Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => The Troubled Teen Industry => Topic started by: juliek on December 13, 2005, 05:26:00 AM
-
Is there anyone else out there who was sent to and survived Pathfinders Inc., in New Mexico? It was owned and operated by a man named Mike Parr. If you were there, sent your child to it, or have information about it, please let me know. There are several people who are joining together to file a civil suit against Mike Parr and his program (which has been shut down, while operating in Utah; they were busted for not having a business license). Even if you are not interested in joining the civil suit, I would be interested to hear from you. I have some personal questions about my experience there that have been nagging me for 13 years, and I would like to discuss them with someone, to see if their experience was similar.
Thank you!
-
I remember Mike Parr. He used to be a hired goon that parents were told to use to take kids to RMA. All of the "Parr babies" at school despised him. I had no idea he had started his own school.
-
That's so sick, that's its almost funny. He told my parents that he had been a therapist at RMA, and that he had been fired because they dissaproved of his psychological theories!!! What a bastard. The man who started Pathfinders with him was named Brad... he also claimed that he had been a therapist at RMA. Do you remember him, or hearing about him? He was a really tall, creepy looking guy.
-
On 2005-12-13 03:33:00, juliek wrote:
"That's so sick, that's its almost funny. He told my parents that he had been a therapist at RMA, and that he had been fired because they dissaproved of his psychological theories!!! What a bastard. The man who started Pathfinders with him was named Brad... he also claimed that he had been a therapist at RMA. Do you remember him, or hearing about him? He was a really tall, creepy looking guy."
What was his last name? I knew a Brad Throssel, but that was the only Brad I knew, and that was before RMA had "therapists". He was simply a staff member, like everyone else. When a friend of mine and I played the "who was a pedophile at RMA?" game years later, his name definitely came up. he was married and had kids, and his daughter had a black lab dog named "She she".
He was tall, though. Did he say when he was there? I was there in the late 80s.
Mike Parr was never a therapist there, as far as I knew. Unless he became one after I left. He certainly was even less therapist material than any of the staff already there. He was the quintessential goon, and looked like a retarded Baby Huey.
-
I don't remember his last name, and it's been driving me crazy. I don't think that it is the Brad that you are describing, because the Brad at Pathfinders had two sons, but no daughters. Without a doubt, though, I can guarantee he was a pedophile (personal experience... I was 13 when I had the joy of meeting him and Mike). In regard to him claiming to be a "therapist" at RMA, I'm sure it was a lie, as it was with Mike. Mike Parr fed my parents such a line of bullshit, and even threatend my father with blackmail/extortion. A girl that was at Pathfinders with me, her father was a State Senator, and Mike Parr tried to blackmail him, too. I was sent to Pathfinders in 1991, and it hadn't been around very long. It was shut down in July, 1996, in Colorado (I made a mistake with my original post, it wasn't Utah). His theory on "therapy" technique was extremely disturbing, and I'm interested in discussing it with someone else who knew him, and Brad. At RMA, though, you say he wasn't involved with the therapy?
-
not while I was there. It could have happened after I left, though.
-
I think he had a son, too. I feel sorry for that kid.
-
let's get in contact juliek. i think i was there the same time you were. -erin from texas. [ This Message was edited by: erinmsadler on 2006-01-04 16:30 ]
-
Hi Erin, welcome. Use the Search WWF function on the left hand side of the page. It may help you. :smile:
-
Parr did have a son who he brought into the pathfinder business. I remember meeting him once. The other counselors when I was there was Hayes, Mariam, Willie, etc.
They closed a few weeks after I graduated in Colorado....due to a girl named Jennifer and what she told the media. The media got involved once pathfinders had to take a student to the hospital because of an infection in the finger which was eventually amputated. The last I heard was that he fled for Peru. Who knows. I would love to talk to anyone from pathfinder. Please email me at [email protected]
-
Hey, I was in New Mexico with pathfinders in '91. I randomly thought about it tonight and am looking for more info on what has happened to it. Mike Parr is an asshole.
-
Hey there,
I am anxiously awaiting a contact from someone that also had experiences at Pathfinders and Mike Parr. Please email [email protected]
-
I was sent on Pathfinders when I was 14 back in 1989. I was kickedd out of the Cascade School and dragged into the wilderness kicking and screaming. I admit that the first few weeks on Pathfinders seemed like a living hell.
But I can share with you that this was by far and away the most significant, wonderful life changing experiece.
I was a shit head little kid who thought I had life figured out. To the day... I remember being on Pathfinders, hiking on a ridge high above the snake river in Hells Canyon, Oregon. I remember just looking around, being in awe of what was before my eyes... mountains....river.. nature... At that moment all my silly teenage problems seemed so insignificant. To have the privelge of such a spiritual experience was humbling.. and a miracle at age 14!
Pathfinders changed my life. I went back to work there when I was in college because I felt so strongly about what it had done for me. I wanted to give this gift to others.
I was there in the Flat Tops Wilderness when everything went down. I spent the rest of that summer hiking 440 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail.
