Author Topic: Cascade Closing-DECREASED ENROLLMENT  (Read 43063 times)

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Offline iknowcedulies

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« Reply #90 on: February 11, 2005, 04:34:00 PM »
[ This Message was edited by: iknowcedulies on 2005-04-12 17:54 ]
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Offline iknowcedulies

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« Reply #91 on: February 15, 2005, 04:52:00 PM »
February 12, 2005 Flagler woman helps families break cult grip

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnlin
e/News/Headlines/03NewsHEAD02021205.htm

By DONNA CALLEA, Staff Writer, The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Florida
(FLAGLER BEACH -- Carol Giambalvo looks like a typical, active
61-year-old grandmother...

...And although heart surgery in 1999 ended her days of traveling
cross-country to lead interventions to extricate members from cults,
she remains a leading force in the controversial anti-cult movement.

Giambalvo advocates for ethical standards for professionals working to
free people from cults. Abductions and forced de-programmings were
never her style.

"The ends don't justify the means," says Giambalvo, who's been
involved in more than 200 successful voluntary interventions from
1984-99.

Laura Weber believes Giambalvo saved her life...

...For Weber, now a mental health counselor at a rehabilitation
treatment facility in Ohio, becoming indoctrinated was a gradual
process...

...Giambalvo said people "absolutely do not join cults. What they join
is something that looks wonderful..)

---
You will also find a link to the news item above located at
http://www.cultsoncampus.com
---
Reginald Greene, Webmaster
http://www.CultsOnCampus.com
News on the International Church of Christ (ICOC), the topic of cults
and high-pressure groups on campus.
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #92 on: February 16, 2005, 09:20:00 PM »
When I was hired as a weekend counselor in 1994 I was so stoked. They were actually going to pay me to play Hacky Sack, lead hikes, chop wood, and generally entertain a bunch of very cool kids not too distant in age from myself.

I had demons of my own that needed to be left behind, and Cascade offered me a great place to regroup.

On my first day, in the dining hall, an older kid asked me if I was a psychologist. I said "no," he said, "good."

That moment motivated me for the next 3 1/2 years. I never fully bought into the program. And I caught a bunch of heat for it. But at the same time I was one of the most respected staffers precisely BECAUSE I didn't buy into the the thing 100%.

I did what I did because I cared. Some of my kids will rememer me telling them, "Hey, I ain't perfect, none of these people are. Life's a bitch and here's what I can do to help you avoid hitting some of the speedbumps along the way. That's about it."

My forums were perrenial favorites because I almost never went in with an agenda. If you wanted to work, fine. If no one had anything to do or say, I'd tell jokes and poke fun until someone had something worth talking about. There's nothing wrong with having a little fun while you're doign tough work.

I still approach life that way.

Now, for the good part. Life at Cascade was grueling. It was as physically and emotionally draining on me as it was my kids. It's not work you left behind at the end of the day. We had to work our shit out on our own and that often meant heavy binge drinking. It was hard, man sometimes it was hard.

I was 23 when I was hired. Oftentimes I was treated by my bosses like one of their kids. I actually was threatened with bans once or twice (remember that Carl?). Bjerke told my jeans were imagey one time. I can laugh at this stuff now, because it really doesn't matter and never really did.

We'd fret and fume over stupid administrative decisions and we'd go ahead and do it our way. We were smart enough to know how to rock the boat just enough without tipping it over and falling out of it.

There was a time or two when I thought my brain was going to explode. When you're overwhelmed you seek out advice, right? Well after trying once or twice, I learned not to trust the founders of the school with my soul. I worked for them, they paid me, I did a good job, and that was it. I'm not comfortable going into detail about it, but I'd be happy to share my point of view if you feel like listening some time. (hauler_us@yahoo.com)

Us young punks had to earn our respect and we did it by being good counselors. Treating our kids with dignity, not blindly following inane directions and NEVER, EVER compromising our standards. That meant establishing good physical boundaries on-campus and not compromising our values off-campus. Anyone surprised that the place started to change for the worse when me, Mundorff, Mahoney and others quit?

Anyhow... that's a long enough rant. I'm all fired up now and going to kick one of my old students ass in poker at the bar around the corner.

It's been nice finding you all here, and I wish you didn't have to carry so many painful memories. I prefer to dwell on the highlights, like watching the look in a kids face after running 5 miles at the end of their trek, or seeing a mean, nasty, snotfaced, angry young boy learn the simple pleasure of flying a kite, or watching a tiny young girl race to the top of the climbing wall on her first try and then demand to do it again, or sitting with friends and watching a yearling Osprey learn to fish in the pond, or planting 10 acres of Shasta Daisies.

