Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => News Items => Topic started by: Anonymous on September 02, 2009, 04:22:04 AM
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http://www.kptv.com/news/20676299/detail.html (http://www.kptv.com/news/20676299/detail.html)
REDMOND, Ore. -- A 16-year-old boy died Friday at SageWalk Wilderness Camp in northern Lake County, sheriff's deputies said.
Authorities responded at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 28 to a report of a dead male at the camp, said Deputy Lake County Sheriff Chuck Poré in a news release.
The Portland teen was declared dead at the scene. He had been hiking with counselors and campers, according to Poré.
The day before, the teen attended the camp for troubled teenagers and passed a sports physical.
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Teen dies on Redmond wilderness school hike-From KTVZ.COM news sources
http://www.ktvz.com/global/story.asp?s= ... =Printable (http://www.ktvz.com/global/story.asp?s=11030190&ClientType=Printable)
SageWalk Website assures parents of prospective participants that student safety is top concern
Autopsy performed, but cause of death east of Bend not yet revealed
A 16-year-old Portland youth collapsed and died on a hike with Redmond-based SageWalk Wilderness School, about 70 miles southeast of Bend, Lake County authorities said Tuesday.
Lake County Deputy Sheriff Chuck Pore' identified the teen who died Friday afternoon as Sergey Blaschishen, but told NewsChannel 21 he had yet to receive the medical examiner's findings on an autopsy performed Sunday in Lakeview, regarding the cause of death or other details.
Pore' labeled as "procedural" a suspension of the school's (http://www.sagewalk.com (http://www.sagewalk.com)) BLM permit to operate on public lands.
But he confirmed that Blashishen had reported feeling ill and collapsed a short time later.
The teen's mother, Lyudmilla Blashchishena, told The Oregonian she was told her son vomited, then passed out during the hike. She said he did not suffer from any medical conditions.
She said her son dropped out of Parkrose High School last year and had worked construction and lived with an uncle before asking to be palced in the SageWalk program. "He asked me to place him in the boot camp," she told the newspaper. "He really wanted to change his behavior.
Here is the complete news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office and a statement issued by SageWalk's executive director.
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MEDIA RELEASE
LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF INVESTIGATION 090529
At about 2:30pm on Friday, August 28th, 2009, members of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, and Law Enforcement of the Bureau of Land Management responded to a report of the death of a juvenile male at a wilderness camp in northern Lake County. According to the initial information given to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the juvenile was attending the Sage Walk Wilderness Camp. The juvenile had been received at the Sage Walk camp facility the day before, after having passed a sports physical. At the time of the incident, the youth had been participating in a hike which is a part of the behavioral program of the wilderness camp.
The initial report received by the Sheriff's Office was of a sick male, followed by information that CPR was in progress. Air Link air ambulance was requested by Deschutes County Sheriff out of Bend. CPR continued for approximately 45 minutes until the air ambulance arrived. Subsequently, the 16 year old male from Portland was declared dead at the scene.
Due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of the northern part of Lake County, Deschutes County Sheriff responded and secured the scene until Lake County law enforcement arrived.
Deputies interviewed camp counselors and other juveniles that had been on the hike. An autopsy was performed on the youth on Sunday, August 30th.
Pending the results of the Sheriff's investigation, the Bureau of Land Management has suspended the permit for the wilderness camp to operate on BLM Land.
Chuck Poré, Deputy Sheriff
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Statement from SageWalk:
SageWalk Wilderness School is saddened to confirm the unfortunate death of one of our students on Friday, August 28th. At this time, the exact details of the incident are still being determined. We do know that our EMT-trained staff worked tirelessly with the student until the AirLink emergency helicopter arrived on the scene, at which time the student's care was turned over to the AirLink medics. SageWalk considers student safety our number one priority and takes this incident very seriously. Over the course of our 12 year history, our program has adhered to the highest standards of care and we currently meet or exceed all industry and state standards. We were the first wilderness program to be individually accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, and we are licensed by the State of Oregon to work with students who are experiencing issues with substance abuse and are also licensed by the State of Oregon as both an Outdoor Youth Program and Private School.
Due to the limited information available, HIPAA regulations, and out of respect for the student's family, this is all we are able to communicate at this time.
CONTACT:
Mike Bednarz, MS, MBA
Executive Director
SageWalk Wilderness School
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The state Legislature passed a new law governing wilderness schools after the September 2000 death of a 15-year-old student with Bend-based Obsidian Trails, which later closed.
William "Eddie" Lee of Scappoose died after an instructor held him face-down on the ground as punishment for an emotional outburst during a hike east of Burns.
Early this year, the Government Accountability Office listed 10 examples of youths who died at wilderness schools, and thousands of reports of abuse, as Congress considered legislation to require federal oversight for outdoor therapy programs.
At that time, a spokeswoman for SageWalk's parent company, Aspen Education Group, told The Bulletin that the bill went too far, and that schools already licensed by states and accredited by reputable groups should be exempt from federal regulations.