I must admit, the Pathfinders I knew when I was a kid is SO different from what it became at the end. Mike and Jan Parr are kind, wonderful people and sadly the program really strayed from its roots.
Willy, was the lead counselor, when I came to work out there. In my humble opinion he is the one who destroyed the organization. Willy was sadistic and cruel to the kids. Perhaps Mike is to blame for not noticing what was going on in the field.
Personally I only have good things to say about what the program did for me. To this day I find my peace and strength in the wilderness. I owe this to Pathfinders.
Ariel Fox
-
Willie was a horrible, mean man and i had nightmares about him for years. I went to Pathfinders in Dec 95-march 96...I remember Amanda as a counselor and Sarah...and Terri??? Hayes and Brad, of course..and Miriam (who i spoke with a few years ago). It was so long ago but i will never ever forget that place. Im sure i would have straightened my act out without that place. what a nightmare. there were maybe a few good things that i learned there...but i dont know if i really needed that drastic of an experience.
brooke
-
I'm not sure if anyone is still checking this forum, but it is the only site that remotely resembles what I'm looking for. I went to Pathfinders. We'll leave it at that, but I'm actually looking for someone. If anyone from the summer of 96' (when all the shit hit the fan) reads this, look me up on Myspace because I would like to get in touch with you. I have no malicious intentions, just want to see what's up. I'm the one who hit the fan.
-
tell it all brother, tell it all.
it's eleven years ago,
-
i knew mike parr also
-
I went in the summer of 1993.
Did everyone else who went there have to graphically describe sexual abuse? And some BS theory about girls losing their 'face' and boys losing their 'balls'.
I remember Mike Parr. He actually came with us and hiked for a few days because he said I was intersting. I actually had several conversations with him.
if anyone wants to contact me feel free
[email protected]
-
I went in the summer of 1993.
Did everyone else who went there have to graphically describe sexual abuse? And some BS theory about girls losing their 'face' and boys losing their 'balls'.
I remember Mike Parr. He actually came with us and hiked for a few days because he said I was intersting. I actually had several conversations with him.
if anyone wants to contact me feel free
[email protected]
Forced confession is a common trait among these cults.
-
Yeah and forcing kids to describe in graphic detail sexual abuse is also something I've seen described in a few programs, sick if you ask me.
-
Hi, PF96...
You say to look you up on MySpace, but I don't know what to look up... I was in Pathfinder's when we were pulled out and quarantined in the Meeker High School. I was supposed to graduate from the program the following day, but the Colorado State Troopers on horse back ruined that moment. I remember it like yesterday... and I remember everyone's story... I have a little trouble with names, however.
I am also interested in hearing from others that were in the program...
E-mail me at soulsheeka (at) hotmail (dot) com.
-
I rmember being in Pathfinders in the summer of 93 in the Jornada del Muerto and then when we found some rattle snakes we moved to the mountains in the Black Range. I hated that place so much. What the fuk was the sexual perversion of a lot of the counselors. I've never really figured that out. People were making up crazy shit about family and relatives. I think I rember Charleen. Weren't you up in Toas with Armen and Bob and I. Every once in a while I'll think about that weird ass place. Alot of the counselors should have done some time I think. Especially Will. Some were cool, but they didn't stop the sex shit, so sorry no respect. I hate rice still.
J. P.
Reno, Nevada
-
I rmember being in Pathfinders in the summer of 93 in the Jornada del Muerto and then when we found some rattle snakes we moved to the mountains in the Black Range. I hated that place so much. What the fuk was the sexual perversion of a lot of the counselors. I've never really figured that out. People were making up crazy shit about family and relatives. I think I rember Charleen. Weren't you up in Toas with Armen and Bob and I. Every once in a while I'll think about that weird ass place. Alot of the counselors should have done some time I think. Especially Will. Some were cool, but they didn't stop the sex shit, so sorry no respect. I hate rice still.
J. P.
Reno, Nevada
-
What we got about Pathfinders. (http://http://www.fornits.com/wiki/index.php/Pathfinders_Wilderness_Program)
More info would be welcomed
-
After receiving an email today from someone from Pathfinders...after all these years....i decided to make a pathfinders grads group on myspace. I know its so long ago...but maybe some of us can find others that we havent spoken to in ages. I have posted a few pics that i had as well...i have a ton from there taht they sent to my parents. MAybe some of you have pics as well...if u havent burned them. :)
Check it out on myspace!
heres the link
http://groups.myspace.com/pathfindersteens (http://groups.myspace.com/pathfindersteens)
Brooke
-
Wow, wierd S#!t, I haven't thought about Pathfinders in a while, you guys really took me back. I was in the black range in spring 1993 (pretty sure, its been a while). Tons of us went to Wolfboro NH that summer for summer school, I forget most of the names, but if Thomas from Ridgewood? NJ, or Logan from Gardnerville NV (orbit, dude you still have my OP.IVY CD, fucker) see this, get in touch with me. [email protected] (be sure to mention pathfinders in the title so I don't trash the e-mail). Anyway, if any of you muckluck wearin' bean eaters wanna say what up, feel free. Hope you guys are doing well.
