Any info on Boulder Creek Academy in Bonners Ferry, Idaho?

[Anonymous]

I never met Timms, I just remember that I spoke to her when the school closed down about getting my transcripts...not only was she absolutely no help but she was a royal bitch on the phone. Academic dean was a pretty worthless position at BCA anyways, I could've taught myself the entire school's curriculum out of a handful of textbooks over the course of a month or two anyways. And that's not me being cocky, anyone could've done it.

How real is the threat to withhold transcripts?

BCA is now "provisionally accredited" to grant a HS diploma in Idaho. The provisional part is because of the change of ownership.  Accreditation in Idaho is now handled not by the Dept of Ed, but by an outside entity: Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (a recent development). I am trying to confirm with local school districts whether they will accept credits from BCA. But they'll probably ask for a document or transcript, and then I'll be at a dead end because I am not her parent.

AuntieEm

I don't know that it's such a real threat, it was more a reflection of how unwilling Marjorie Timms is to help out ex-students. Not only was it ages before I could get my transcripts sent to colleges, but I ended up having to forge my own recommendation letters because all the BCA staff kept blowing me off when it came to writing one for me. The transcript process took so incredibly long that I missed the application deadline for fall admission and had to wait to apply for the spring.

When I was there, BCA had no one who assisted with the college admissions process, no real SAT prep programs (there was a 6-year-old book in the library with some outdated prep strategies, that was it), and no one advising you on which schools to apply to and when to start doing it. The curriculum only taught 2 years of math (geometry and algebra 2, no trig, no pre-calc, nothing...) and only 3 years of english (most colleges have minimum requirements of 4 years for both, sometimes the 3 years of english would suffice but NEVER the 2 years of math).

Bottom line, just don't expect to get any semblance of an education for your kid if you send them to BCA. I'm tired of arguing with people over the cost vs. benefit of the emotional growth aspect of the program. But there is simply no argument when it comes to the academics; by sending your kid to BCA, you're pretty much pitching their academic future away.

What do you expect from a place where smiling at the cute girl in your US History class will get you banished from the classroom for a week to work on the farm...

[Covergaard]

How real is the threat to withhold transcripts?

BCA is now "provisionally accredited" to grant a HS diploma in Idaho. The provisional part is because of the change of ownership.  Accreditation in Idaho is now handled not by the Dept of Ed, but by an outside entity: Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (a recent development). I am trying to confirm with local school districts whether they will accept credits from BCA. But they'll probably ask for a document or transcript, and then I'll be at a dead end because I am not her parent.

AuntieEm

In some parts of the States Northwest is regarded as a diploma-mill. A WWASP was fined HEAVILY because they issued Northwest diplomas in New York. Perhaps Idaho is not so interested in quality but in quantity instead.

See

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_ ... ed_Schools

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_at_Ivy_Ridge
http://calbears.findarticles.com/p/arti ... _n14604073

[try another castle]

I hope my niece can go to college and be successful. I wish I could be more optimistic about her chances.

Don't give up hope. I went to college right after RMA. (No thanks to them.) The first year, a small liberal arts school in Virginia (because I felt that it would be "more rounded", thanks to RMA bullshit ideology.)

Halfway through my stay there, I realized that I hated it, updated my portfolio on my own time, applied as a transfer student and got into Syracuse University, which has one of the top ten fine arts programs in the country.

Again, no thanks to RMA. I wish I could say there is a formula for deprogramming yourself, but as far as I know, there is no pattern. If you are smart, there is no guarantee that you will be able to pull yourself out of it right away. I guess if anything, it takes tenacity and guts to go for what you want to do in life... and possibly if your identity is so directly oppositional to the program, that it bites you in the ass on the way out and you have to deal with it. All of ours was, but mine was *particularly* opposite... and having to face it eventually was non-negotiable.

I was lucky in that I am an artist, so I already had a goal and a direction... well before RMA ever entered into the picture, and I was able to get my shit together enough to attend college, even before I was completely deprogrammed.

Sure, I drank in college, smoked a little weed, did dex once, but altogether, my recreational narcotic use has always been rather tame, with the exception of some chronic weed smoking during the turn of the millenium, which had some serious adverse affects on my depression. Now, I only smoke on vacation.