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Teen Death Investigation
09/01/09
At about 2:30pm on Friday, August 28th, 2009, members of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, and Law Enforcement of the Bureau of Land Management responded to a report of the death of a juvenile male at a wilderness camp in northern Lake County. According to the initial information given to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the juvenile was attending the Sage Walk Wilderness Camp. The juvenile had been received at the Sage Walk camp facility the day before, after having passed a sports physical. At the time of the incident, the youth had been participating in a hike which is a part of the behavioral program of the wilderness camp.
The initial report received by the Sheriff's Office was of a sick male, followed by information that CPR was in progress. Air Link air ambulance was requested by Deschutes County Sheriff out of Bend. CPR continued for approximately 45 minutes until the air ambulance arrived. Subsequently, the 16 year old male from Portland was declared dead at the scene.
Due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of the northern part of Lake County, Deschutes County Sheriff responded and secured the scene until Lake County law enforcement arrived.
Deputies interviewed camp counselors and other juveniles that had been on the hike. An autopsy was performed on the youth on Sunday, August 30th.
Pending the results of the Sheriff's investigation, the Bureau of Land Management has suspended the permit for the wilderness camp to operate on BLM Land.
http://kohd.com/news/local/139779 (http://kohd.com/news/local/139779)
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Portland teen collapses and dies during wilderness camp hike
by Stephen Beaven, The Oregonian
Tuesday September 01, 2009, 2:44 PM
The Lake County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a Portland teen who collapsed during a hike as part of a wilderness camp exercise, a spokesman said today.
Sergey Blashchishen, 16, died Friday after collapsing about 2:30 p.m., said Deputy Chuck Pore. An autopsy was performed on Sunday but the results are incomplete and a cause of death has not been determined, Pore said.
Investigators are trying to find out if Blashchishen, who lived in Northeast Portland, had any medical problems that might have contributed to his death, Pore said. He had passed a physical the day before he died.
Blashchishen was attending the SageWalk wilderness school, a program for troubled teens based in Redmond. He was hiking with a group in northern Lake County between Burns and Bend when he got sick.
"He said he didn't feel good and shortly after that collapsed," Pore said.
The Bureau of Land Management has suspended the permit for SageWalk to operate on BLM land, pending the outcome of the investigation. It could not be confirmed if Blashchishen was on BLM property when he collapsed.
"SageWalk considers student safety our number one priority and takes this incident very seriously," SageWalk Executive Director Mike Bednarz said in a statement.
Lyudmila Blashchishena, Sergey's mother, said she was told that her son vomited and then passed out during the hike, adding that he did not suffer from any medical conditions.
"We are still so shocked," she said. "He always did sports, never had any disease. How could he pass away just from hiking?"
Blashchishen dropped out of Parkrose High School last year, his mother said, and enrolled in the wilderness school on Thursday.
He had worked construction and lived with an uncle before deciding to go to SageWalk.
"He asked me to place him in the boot camp," his mother said. "He really wanted to change his behavior."
--Stephen Beaven; http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ss ... nd_di.html (http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/portland_teen_collapses_and_di.html)
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Comments:
Posted by kimkatmeg on 09/01/09 at 3:42PM
NATURE WALK? Are you kidding? Wilderness therapy throws in a tough survivalist approach to aberrant teens, in an attempt to force them to understand the connection between actions and consequences. Months of forced survival living in the Oregon desert in winter are not unusual as the core of the schools' techniques for teens.
These types of programs need to be SHUT DOWN! I attended a few as a teen because my mother labeled me as "at risk youth" and I had excellent health insurance that paid these companies to tell my mother that I was being fixed. Each one I've been to has been shut down because of issues related to teens being killed or seriously injured. Both indoor and outdoor facilities.
The one I went to was called Obsidian Trails, it was shut down for suffocating a 15 year old who was acting out.
http://www.nospank.net/n-g81.htm (http://www.nospank.net/n-g81.htm)[/list]
Posted by blueskypdx on 09/01/09 at 3:51PM
Here's a clue teens: Stay in school, grow up, don't act like a criminal and drop the attitudes! That keeps you out of programs like this. Simple solution. No discussion about it, just do it.
Posted by washcomom on 09/01/09 at 4:05PM
Sounds like it was a "hell" hike instead of a walk in the park. Even if he did play sports in school, he dropped out a year ago. What exercise has he been doing since? He was in bad shape or form to be hiking with such exertion with a loaded pack. When one goes on strenuous hikes like this one, there is a preparation period before-hand. Even for those that do this all the time.
I agree with blueskypdx to the teens - Get real, do your best, and don't act like a know-it-all. Because - you don't.
Posted by DudeInNEP on 09/01/09 at 4:20PM
Thanks Dad, I'm sure the youth with just soak up your advice.
Posted by boringlarry on 09/01/09 at 4:43PM
...um, where in this article did it say anything about loaded packs?...whether he wore one or not, when commenting on something, i would think it prudent to stick to the facts presented, unless there's another source you can quote...
With that said, ...get real kids, the world doesn't revolve around you...if more teens actually had to work hard to keep themselves alive, there wouldn't be time to make trouble....
Posted by HML770 on 09/01/09 at 4:53PM
In '75, when I was 17, I was in a group similar to this. We had to march across rural areas of southern California carrying loads up to 195 lbs (regardless of the size of the person), in temps up to 105 degrees.
