•  Special Report: Wilderness Boot Camps

A growing number of accidental deaths and reports of abuse have made wilderness boot camps extremely controversial. If you're determined to send your child to a wilderness-therapy camp, make sure to investigate the program thoroughly before taking action.

•Is the camp licensed through a state agency? If so, call the agency and ask about the program's reputation. Find out whether any complaints have been filed.

•What kind of mental health professionals are on staff? What are their degrees? (Check with any institutions named to make sure they are valid.) How many hours a day are they available?

•What kind of medical professionals are on staff? Are they available 24-hours-a-day? Do the camp counselors who will be hiking and camping in the desert with your child have medical and first aid training?

•What are the backgrounds of the counselors? Can you see their resumes? Has the camp done criminal background checks on all of them?

•What is the ratio of children to camp counselors? (Three to one is considered good.)

•What is the staff members' average length of employment? (Three to four years is considered good. High turnover is indicative of problems.)

•What is the average age of the children in the program?

•How do most children end up there? Are they sent by the courts or by their parents? What kinds of children will your child be staying with?

•What types of activities will your child be participating in? Does the camp permit the use of force or use restraints?

•Can the parent visit the facility unannounced, at any time? (You should insist on this.)

•Are the child's letters home censored in any way? (Some programs have not allowed children to send letters complaining about the way they're treated.)

•Can you talk with your child at least once a week?

First published August 8, 2001
Last updated October 20, 2008
Copyright © 2001 Consumer Health Interactive

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