I think that the worst long term symptoms I have suffered as a result of RMA are things such as attachment issues (which were pre-existing, but exacerbated by the program), arrested development, socialization problems, social paranoia/hyper-vigilance, self-hatred/poor self-image, self-absorption (case in point, this post, which is all about me. But I wanted to give you an example of one survivors' post-program story), narcissistic/borderline tendencies, and sexual dysfunction.

I know that sounds bad, but it could be worse, and I work on these issues constantly in an effort to transcend and heal. I'm higher functioning than I've been in a long time. As one of my best friends said: "Jonathan, you are the most well-adjusted fucked up person I know."

I took that as a compliment.

The fact of the matter is. People struggle. Everyone has problems. Some problems are weirder than others, but never underestimate the cussedness of a human being. We are tough little bitches.

I would be lying if I said I was successful. I have struggled, partially because painting majors aren't really in high demand in the job market, and I realized after college that the fine arts scene in San Francisco was a bunch of pretentious, self-masturbatory bullshit that was only worth the free buffet and the boxed wine at show openings. Did some temp work, got fired a lot, went to school for programming, got a good but grueling job, kind of fell apart and went on disability for bipolar, am now back in school for the third time as an animator, and plan to get a job in this ultra competitive field when I graduate in two quarters.

It's taken me about 18 years to get here, but I'm here, and here is good.

I'll end up in film credits eventually.

[AuntieEm]

I think that the worst long term symptoms I have suffered as a result of RMA are things such as attachment issues (which were pre-existing, but exacerbated by the program), arrested development, socialization problems, social paranoia/hyper-vigilance, self-hatred/poor self-image, self-absorption (case in point, this post, which is all about me. But I wanted to give you an example of one survivors' post-program story), narcissistic/borderline tendencies, and sexual dysfunction.

I know that sounds bad, but it could be worse, and I work on these issues constantly in an effort to transcend and heal. I'm higher functioning than I've been in a long time. As one of my best friends said: "Jonathan, you are the most well-adjusted fucked up person I know."

I took that as a compliment.

The fact of the matter is. People struggle. Everyone has problems. Some problems are weirder than others, but never underestimate the cussedness of a human being. We are tough little bitches.

I would be lying if I said I was successful. I have struggled, partially because painting majors aren't really in high demand in the job market, and I realized after college that the fine arts scene in San Francisco was a bunch of pretentious, self-masturbatory bullshit that was only worth the free buffet and the boxed wine at show openings. Did some temp work, got fired a lot, went to school for programming, got a good but grueling job, kind of fell apart and went on disability for bipolar, am now back in school for the third time as an animator, and plan to get a job in this ultra competitive field when I graduate in two quarters.

It's taken me about 18 years to get here, but I'm here, and here is good.

If you see any films with Jonny Possibly in the credits, that's me. I'll be there eventually.

I enjoyed this post, thank you. I agree that people can be amazingly resilient, and this gives me hope. I wish you all the best and will watch for your filmwork.

AuntieEm

[AuntieEm]

Have you all seen this on the BCA web site?

BCA students have ventured to:


Belize -- Marine Life and Ancient Ruins
Stone Hill, MT -- Rock Climbing
Washington D.C. -- "Presidential Classroom"
Alaska -- Exploring the Interior
San Juan Islands -- Sailing
Olympic Peninsula -- Flora & Fauna
Salmon River -- River Rafting
Mt. Rainer -- Hiking
Priest Lake -- Kayaking
Flat Head Indian Reservation -- Cultural Experience
Montana Dinosaur Dig -- Archeology
Idaho Backcountry Ski -- "Cat Ski/Snowboard"
Glacier National Park -- Hiking
Selkirk & Cabinet Mountains -- Backcountry Skiing/Hiking/"Brother's Quest"
Chimney Rock -- Alpine Rock Climbing

Did any of you go on any trips like this? I haven't read any posts that suggest this was offered.