We went cross-country over mountain ranges up to 5500-6000 ft, sometimes, for weeks on end. We slept in the open, the gear we were given was out of date, and very worn. Every tent we had leaked. When it rained we shivered, when the sun beat down we baked.
We carried very little water with us, and the canned food was just plain awful. If you fell out of a march you were subjected to harsh physical punishment, extra duty, and limitation of the few privileges you were granted. I stayed with the group for two years, and loved every minute of it.
It was called the "7th Marine Infantry Regiment, 1st Marine Division."
Posted by npdxretro on 09/01/09 at 6:23PM
Classic dehydration, most likely the signs were ignored, the tough love thing. Look at the history of these "schools" and you'll see they are rife with abusive behavior. And HML, most of these kids wouldn't pass the physical for MIL service, and were built up at basic.......big difference, although I get your point.
Posted by bendguy123 on 09/01/09 at 9:43PM
Sagewalk is a well managed and structured program. The risk assessment and planning that goes into any new enrollment is intense. Kids are not just thrown into the woods and expected to perform all tasks on their first day. Passing a physical and abilities test is standard. Until more is know it is not wise to jump to conclusions.
KIMKAT: your experience at Obsidian Trails was most likely tough, the death was an instructor mistake and a terrible event. It is true that power and control are sometimes factors, and that was most likely a huge factor in the program closing down.
Sagewalk is not a "fly by night" operation. I have spent many years as an instructor for other similar programs around the country and can not imagine enduring an ordeal like this. My heart goes out to the family, staff, students, and all other students at programs right now.
The bottom line is that most of these kids are not well managed at home and need an intense intervention of sorts, woods/school/etc.. Sending your kids to a program is tough and blaming the family for the end result is dangerous.
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Wiki Sagewalk datasheet (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Sagewalk) and victim page (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Victims) are updated
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Wiki Sagewalk datasheet (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Sagewalk) and victim page (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Victims) are updated
so there is no criteria for a child to be added to the victims list? Just dying on the premises? or can they get added if they die when they get home too?
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^^ THIS IS "TheWho" TROLLING THE UNFORTUNATE DEATH OF A CHILD ^^
Think about that for a second, what type of person would do that? Then think, is that type of person worth my time?
What is a troll?
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional or disciplinary response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.
To the fuggin T.
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Sergey Blashchishena, 16, died at SAGEWALK (Aspen Education Group)
by admin on September 2, 2009
(1)Video: Mother Mourns Loss of her son in Wilderness Camp
http://www.kptv.com/video/20685256/index.html (http://www.kptv.com/video/20685256/index.html)
(2)Mother Grieves Son Who Died On Hiking Trip
http://www.katu.com/news/local/56697982 ... eo=YHI&t=a (http://www.katu.com/news/local/56697982.html?video=YHI&t=a)
“I was just shocked,” Lyudmila Blashchishena said. “I couldn’t believe, how could my son die from hiking?” Her son, Sergey, died unexpectedly at a wilderness boot camp in Lake County. His mother said he was trying to get his life in order and was at the camp voluntarily.
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Will Dr. Phil Speak Out About Institutional Child Abuse NOW???
by admin on September 2, 2009
SAGEWALK is an Aspen Education Group program. Sagewalk web site can be found at http://www.sagewalk.com/ (http://www.sagewalk.com/). Sagewalk has been featured on the Brat Camp show both here in the United States and in the UK. Sagewalk also advertises itself as being featured on the Dr. Phil Show.
These are glowing endorsements. How do I know??? I know because after each of the brat camp shows that aired on American television I received several emails from parents asking how they could get their children on the show. At the time, I had a page dedicated to protesting and exposing the realities behind the Brat Camp television shows. Parents searching the net for information would sometimes mistake the Brat Camp page on my site as the web site for the show.
While the Dr. Phil Show hasn’t recommended or sent anyone off to a “troubled teen” program in the recent past, we need more from him and his show. We need him to undo the damage that he caused with his endorsements of the Aspen Education Group programs.
Will he formally renounce these type of residential treatment programs now that there has been yet another senseless death???? Now that SageWalk has had a perfectly healthy 16 year old child who volunteered to go to the program die under their “care”?
I have alerted him and the show to this matter. In the past they have chosen not to address me or this issue. I have just written to them again. Now I’m just waiting to see if he is big enough to own up to his responsibility in promoting a highly unprofessional and unqualified group of people who claim to know how to treat children. I’m not saying he did this knowingly, however, he knows now and should alert others to the dangers that exist.
He should do this for the family of 16 year-old Sergey Blashchishena.
Tagged as: death of child in program, SAGEWALK
http://ficanetwork.net/will-dr-phil-spe ... abuse-now/ (http://ficanetwork.net/will-dr-phil-speak-out-about-institutional-child-abuse-now/)
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^^ THIS IS "TheWho" TROLLING THE UNFORTUNATE DEATH OF A CHILD ^^
Think about that for a second, what type of person would do that? Then think, is that type of person worth my time?
What is a troll?
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional or disciplinary response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.
To the fuggin T.
He actually has a good point. Wouldnt you want to wait to find out what the cause of death was before adding him to a victims list? I think that is a valid question?
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What is a troll?
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional or disciplinary response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.
