Brat Camp is a reality television show in which teenagers are sent to wilderness therapy programs. The first season, featuring RedCliff Ascent, won an International Emmy. Subsequent seasons saw declining viewership. The American version of Brat Camp was cancelled after its one-season run, but is being aired in Canada on Slice as of early 2007. The UK version was also aired in the United States in 2004 on ABC Family, and its popularity resulted in ABC ordering an American version. The show was cancelled on 24 August 2007.

United Kingdom

There have been five UK series.

The format is distributed internationally by DRG and has been adapted in several territories.

Series 1 In series one of Brat Camp, the teenagers are enrolled at RedCliff Ascent, a wilderness therapy program based in the town of Enterprise, Utah. Upon arrival, the team is blindfolded and then driven out to Escalante Desert they spend weeks hiking up various mountains in this region. + UK Series 1: RedCliff Ascent - Wilderness therapy (four episodes) Name From Published problem James Fonfé Marlow Drug issues Fran Bradley Somerset Anger issue Rachel Greenberg Leyton Alcohol issue Charlie Mason Putney Anger issue Tom Philips Kidderminster Drug issue Dan Leary Surrey Drug issue caused by depression

RedCliff Ascent was asked to be featured in a second round of Brat Camp, but declined when it became obvious that the next season would require tougher kids and increased drama. The first series won an International Emmy Award for best non-scripted program. RedCliff Ascent spokesman, Stephen Schultz, mentioned that "RedCliff Ascent is a treatment program, not a TV show". "When the cameras are rolling" Addiction professional, January/February 2006 While most students struggle a bit upon return home, a year later James was working with his mother teaching swimming and had been drug-free, as verified by urine tests administered by his mother. As James put it: "You do feel trapped. But it is worth it. I am glad I did it. I wouldn’t go back now, but I don’t have a problem any more – if I had a problem in the future, then I would go back."From the wilderness to the right track , Channel 4 at 25 book

Series 2

+ UK Series 2: Turn-About Ranch - Residential treatment center (5 episodes) Name From Published problem Alex Parkins Leicester Alcohol issue, disrespectful, expelled from school and bullies her mother Joe Sheldrick Surrey Disobedience and disrespectful Ed McAllister Banbury Drug issue and stealing from family. Jemma Henley Oxford Disobedience, shoplifter and expelled from 3 schools Xanthe Laird Devon Cannabis use, alcohol issue and disrespectful Jenni Greevy Southampton Anger issue, disobedience and disrespectful Josh Melvin Finchley Drug issue, disrespectful and drug fuelled anger issues

Series 3

+ UK Series 3: Aspen Achievement Academy - Wilderness therapy (5 episodes) Name Age From Published problem Julia Krzyzanowska 16 Dorset Drug issues Georgie Turnbull-Atkinson 16 Crawley Drug issues as well as run-ins with the law Lydia Rowlands 16 Southampton Drug issue as a result of being victim of bullying Lucy Tyson 15 Lancaster Anger issue, disrespectful and greedy Danni Calardo-Thompson 15 Leicester Running away from home, alcohol and drug-issue Rosie Raven 15 East London Truancy from school depressed as a result of being victim of bullying

The third series followed a girls-only group with the principal activity being a single-extended hike. This series aired from 8 February 2006 on Channel 4. In addition, Brat Camp Unseen, a half-hour show with additional footage, was aired on E4.

Series 4

The fourth series that followed a girls-only group, Family Brat Camp, aired from 4 October 2006, and brings along the parents of the four children to make them take responsibility for their kids' behaviour at the SUWS wilderness program in Idaho.

+ UK Series 4: Aspen Family Camp, Idaho - Wilderness therapy (4 episodes) Name From Published problem Benjamin Tait, parents Jennifer and Matthew Oxford Drug issues, Expelled from school Claire Sparrow, parents Dean and Sandy Essex Expelled/suspended from 1 school Amanda Kenny, parents Sandra and Bill Croydon Drinking, stealing from parents Rebecca Paramor, parents Mandi and Mark Hebden Bridge Drug issue

Benjamin died of a drug overdose in 2009.

Series 5

The fifth UK version aired October 2007. According to a statement on ANASAZI's homepage,Anasazi press release A special 21-day version of their normal 42-day program is being developed for television, after which Twenty Twenty Television will fund the remainder of the treatment if the parents and clinical staff consider it necessary.

