January 20th, 2007 at 10:31 amVisit Chambers
I am very interested in hearing more about VisionQuest since my daughter has been court ordered to one of their facilities