So on this forum we should refrain from anything controversial or inflammatory? So you want everyone to agree with each other and treat each other nicely. Does this sound like fornits? or the way you would like it to be?
If you visited a forum like strugglingteens had would you engage in proprogram conversations? or would you post anti-program posts (which would be considered controversial)?
Something to think about.
I would also like to mention that we were all talking about the death of a child until you posted this troll comment intended to derail the thread. So if you are done trolling we should get back on topic.
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Wiki Sagewalk datasheet (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Sagewalk) and victim page (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Victims) are updated
so there is no criteria for a child to be added to the victims list? Just dying on the premises? or can they get added if they die when they get home too?
The boy is dead. The criteria for a police investigation is met, the criteria for the suspension of the use of BLM land is met and the criteria for a placement on the victim list is met.
We don't lie. It states that there is an investigation ongoing. When the real cause of his death is made public, we will print it.
They can get added when they return home too, but then in another category. The successrate used by their marketing firms not correct.
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Wiki Sagewalk datasheet (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Sagewalk) and victim page (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Victims) are updated
so there is no criteria for a child to be added to the victims list? Just dying on the premises? or can they get added if they die when they get home too?
The boy is dead. The criteria for a police investigation is met, the criteria for the suspension of the use of BLM land is met and the criteria for a placement on the victim list is met.
We don't lie. It states that there is an investigation ongoing. When the real cause of his death is made public, we will print it.
They can get added when they return home too, but then in another category. The successrate used by their marketing firms not correct.
Oscar, I wasn’t insinuating that you are lying. I just wanted to understand the criteria for getting placed on the list and I got the answer, thank you. For clarity: If a child slipped and fell and hit their head (died) or had a preexisting condition that went undetected by the doctors and died or was just bludgeoned to death by a psychotic staff member or left the program early and died of an overdose or car accident they all fit into the same category and get placed on the victims list.
As a parent I would be interested (and be helpful) in knowing how many kids died due to negligence by the school so that I could determine the risk of sending them. Kids that die in a car accidents or from a pre-existing condition, choking on a French fry at home or slip and hit their head on a rock could happen anywhere and are independent from any program model or design and therefore outside their realm of a programs control.
If I were targeting parents with the list I would categorize them differently that’s all.
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The case about the boy who died at the boot camp in Florida explains why we have difficulties with categorizing the children who dies during a program.
The program is often a major employer in a remote area, so there are some concerns about loosing jobs. We know that something was wrong with the first autopsy reports in this high profile case which led to a second autopsy which again showed the real cause of death. But would there have been a second autopsy if the beating hadn't been caught on video?
Most kids on the victims list did not get a second autopsy made by people far away from the area depended of the income of the program. We cannot be sure if the cause of death stated in the papers are the correct one.
That why we have hesitated arrange them by category. However suicide and restraints seem to cover most of the cases. Undetected birth defects or perhaps examinations of poor quality counts for some.
We would very much like to improve the quality of the victim list but the data we are provided from the media and families has problems as stated above.
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He actually has a good point. Wouldnt you want to wait to find out what the cause of death was before adding him to a victims list? I think that is a valid question?
Sure it's possible he had some undiagnosed heart condition or something, but given the way so many other kids have died in wilderness programs i'd me more inclined to attribute it (as a guess) to neglect or abuse.
Oscar did also raise some valid concerns about the autopsy. If I were the parents I would request a second one (I doubt they will, however). Haven't there been a few documented instances of "negligence" or outright foul play at various coroners in relation program deaths? One case having to do with a spider bite if I remember correctly.
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Very sad this happened.
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Haven't there been a few documented instances of "negligence" or outright foul play at various coroners in relation program deaths? One case having to do with a spider bite if I remember correctly.
Yup. Roberto Reyes
http://www.closethayerlearningcenter.co ... oreyes.asp (http://www.closethayerlearningcenter.com/robertoreyes.asp)
I heard there are finally criminal charges against Willa Bundy, owner of Teen Life Skills Center (fka Thayer Learning Center.... never known as Tender Lovin Care)
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He actually has a good point. Wouldnt you want to wait to find out what the cause of death was before adding him to a victims list? I think that is a valid question?
Sure it's possible he had some undiagnosed heart condition or something, but given the way so many other kids have died in wilderness programs i'd me more inclined to attribute it (as a guess) to neglect or abuse.
Oscar did also raise some valid concerns about the autopsy. If I were the parents I would request a second one (I doubt they will, however). Haven't there been a few documented instances of "negligence" or outright foul play at various coroners in relation program deaths? One case having to do with a spider bite if I remember correctly.
So its all up in the air at this point. I guess my questions was why not wait a few days or weeks for the official report before deciding for ourselves what the cause of death was and who was responsible?
Its better to establish a procedure based on accuracy and facts then on prejudging based on gut feel or personal feelings towards the industry is all I am saying.
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Lake County sheriff's officials say the autopsy results could take up to two weeks. In the meantime, SageWalk can legally continue to operate the school with its five other students on private lands only.
In response to questions from NewsChannel 21, Mike Bednarz, SageWalk's executive director, wrote to say that"SageWalk follows established best practices and protocols that may delay an incoming student from beginning a hike with the other students based on the results of their admissions history and physical .... but due to HIPAA regulations, I cannot comment on the specific history of this young man."