I got a ton of touchy-feely moments like those and THAT'S the stuff I hang on to. Try it sometime. You'll feel better once you do.

Don't worry, karma will catch up to the assholes who earned it, and bitchslap them like an eight-armed Hindu goddess. (laugh all you want... you know I'm right)

:cool: Peas y'all,
"Blondie"
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #93 on: February 17, 2005, 02:46:00 AM »
I was only aware of the molestations after the staff involved were gone. To my knowledge none were ever prosecuted nor even reported. That was disgraceful...
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #94 on: February 18, 2005, 08:25:00 PM »
Hey I was at Cascade when it shut down, were you?
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #95 on: February 18, 2005, 08:28:00 PM »
Hey I was at Cascade when it shut down. was anyone else here? I am doing a research project on it and came across this site. My email is Partiwasted@yahoo.com Thanks
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #96 on: February 18, 2005, 08:37:00 PM »
Hey i was at cascade till the end too LOL
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #97 on: February 18, 2005, 08:55:00 PM »
hey was anybody from here when the school shut down.
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #98 on: February 21, 2005, 01:24:00 AM »
I was there 15 months..Weird as hell. You may remember me as the kid that ran off every day, and was on freaking dishes all day every day. bans all that crap. Wow this brings back weird things to my head....hope you guys are well...I still have prune hands from all those damn pots and pans. :lol:
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #99 on: February 21, 2005, 01:25:00 AM »
duh...from above post

Scott Nettleton

scotty2k@mac.com
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #100 on: February 24, 2005, 11:48:00 PM »
This is so weird. Was this school a part of NAMBLA or what??? I hope all the kids that were hurt in any way report the counselors.
In response to Carl's housecleanings: I cleaned Carl's house- he was never there and we just listened to cheezy music and cleaned- it was kinda fun. He never did anything inappropriate and always seemed sincere.

Carl, Lori, Owen and anyone else reading this from 92-94- what is going on? And anyone who doesn't know me, but wants to share the truth with me, email me at ann@vermut.com. thanks.

Ann V. 92-94
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Offline b

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« Reply #101 on: February 25, 2005, 12:58:00 PM »
Hi. I am Ann's mom, and feel quite devastated and overwhelmed by all this information.  I feel very lucky that my daughter was not harmed at Cascade and has gone on to live a wonderful life.  She's an amazing adult, loving mom and a warm caring daughter!  I always felt Cascade saved her life, and now am particularly grateful that Carl was her counselor! I feel so badly for the students who were hurt there, and really encourage them to pursue justice!!!  So that you all can understand the parents' point of view, we thoroughly researched our choice of Cascade School.  When one has an adolescent who is ruining his/her life, it is a very desparate and vulnerable time! I hope none of you ever experience the anguish of a parent for a child in need of help that the family cannot provide!  There is a need for schools that help, so all of you have an opportunity now to help others and protect them from abusers that take advantage of people in need of help! To those of you who are doing well, congratulations! To those of you still suffering, get professional help, get well...don't let the bastards ruin your lives!!! bv
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #102 on: February 27, 2005, 10:14:00 AM »
Greetings to both you and Ann. This is Carl.I am so glad that I left when I did. I questioned some of the things that were occuring at the time. Within three months of my departure, after working there for more than seven years, I was "banned" from having further contact with students there by Michael. I am so happy to be a therapist now and what I did learn while working at Cascade I learned from the students and their families. It was such a pleasure working with you Ann and watching you emerge from your shyness and discover your power. I remember the first time I fell out of favor with "administration." It was during a discussion where one of the founders was telling me we had a responsibililty to help female students find their "little girl." My response was something along the lines of, "I thought our job was to empower them to become women."
I still remember the dead silence and the looks I received!
By the way Ann, I still proudly display the photo of the "fish lips" during your holiday visit to my home, along with Owen, Lori, Asley, John Paul, Matthew and Chris etc.
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #103 on: February 27, 2005, 09:27:00 PM »
Hi Carl...a's mom again...is anyone looking into legal recourse for all the abuses?  I really hope so and encourage it...is there any way i can help? You would be so proud of A now! b
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #104 on: February 28, 2005, 09:44:00 PM »
Hi. I believe several cases were settled out of court. Anything beyond that would be speculation and I don't want to get into the "rumor mill."  I am sure many things went on there that I did not know about. I am just glad I left when I did.
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