AuntieEm

[dishdutyfugitive]

i went to:

Selkirk & Cabinet Mountains -- Backcountry Skiing/Hiking/"
Chimney Rock -- Alpine Rock Climbing
Washington D.C. -- "Presidential Classroom"
 
a few others I'd heard of.

But the important point here is the general rule of thumb - 'anything exciting is only for the select few aka the 'teacher's pets" allstars'.

The ski trip lists that were read off every Sunday and Tuesday night were the biggest build up and let down for kids that loved skiing. Students that arrived to RMA and loved skiing often were limited to going 1 time during their whole stay. Nerds who never had been skiing before RMA may have ended up going on 5+ trips during their stay. Now that's not to say nerdy kids shouldn't try skiing at RMA or anywhere else but if you want to really fucking piss of some students for no reason or good reason that's a great method. Talk about generating senseless animosity angst and frustration - that's reason enough to split right there.

this was RMA 89'

[try another castle]

The wilderness expeditions could take place in several locations. Mostly the selkirk and cabinet mountains, which is where my first two expeditions were. However, there was one during my stay that took place on the olympic peninsula and in the canadian rockies. In addtion, my final expedition was in the owyhee desert in southern idaho. While I was there, everyone went on all four expeditions as they progressed through the school. Orientation (one day), final discovery (four days), final quest (six days), and wildnerness challenge (10+ days). There was also the option of the Ishi, but that was for the privileged few, hand-picked by Dan and Carmen Earle.

I will say that the expeditions, at least when I was there, differed greatly from wilderness schools or programs such as CEDU's own Ascent, or Catherine Freer, Northstar, etc. The main difference being that the staff knew what they were doing, were skilled trackers, and were constantly making sure we were hydrated and kept warm.

Sure, the expeditions were still tainted with the ideology of the school, and we actually had raps out in the woods to get rid of our "grievances". (Camping brings out the worst in everyone, let me tell you.) That was a suckfest. But all in all, it was much much mellower than being trapped back on campus, and I think it's because the staff kind of viewed it as a break for themselves as well. I liked them, because I was away from the school. The only time of respite I ever had while there was on my four day solo because I didn't have to be around any of those fuckers. It was awesome. I could go to sleep when I wanted, get up when I wanted, eat when I wanted, beat off as many times as I wanted in total privacy, and I didn't have to do a damn bit of work. I could just hang out all day and lay in the sun. I was one of the few people in my peer group who was totally bummed to come off of it and meet back up with everyone.

However, camping without the program (and my obnoxious peer group) would have been nicer.

I don't know about the whole skiing thing, dishduty. I've been skiing since I was five, was an avid skiier, and got to go on a lot of trips. Although I was also dorky and nerdy. However, there were those who weren't that way and went. Remember Roland? If memory serves, he went all the damn time, and he was a total dick while he was there and never followed the program fully. So did Hunter, I believe.

I'm pretty much critical of all the staff there, but I remember Twila would be cool to me. (Despite the fact that she moved on to become an escort.) I just remember one time feeling really down and upset, and she pulled me aside and said, "How would you like to go on a ski trip tomorrow?" I said "I don't know if I should. I really need to talk to Lyn in a rap and get some shit out of the way." She said "You can do that in the next rap. You're going skiing."

Yeah, I know. I was ready to turn down a skiing trip, because I felt so shitty and was so programmed. Crazy.

[Psianide]

How long were people kept from communicating with family other than parents? How long without home visits?

AuntieEm

The way it worked when I was at RMA, you couldn't communicate with other family members until you went through the brother's keeper propheet. But my memory may be wrong about that.

The brothers keeper is still one of the propheets they have there, but I don't know when it is, because their curriculum is accelerated to about 17 months, isn't it? We had ours at around our third month in the quest family, so that would be nine months into the program.

In addition, this doesn't mean that the kid could just call any family member they wanted to. That family member had to be approved by staff first.

Thats how it was at NWA when I went.

[dishdutyfugitive]

Castle

True about the skiing. I overgeneralized but there were a few cases that matched my description.