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UPDATED: Portland teen collapses, dies at camp for troubled youth in Lake County (http://http://www.ktvl.com/articles/span-1191826-portland-camp.html)
September 02, 2009 11:23 AM
KOIN-TV and staff reports
(http://http://images.onset.freedom.com/ktvl/medium/kpcxpe-kpcxnspicture28.png)(http://http://images.onset.freedom.com/ktvl/medium/kpcxpc-kpcxnhpicture31.png)
Sergey Blashchishen
LAKEVIEW, Ore. -- Police are investigating the death of a 16-year-old Portland boy who collapsed and died during a wilderness hike Friday at a youth camp for troubled teens in northern Lake County.
The teen died while hiking in northern Lake County on Friday after arriving at the Sage Walk Wilderness School in Redmond the day before.
Sergey Blashchishen had dropped out of Park Rose High School as a freshman and his mom, Lyudmila Blashchishen, said he wanted to attend to the boot camp before returning to school.
Originally from Uzbekistan, he came here with his family more than a decade ago. His mom said the oldest of her two sons will take some getting used to.
"I was shocked the first two days i couldn't believe it you know and it was really hard and it's still so hard you know -- it will take some time to get used to it," she said, adding he was a good kid.
Sage Walk Wilderness School began in Redmond in 1997, providing what it calls wilderness therapy.
Its executive director says in a statement "Sage Walk considers student safety our number one priority, and takes this incident very seriously," adding "we currently meet or exceed all state and industry standards."
Still, Sergey's family doesn't understand how a boy who passed a sports physical on Thursday could die on a hike the following day.
"Because a 16-year-old boy full of energy never was sick never health problems could die from a hiking, kind of unbelievable for me," Sergey's mom said. "But it's almost five days today and we still don't know the truth, you know."
An autopsy is pending, although Sergey's mom says the county medical examiner initially told her his death appeared to be heat-related.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office is investigating and the Bureau of Land Management has pulled the boot camp's permit to hike on federal land.
Copyright © 2009 Freedom Communications
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Breaking News
Posted: Sep 3, 2009
SageWalk
Bend, OR
A Statement from SageWalk (http://http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/SageWalkBN_090903.shtml)
Contact:
Mike Bednarz
Executive Director
SageWalk, The Wilderness School
mbednarz@sagewalk.com
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
SageWalk Wilderness School is saddened to confirm the unfortunate death of one of our students on Friday, August 28th. At this time, the exact details of the incident are still being determined. The student had just been admitted into our program the day before, and we do not have any further details of what may have caused his passing. We do know that our EMT-trained staff worked tirelessly with the student until the AirLink emergency helicopter arrived on the scene, at which time the student's care was turned over to the AirLink medics.
SageWalk considers student safety our number one priority and takes this incident very seriously. Over the course of our 12 year history, our program has adhered to the highest standards of care and we currently meet or exceed all industry and state standards. We were the first wilderness program to be individually accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, and we are licensed by the State of Oregon to work with students who are experiencing issues with substance abuse and are also licensed by the State of Oregon as both an Outdoor Youth Program and Private School.
We are making every effort to lend support during this difficult time. We are extending every resource we can to help the young man's family through their loss, and we have made EAP services available to our staff. In addition, our staff is working with the affected students.
Due to the limited information available, HIPAA regulations, and out of respect for the student's family, this is all we are able to communicate at this time. We appreciate your continued support.
Sincerely,
Mike Bednarz
Copyright © 2009, Woodbury Reports, Inc.
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Its good to see these places finally getting EMT's on staff with these kids. We didnt see this 15 or 20 years ago.
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Its good to see these places finally getting EMT's on staff with these kids. We didnt see this 15 or 20 years ago.
We still don't see it. "Our EMT-trained staff," that is, having staff trained by EMTs in some CPR moves or some such, is hardly the same thing as having actual "EMT's on staff" as you allege.
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Its good to see these places finally getting EMT's on staff with these kids. We didnt see this 15 or 20 years ago.
We still don't see it. "Our EMT-trained staff," that is, having staff trained by EMTs in some CPR moves or some such, is hardly the same thing as having actual "EMT's on staff" as you allege.
Agreed its not the same thing. Having EMTs show up isnt the same as having a doctor show up in an emergency also. But the point is that the staff is getting Emergency Medical Training which is much better then they had a decade ago.
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Here's another news piece... Comments section will be copied in the post immediately following this one.
—•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•—
Investigation under way in Redmond wilderness camp death (http://http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=11037810)
By Nina Mehlhaf, KTVZ.COM
Posted: Sep 2, 2009 06:21 PM
Autopsy results awaited as a mother grieves
(http://http://ktvz.images.worldnow.com/images/11037810_BG1.jpg)
Sergey Blashchishena
A Portland mother is talking about the death of her teenage son at a Redmond-based wilderness school. But it's not the first time this has happened at camps here.
Sergey Blashchishena, 16, died Friday during his first hike with Redmond's SageWalk Wilderness School.
His death in a remote area more than 60 miles east of Bend may be purely medical, or it may be related to something else, and that uncertainty has officials in many different agencies waiting.