+ UK Series 5: ANASAZI Foundation, Arizona - Wilderness therapy(4 episodes) Name Published problem Natasha Whitlock, mother Montana domestic problems caused by overindulgenceI'm Brat from the brink, By Melanie Swan, People. Co.Uk, 21 October - 2007 Nicole Pear, mother Jackie foul-mouthing, anger management Chloe Weeks, mother Helen drug and anger-issue Laura Wardman, mother Del disobedience

United States

+ US Series: SageWalk, Oregon - Wilderness therapy Name Age From Published problem Frank Hewitt 16 Sacramento, California Anger issue Lauren James 17 California Drug issue as a result of death in the family Isaiah Alarcon 17 California Anger issue Jada Chabot 15 Boston, Massachusetts Disobedience and dishonesty as a result of domestic violence. Nick Thompson 14 Seattle, Washington Anger issue as a result of being bullied because of his learning disability (dyslexia). He attempted to stab his brother due to his jealousy. Shawn Dreyfuss 17 California Started using cannabis after finding out that he was adopted. He then started stealing money from his mother. Derek Ross 14 Arkansas ADHD and destructive; refuses to take medication Lexie McNulty 17 California Depressed, hostile outcast as a result of being victim of molestation at the age of 12. Heather Norton 17 Virginia Drug issue as a result of adoption and wanting to be closer to her birth mother. Her birth mother had drug issues too.

Germany The German version is called Teenager außer Kontrolle (engl. Teenagers out of control) . The show is being broadcast on RTL

Series 1 + German Series 1: Turnabout Ranch - Residential treatment center Name Published problemRTLII page about the program , (In German) Vanessa Schumacher Alcohol issue, too much partying Simon Seidel Drug issue, stealing from parent Marvin Kraus Gang problem, alcohol issue Gina Ziegler Alcohol issue, alternative lifestyle issue (punk subculture) Gerrit Köhler Numerous accounts of malicious damage Daniel Pfeiffer Truant, not been at school for a year

Aspen Education Group revealed in a job ad that children from Holland would also be in a show.Job ad from Aspen Education Group

Series 2 + German Series 2: Catherine Freer - Wilderness program Name Age Published problemLebenshilfe mit RTL: Neue Staffel "Teenager außer Kontrolle" , (In German) Andreas Engel 15 Serial burglar David Pfaff 17 Drug issue Dzeneta Beckenbauer 15 Street fighter Kevin Osterhagen 15 Gang-member Kurt Daecher 16 Political issue (Neo-nazi) Pascal Sankt 17 Drug dealer Stacy Gruenewald 17 High School drop-out Vivien Thalberg 16 Runaway

Series 3 The production company searched for new candidates for a third season.Add for families (In German), homepage of the production company Filming did take place during the summer of 2008 at a wilderness program called Monarch Center in Colorado. It will be broadcast at RTL starting from 25 February 2009.RTL Zuschauerservice, RTL homepage (In German)

+ German Series 3: Monarch Center Colorado - Wilderness program Name Age Published problemLebenshilfe mit RTL: Neue Staffel "Teenager außer Kontrolle", (In German) Chrissi Trommler 15 LifeStyle issue (punk subculture) Kevin Waechter 16 Being charged with assault, truancy Jennifer Unger 14 Weak health by mother causing her to be too independent Andreas Fuhrmann 16 Compulsive gambler Linda Kalb 16 Street fighter Moritz Mueller 17 Given up by his parents. Faces trial.

Netherlands The Netherlands version did after extended negotiations end up with a customized program, where the teenagers were sent to Kenya. It was called Van etter tot engel (English: From brat to angel) and was aired by RTL 5 in the fall of 2006. Keith Bakker was the teenagers' head coach.

+ Netherlands - Customized wilderness program in Kenya Name Age Published problem.Die Kandidaten, (In Dutch) Alexander Jansens 15 depressed Demi Boogaard 15 Anger Issue Donny Houtkooper 15 Anger Issue Dormeshia Lucas 15 Anger Issue Laurens Krantz 17 depressed Maurice Claes 17 Alcohol issue, Internet Addiction Disorder Roni Marqueringh 17 Drug issue, has been arrested by the police

In the news The UK version of the show generated some criticism. An influential children's charity, Barnardo's, expressed concerns that the TV show sends a message to parents that a short period of "tough love" can resolve any problems.Charity hits out at Brat Camp message (inthenews.co.uk)

The show also received some criticism for an incident in which a young woman was forced to strip to their underwear and then made to have a cavity search, the initial stages of which were implied but not shown.

Notes

External links

Brat Camp at Channel4.com A website dedicated to Brat Camps Production company programme entry RedCliff Ascent, UK series 1 Turnabout ranch, UK series 2 Aspen Achievement Academy, UK series 3 SageWalk Wilderness School, US serie Aspen Family Camp, UK series 4, German serie, Dutch serie Anasazi Foundation, UK series 5 Nederland version