Bottom line is Barbe advertised for a program on her site where two kids died within a month. We have seen plenty of lashing at others on this forum for referring kids to programs, and none of those people referred to a program where a child died - let alone 2. So there is a problem here.
The sad part of this is that Barbe always sounds "holier than thou" but she's not any better than anyone else and she really has not business referring people to a program saying it is stricly voluntary when its not. She didn't do her homework that is for sure or she would have known they have programs for troubled teens. They contract out with states and take their overflow kids and start up behavior mod programs just like the rest of them. They are no better, they are in it to make a lot of money.
It seemed that she was definitely promoting their program, where she included a note to parents that read:
?OBW (Outward Bound Wilderness) courses are intended as an adventure-education experience and are not to be confused with for-profit wilderness therapy programs (AKA ?Brat Camp?). Participation is strictly voluntary meaning kids can not be forced to participate??
OB charges a lot of money for their programs and is very much for-profit and not always voluntary. These are important things to know. Parents who saw the ad hopefully will read this and see that even with OB they have to be careful.
They obviously do not value children's lives. Dillon Peak died because counselors at the program he was at - that was not voluntary - did not take proper care of him when he got sick.
Elisa died after being separated from her group for 10 hours. That's a long time to be alone in 110 degree weather. And OB admitted they allow these kids to hike alone but they don't tell the parents up front. Elisa's mom was promised her daughter would be supervised. She didn't want to send her daughter but the person who was helping her daughter with the scholarship she won promised her mom it would be safe, that no one had died and that she would be supervised.
i googled outward bound and barbe stampe and found this so she did support outward bound and that is where 2 kids just died.
I did just a little more digging and found this old cached file where Barbe, in 2005, was apparently in support of Outward Bound and appeared to be recommending them to parents. She stated:
?Second, as an outdoor enthusiast myself, I have no problem with kids learning wilderness survival skills such as those taught by the OUTWARD BOUND programs.
In fact, my best advice to parents considering sending their child to a wilderness therapy camp is to look into the INDIVIDUAL and FAMILY wilderness adventure programs and experiential training offered by Outward Bound. Strictly VOLUNTARY, these programs have an excellent safety record and are reasonably priced.? (see below)
here's the link:
http://www.sociopranos.com/forums/threa ... &start=426Teen Advocates USA
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Subject : RE: Brat Camp
Posted : 2005-07-30 10:08 PM
Post #5790 - In reply to #5788
Originally written by AtomicAnt on 2005-07-31 1:43 PM
Rusty,
I'm not willing to dismiss your anecdotal evidence as easily as others. If your son and other relatives had positive experiences then that is great. I'm really glad it worked out.
For me, the coercive part is the most objectionable aspect. It's the concept that a group of people can force an ideology onto someone against their will. In the case of Brat Camp, it is difficult to understand my objections. Who can object to turning drug abusing teens into well behaving teens? But did you know that some of these camps are designed to force a 'Christian' perspective on the students? Did you know there are camps that are designed to force gay kids into being straight? These kids are also in these camps against their will (parents can do this in the USA).
I watch the show and cringe thinking of how I would have reacted to these counselors and this form of therapy. My core values are not popular and often misunderstood. I formed these values during childhood. They are not my parents values. Had I been sent to one of these camps and forced to act in a certain way to progress through the program, knowing that if I did not give in, the chances would be good that I would end up in one of these oppressive boarding schools, I honestly think I would become either homicidal or suicidal; the tragic result of which the program would call my 'choice.' To me, this process is too close to 'A Clockwork Orange' and too Orwellian in nature to be ethical.
Even the language used. "We are giving these kids the opportunity to change." That implies choice where there really is not choice. The student must accept the program, period. The program will not the student go until he submits. That is coercion, which to me is intrinsically wrong. The ends does not justify the means.
____________
Barbe said:
Personally? I think parents would be very wise to steer clear of any so-called troubled teen program that equates CHANGE with INDOCTRINATION.
Second, as an outdoor enthusiast myself, I have no problem with kids learning wilderness survival skills such as those taught by the OUTWARD BOUND programs.
In fact, my best advice to parents considering sending their child to a wilderness therapy camp is to look into the INDIVIDUAL and FAMILY wilderness adventure programs and experiential training offered by Outward Bound. Strictly VOLUNTARY, these programs have an excellent safety record and are reasonably priced.
http://www.outwardbound.comBarbe
TAUSA
[Edited by Teen Advocates USA on 2005-07-30 10:11 PM]
* * * * * * * * *
And there were problems back in '93
07/29/03
Juveniles riot at Outward Bound
Six teens charged, transported to Manatee
DESOTO COUNTY -- Six juvenile residents of the Peace River Outward Bound Center were charged with inciting a riot and were transported to the Manatee County Juvenile Detention Center late Sunday night.
One staff member, whose name was not released, reportedly suffered a hand injury in the incident. No one else was hurt.
According to Maj. Will Wise of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, the riot began shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday when six juveniles were directed to return to their rooms. The juveniles, all boys, reportedly became physically aggressive and caused approximately 30 other residents to become unruly as well.
Phillip K. Johnson, 15; Michael R. Roshell, 13; Joshua Swartz, 14; Justin B. Williams, 14; Manny Rivera, 14; and Aron McQueen, 16, were all charged with inciting a riot, which is a felony. The boys come from throughout the state and from cities as far away as Tampa and Naples.
"(Several of the juveniles) became uncooperative when staff asked them to stay in their rooms," a sheriff's deputy wrote in a report. "(They) also encouraged the rest of the juveniles to participate in the protest."
Initially, deputies were concerned some of the residents had fled the facility and were hiding in nearby wooded areas. One officer wrote in a report he was concerned the juveniles were armed with weapons.
Outward Bound staff declined to comment Monday.
***************************
Now, I find this new website ?Referral Free Zone? where Barbe is listed. How can this be?
http://www.referralfreezone.info/zonesites.html How can she profess to belong to the Referral Free Zone when just a few weeks ago she appeared to be promoting Outward Bound? What if the parents of Dillon and Elisa saw her ad, and thought that since she has all of this information, Oh Holy Thy Children, and all, that of course anything she refers to must be good. But somehow, it seems two kids are dead within 30 days.
And what made her believe she had the insight to refer to this program in the first place, when she is one of the first to point the finger at others, joining in the effort to discredit others who are working to expose the abuse and to protect children.
Just because Barbe has removed the Outward Bound advertisement from her website does not excuse the fact that she obviously did not do her homework.
Bottom line is she was referring kids to a program and two kids died there. You can make all the excuses you want for her but then stop accusing other advocates who try to help parents find good places for their kids. It is hypocritical and other ppl will see that too.