Blashchishena was depressed and dropped out of school last year, his mother Lyudmila says.
Going a different route, she says they chose SageWalk Wilderness of Redmond, which teaches troubled kids stability and values through the outdoors.
"I was trying to encourage him," Lyudmila told our Fox news affiliate in Portland. "I was trying to tell him, education is very important to him, but he didn't want to hear any of that."
On Friday, Sergey's first day, he was hiking with five other classmates in Lake County. Lyudmila says she was told he vomited, then collapsed, died and couldn't be resuscitated. He was athletic and had just passed a physical the day before.
"They checked him, they did a medical exam for him, they allowed him to go to this activity," she said.
The camp has now had its permit to use BLM land suspended, pending autopsy results.
BLM officials say they're waiting on the sheriff's and state Department of Human Services investigations into the death and if the camp was in any way negligent or didn't follow state regulations.
"It's a fairly normal practice for us to temporarily suspend a license until we have more information and we prefer to err on the side of protecting youth," said Carol Benkoksy, district manager of the BLM's Lakeview District.
There are four wilderness therapy schools in Central Oregon. Back in 2000, a 15-year-old Washington boy died on an outing with the now-defunct Bend wilderness school Obsidian Trails.
A teacher held him face-down after an outburst, but was never indicted on homicide charges. Two other students from the same school were arrested after escaping and stealing a car in 1999.
Nationally, 10 kids have died at schools like these, prompting a bill now going through Congress that would tack on additional state and new federal safety regulations preventing child abuse.
SageWalk's parent company says it's not a boot camp, instead using therapists to get through to kids, not harsh words.
Sergey's tearful mom just wants to know what happened to her son: "It's hard. Yeah, he was a very strong child."
Lake County sheriff's officials say the autopsy results could take up to two weeks. In the meantime, SageWalk can legally continue to operate the school with its five other students on private lands only.
In response to questions from NewsChannel 21, Mike Bednarz, SageWalk's executive director, wrote to say that "SageWalk follows established best practices and protocols that may delay an incoming student from beginning a hike with the other students based on the results of their admissions history and physical .... but due to HIPAA regulations, I cannot comment on the specific history of this young man."
Asked about whether the participants are tested for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, Bednarz added, "we are following the Deschutes County recommendation to not do H1N1 testing at this time, however our nurses have been educated about the symptoms to watch for."
The following statement came from SageWalk's parent firm, regarding the legislation now in Congress:
Aspen Education Group, which operates Oregon's Mount Bachelor Academy, New Leaf Academy and SageWalk Wilderness School, strongly believes that appropriate facility oversight and enforcement is necessary to prevent the abuse and neglect of adolescents in the care of all residential facilities. We support legislative efforts to provide strong, well-informed, state licensing requirements and the necessary local oversight to ensure compliance, while allowing providers of education and healthcare to offer these services in the most clinically effective and cost-efficient manner.
Aspen Education Group is committed to providing quality services for youth and families. For this reason, each of the aforementioned programs is currently licensed by the Oregon State Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, Mount Bachelor Academy is accredited by the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools and the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, New Leaf Academy is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, and SageWalk is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.
It is our belief that H.R. 911 should broaden its list of exempted programs to include programs that are licensed by the state and accredited by either a regional or national accrediting body. For programs that are already licensed and accredited, the regulations of H.R. 911 are redundant, costly and add another layer of unnecessary oversight onto programs. The availability of quality treatment programs could be affected, leaving many families without the help they so desperately need.[/list]
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I see that EdCon Dore Frances is now referring to herself as an "Advocate/Therapeutic Consultant."
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Comments for the above article by Nina Mehlhaf, Investigation under way in Redmond wilderness camp death (http://http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=11037810) (KTVZ.COM):
JuliaAquinas 3 days ago, 23:09:34
I don't know if anyone else knows this, but there was a television show on ABC a few years ago that featured SageWalk Wilderness school called "Brat Camp." Just hearing about this after watching that show, makes a person wonder what had gone on behind the scenes of that show? It's crazy. I do hope the family will get some closure and they have my prayers!
DH 2 days ago, 06:44:19
I did watch the above mentioned show and a couple of more since then. I am not impressed with any of these schools since the broadcasts. Had a slight military theme in tiring the kids down for easier manipulation and submission.
Are the nurses from these schools on these hikes?
Is the autopsy being done in Lake County? Better hope not!
Thought I read somewhere that Mt. Bachlor Academy is being investigated and has a law suit (or suits) pending filed by parents.
My heart breaks for the parents of this child. May God give you strength.
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Guest 2 days ago, 00:46:33
My sister was in Sage Walk back in 1997-1998 when they first opened In Bend. They treated the kids so bad that my sister has irreversable internal physical conditions due to the place. They are too a BOOTCAMP! You all have no idea what goes on behind the scenes at that place. No fires = food. Meaning if the child did not make his or her own cook fire they did not eat or if they did eat it was cold lentils and rice. My sister lost over 80 pounds in 4 months. She was emotionaly abused by the staff, and made to live in deplorable conditions during the middle of the CENTRAL OREGON WINTER. The kids were actually made to EARN warm clothes and blankets. They did not sleep in tents, they were made to sleep out on the dirt in a sleeping bag and thats it. I will testify to it! They need to shut these places down. Like today...the kids are going to have psychological dammage from a place like this. It doesn't help the kids it just makes them feel more crappy about themselves then when they first came into the program; then out in the field, they get punished for it... acting like a scared cornered animal. FYI THE SHOW "BRAT CAMP" was all FAKE...they made it look good for TV...some promotion, look what happened AGAIN! This young man is dead, his mother is without answers, and another bootcamp for kids is under investigation.