Also a student that was an avid skiier would have done voluntary work details or dishes to be able to go once every 2 weeks during the ski season. Instead they had to look good in raps, lobby themselves to their family heads and often get a very poor return on their investment. The manner in which the ski trip lists were put together, were, in my opinion one of the most bizaaro manifestations of RMA insanity. I remember times where I was 'doing well', being praised by my family head, told I would likely be going soon... 6 weeks would go by and I didn't get to go. Then out of nowhere when I was 'struggling' I suddenly got 2 back to back trips. Fuck those dipshits like Caroline sitting in the office making the ski lists based on her warped, psychotic, kool aid saturated brain cell.

[Anonymous]

Have you all seen this on the BCA web site?

BCA students have ventured to:


Belize -- Marine Life and Ancient Ruins
Stone Hill, MT -- Rock Climbing
Washington D.C. -- "Presidential Classroom"
Alaska -- Exploring the Interior
San Juan Islands -- Sailing
Olympic Peninsula -- Flora & Fauna
Salmon River -- River Rafting
Mt. Rainer -- Hiking
Priest Lake -- Kayaking
Flat Head Indian Reservation -- Cultural Experience
Montana Dinosaur Dig -- Archeology
Idaho Backcountry Ski -- "Cat Ski/Snowboard"
Glacier National Park -- Hiking
Selkirk & Cabinet Mountains -- Backcountry Skiing/Hiking/"Brother's Quest"
Chimney Rock -- Alpine Rock Climbing

Did any of you go on any trips like this? I haven't read any posts that suggest this was offered.

AuntieEm

All of those were offered prior to me arriving at BCA in 2000, with the exception of the San Juan sailing and Mt. Rainier trips, both of which were introduced in 2001.

If there is any injustice involved it is that they love to pull students off of those trips right before they take place for whatever bullshit infraction of agreements without refunding the $350 - $4,000 your parents have already paid.

[try another castle]

without refunding the $350 - $4,000 your parents have already paid.

Don't forget the $20 charge every christmas for secret santa, whether your santa gets you something or not. (I think I only got a present the first year.)

Yes, I shit you not, there was, indeed, a secret santa clause.

[blownawaytheidahoway]

a secret santa clause.



nice.

[AuntieEm]

Thanks, I wondered if all these trips were just hype.

Considering such trips exists, what gets me is that a student could go to Belize or Washington, DC, but not be allowed to visit home. (Why do these things still surprise me?)

AuntieEm

[Covergaard]

It is the last of the so-called Lifesteps (It is called La Mancha by Aspen).

I think that it is a mix of probation and wilderness therapy. Many of the facilities used Costa Rica, but this country have been investigating US programs since the closure of Dundee Ranch, so Mouth Baclelor (now owned by Aspen, but they worked with CEDU in the beginning) are now using the former communist countries in Eastern Europe instead. Those countries are worn down. Here are some picture taken march 2007 from Poland and Romania.

Eastern Europe are only used by youth from my country (Denmark), when they are on Binge Drink Holiday in Bulgaria (Yes, such a concept exist in Europe for teenager aged 17 and above), because everything is destroyed overthere from 40 years of communist rule. There is nothing to see, but we are watching their acititives because rumors tell that a La Verkin firm are talking about establishing themselves in Spain and Aspen already are present in UK with a fat camp.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I wondered if all these trips were just hype.

Considering such trips exists, what gets me is that a student could go to Belize or Washington, DC, but not be allowed to visit home. (Why do these things still surprise me?)

AuntieEm

It was pretty rare that a student got to go on a trip like Belize or Presidential Classroom before they had a home visit, and if they did it was because the staff had locked in on them as an easy mind to manipulate. You had to buy into the program hard or at least fake it well to get on those big-ticket trips if you weren't at least in the challenge phase, and if you were in the challenge phase you were probably going to get a home visit soon or had already had one (the 3rd phase of 5 for those unfamiliar). I had already gone home before I went on the CAT Ski trip or Presidential Classroom (well, I didn't actually go on presidential classroom, but I was selected for it...they booted me because they found out a few days before that I was going to split on the last day...thanks a lot Jason Kaplan you little bitch, snitching on your own best friend you brainwashed fuck).

For the record, I was a good faker, no "kool-aid" drinking here....after the presidential classroom fiasco I was never asked to go on another trip...