Guest 2 days ago, 12:04:21
maybe just maybe if some parents would spend a little more time teaching thier kids right from wrong and how to sustain thierselves in life they wouldn't need boot camps or any other outside help to raise thier children.
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A2YP 2 days ago, 06:12:50
Sorry to differ with the reporter, but Sergey was the 45th teen to die in Wilderness "Therapy". All preventable deaths. Most due to medical neglect or putting kids in dangerous situations. Homicides. And no one has served a day of jail time. Aspen alone, has killed 5 teens. Very simply put- NO "therapy" should subject kids to the potential of death.
Aspen defends that HR911 would be redundant. Not so. States that currently have licensing requirements for these programs do no require the programs to list all injuries and deaths associated with the program. HR911 would require every Wilderness and Therapeutic Boarding School to list that information on a website managed by the government. A much needed resource for parents who deserve to make informed decisions about their children. These programs do not want that information known to the public. Did Sergey's mother know Aspen's track record? Did they divulge the other deaths and causes of death? Did they divulge how many children have sustained serious injury in their program? Were the risks made clear?
Did Sergey or his mother google Sagewalk prior to enrollment? I'm guessing not, because there are volumes written on this program alone. They blatantly violated state regulations during the filming of Brat Camp. Sergey's mother should be asking if he had an adequate supply of water. What the temperature was during the hike. How many miles they had hiked. How much weight he was carrying.
When he ate last. What he ate.
One could say Aspen is making progress. It's been a year since their last death. How many more must die? As history has shown, state licensure and accreditation are not adequate to protect teens. Support HR911. Call or write your Representative and demand this legislation be enacted.
Guest 2 days ago, 06:38:55
The article says "Nationally 10 kids have died at these schools" Since when ?1980, 2000, 2008 ? And nationally how many kids have died at public schools ? The media and PR people always try to make the numbers look good or bad depending on their needs.
• Barney Lerten 2 days ago, 07:36:41
I believe the GAO study said over a 10-year period. I know, I know, the govt. also tries "to make the numbers look good or bad," in your opinion.
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KD 2 days ago, 08:50:37
The guest does have a point though Barney. There seems to be a propensity to put numbers out ther without any context.
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• Barney Lerten 2 days ago, 09:29:43
Context is always, always a challenge - due to time limits on-air, and 'time limits' (hours in the day! online.
That's one reason I profess a 'lazy out' sometimes and post entire news releases here. At least then facts/figures are in the 'originators' context - what THEY leave out, well...
Also why I try to provide links to sources/agencies whenever possible, for people who want to dig deeper for context.
'The' answer? Nope, just an acknowledgment of our inherent limitations and ways for folks to get beyond them - if THEY have the time/inclination...
Guest 2 days ago, 13:28:02
i agree, that is the whole point of statistics to protray the information as you want it to be seen.
10 kids in a ten year period nationwide sounds rather low to me, maybe compare to how many kids attended those programs.
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Guest 2 days ago, 12:06:27
Integrity is always a challenge and the news media sacrifices it regularly to the god of time. I did not read where it talked about "over a 10-year period" and even if it did, it did not qualify the time span. We live in a time when the media is downplaying our soldiers' sacrafices in Iraq and Afghanistan as well, since it is not snazzy enough. Tell me, John Q. Public, do you hear more or less about Iraq and Afghanistan now that we are an Obama Nation?
Thanks Barney, for the explanation, but it is also, your opinion.
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A2YP Yesterday, 07:27:34
Speaking of statistics, in the past ten years
21 teens have died in Wilderness Therapy. Compare that to 9 in boot camps. The total number of teens who have died in residential "treatment" programs is 89. And I'm certain that number could be higher as programs have become quiet successful at keeping deaths out of the media as of late.
The GAO looked at 10 deaths. That was not the total number of deaths. In fact, the GAO report stated that more transparency was needed. That is was very difficult to get accurate information, hence the need for legislation. The GAO and committee members (even those who supported the industry) were astounded that no one had been brought to justice in the heinous deaths they investigated. We're talking blatant abuse and neglect.
We need HR911 to bring that transparency so the truth comes to light.
The best option for parents is local therapy, wraparound services, cognitive behavioral therapy. You will never "fix" a child by isolating them from their family and the real world and subjecting them to experimental behavior modification techniques that are not evidence-based. The family should be involved. This industry is a fraud. They need to be forced to provide real therapy of be shut down.[/list][/list][/list]
Guest 2 days ago, 11:03:25
That is way to many kids that have died at programs like this. That should be telling you something if kids are dying. That is why I am telling people to look at sending the child to OYCP they will be safer there than anywhere else.
Guest 2 days ago, 14:23:12
What the news seems to be leaving out is that the 'students' are not allowed to complain, stop in the middle of a hike if they get sick or feel dizzy, or the whole group must hike an extra distance or time. During one of my hikes there, a girl passed out face first in a ditch with her pack on top of her, a boy peed all over himself because we were not allowed to stop, and it just went on and on like that. There was no entry physical. We were blindfolded and yelled at from the main offices to the middle of nowhere, and left. It didn't matter if you were a juvinile delinquent, or if you had emotional problems like I did. We were all treated like criminals. It's about time someone looked at this place a whole lot closer. Too bad it took the death of this poor boy for it to happen.
Guest 2 days ago, 17:54:21
Yup, this programs violate the human rights of children and should be banned.
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Guest Yesterday, 00:05:06
What I think is wrong is shoving this bullcrap "wilderness" therapy crap down people's throats. Not everyone is going to find these hikes, making tents, and tying ropes spiritual. I'm a city person and was sent to this type of camp. I'm telling you...these people with useless degrees in "outdoor leadership" want to criminalize you for liking the city more than the mountains. I just don't see the point of forcing youth to appreciate the wilderness. Let the beauty of the wilderness be discovered on one's own (which I do appreciate it). Don't yell at kids to go rock-climbing or recycle cans.
Guest Yesterday, 07:15:39
While there are MANY opinions against the Sagewalk school, what many fail to know is how these kids are when they get to Sagewalk or Mt. Bachelor Academy!!!! It is the end of the road for these kids, their last stop before Juvie!!!! Yes, I do blame most of it on their parents for not having enough time for their kids or not wanting their kids in the first place. That is where it all starts. After having gone through Basic Training in the Army, I can tell you, these kids do not have the first inkling of what real boot camp is compared Sagewalk!!! It is very unfortunate what happened to Sergey and my heart goes out to his family on their loss. While sad as this loss is I loved that fact that somebody mentioned how many deaths have been at public school? For that matter, private schools? Given the amount of kids that have successfully graduated from the AEG programs I would venture the guess that the ratio is vastly better than any public school with the same amount of graduates!
Guest Yesterday, 07:49:32
Sergey is the 45th child to be killed due to staff maltreatment and negligence in a "wilderness therapy" program. That does not count the children who have been abused, neglected, maltreated, or died in other such programs, like emotional growth boarding schools, boot camps and other programs.
These cases are usually settled out of court because the companies are rolling in money--tuition runs about $83,000 a year--and the corporations do not want the publicity.
The GAO selected and investigated 10 such deaths because these cases were closed and the records were public. That in no way suggests there have only been 10 deaths. More importantly, there is a system-wide problem of unqualified, incompetant and abusive staff being placed in charge of students--leading to deaths and injuries and emotional trauma.
When homicides and manslaughter cases like these occur in the public schools it is absolutely a huge deal, and those responsible are punished/incarcerated. But there have been almost no prosecutions in these cases with the private schools (remote locations, cozy relationships with local law enforcement, little value placed on the life of a "troubled teen"), and this was a top concern of the US Congress and the GAO when they investigated. Families are left to pursue their own legal cases against the programs, and the corporations settle out of court. This happened very recently in a Texas case with another program run by Aspen Education Group.
Guest Yesterday, 08:50:50
No where I have seen or heard or read or been told that this beautiful boy was "killed due to staff maltreatment and negligence." I understand anger and sadness, however, making accusations that are false helps no one, especially the family and others who have chosen to have their children in treatment. Let's not forget to count all the children that are abused, neglected, maltreated, or died in their homes, on the streets, at public and private schools as well and in the care of family or friends. Also, a lot of the deaths have happened in juvenile state run programs which are horriffic in my opinion. Not all program are $83K a year. There is some real anger in this statement and I can only assume that is about the writer and not their attempt to have factual information.
Yes, there is a system-wide problem of unqualified, incompetant and abusive staff being placed in charge of students--leading to deaths and injuries and emotional trauma, especially in state run juvenile detention centers and boot camps. There are also unqualified, abusive, incompetent staff at day care centers, pre-schools, and even public schools. Again, no one has mentioed that this was a homocide or manslaughter, and it is this kind of mis information which hurts individuals and families you do not even know.
All children are special and deserve respect, no matter what has been going on their lives.
Dore E. Frances, M.A.
Advocate / Therapeutic Consultant
Bend, Oregon
Guest Yesterday, 11:10:25
I worked at sagewalk wilderness school for a year and half as a lead instructor. My heart also goes out to the family for their loss. But I guarantee that sagewalk is not in the business to neglect, harm, or abuse any child. The entire time I worked there, I never witnessed anything such as this. Sagewalk has a zero tolerance policy for harming kids. From firsthand experience, it is to hardest job in the world caring for the kids physically and emotionally while in a wilderness setting but it is the also the most rewarding job when those kids turn a corner. My heart also goes to the staff that has been heavy trained for medical emergencies but I know never wanted to have to be a part of one, especially one so tragic. I worked for Aspen Education group in several different programs for many years and they provide quality services. I truly believe this a tragic accident but an accident. I know other programs have had kids die at the hands of staff, but no one should be jumping to conclusions on this one.
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