Hey what were the names of the councilors anway? Dave was the shorter dark haired guy. Then there was a taller, long dark-haired skinney guy who was a cocksucker to everybody but the girls. There was a younger light brown haired guy who was pretty cool (wore Reichle Igers). There was the brown haired rock-climber guy who had the wrist tattoo (he had graduated pathfinders himself a few years earlier). Oh and the early messages were talking about Brad's last name, it was throssell or strossell, who ever wrote that was right. Everybody is talking about "will" is he one of the dude's that was there with me? And, what are you guys suing for? They did force the kids to talk about some crazy shit (and make up a heap of B.S. in most cases), but the stuff I've read about abuse didn't happen when I was there. Just that one long-haired asshole with a thing for stinky teenage girls, but I don't remember his name being "will" maybe Im wrong.
-
I remember Mike Parr. He used to be a hired goon that parents were told to use to take kids to RMA. All of the "Parr babies" at school despised him. I had no idea he had started his own school.
Did he kidnap kids for CEDU Running springs, as well? That name sounds familiar. I think he might have been one of the people that kidnapped my brother.
A man and a woman came for him in the middle of the night…
How would I go about finding out who abducted my brother?
Does anyone know?
-
I went to Pathfinders during the holidays nov-jan 1990. Mike Parr brought me there and spent a night out there trying to convince me that my dad molested me.
Brad and a woman named Marie were there...bowdrills, my stupide spoon, too much rice ...my night with Mike Parr was really bad, also pushed me against a rock.
Good times.
-
Did he kidnap kids for CEDU Running springs, as well?
I don't know for sure but seeing that he was flying all over the country to bring kids to Idaho there's no reason he wouldn't transport to LA.
A man and a woman came for him in the middle of the night…
Richard armstrong and Twila?
How would I go about finding out who abducted my brother?
Contact your local Shaman. Records wise - CEDU never existed. It's been completely whitewashed by corporate acquisition, bankruptcy, lawsuits and degenerate staff values. (If any of the staff had any character they'd make an effort to right their wrongs). There is only a 1 in a million chance that an individual or two kept any paper files or a digital copy. In fact I'd imagine the respective shredding machines for both the Wasserman clan and Brown school corporation were working double overtime as soon as brown schools got handed the keys to the koolaid mobile.
-
i was the last kid to graduate from pathfinders-a few weeks after the colorado fiasco july of 1996. would luv to hear from anyone who was there. apr 96-july96 or anyone who wants to talk about the experience from their own time there my email is [email protected]
-
alexis?
-
First of all - to Julie and Erin!!!!!!!!! OMG!!! HEEEY!! Wasnt Brad the one that picked me up in NC and while we were at the airport I got a lady to meet me in the bathroom and I told her that I was being kidnapped and got Airport Security to arrest him. We missed our flight and were delayed about 6 hours while airport security tried to straighten it out. He was never taken out of handcuffs the whole time! But, my dad was forced to come back and explain the whole thing to me - and got a rather good tongue lashing from the Airport Captin that he should have never let someone "kidnap" me. Was it Brad...or maybe Evan - I think Evan is right - tall, lanky guy?? Oh, I cant remember. Anyway - wow. That was something, huh?! Mike basically raped me in front of everyone. No - he didnt take my clothes off, but he threw me on the ground and got on top of me grinding his hardon into my pelvis telling me to say it - meaning he wanted me to say that I had been molested. Great times. :guesswho: anyway - we were in the Black Range and the best thing that came out of it was that I left in great shape! I did learn how to make fire - after spending two whole weeks not being allowed to sit by the fire while we ate. There was Chris and Tomas...oh what was the little guys name?? And the super angry dude - Aaron maybe? He used to beat the crap outta trees with big sticks. Well, anyone else who went to Pathfinder during June - August of 1991 - feel free to email me at [email protected]
-
Oh and lest I forget -
RICE IS REALITY!!!
-
I have no idea if this thread is still active- but if anyone is reading it- I was there, too. As a staff member. It was pretty traumatic, I sucked at being a Pathfinders staff person, but every time I tried to quit (at least 3 times in the 6 months I worked there) Mike would give me a raise and tell me I was trying to run away "back to the ivy league". Ha. Which is what I did any way when it all went down- dealt with the guilt,( sorry kids- the wilderness is a great place but I was ill equipped to be trying to help you beyond my EMT skills- I was 24), and then got a phD & became a university professor. If any one wants to ask anything, feel free. [email protected]
-
Datasheet updated (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Pathfinders_Wilderness_Program). Added survivor groups and new articles.
-
Miriam,
I remember you as being very kind, more so than the other staff members. I was there from April - July 96. I still have a picture of our group standing in a grassy field in Colorado. I think of my experience there in a positive way overall, however, Mike Parr definately had some interesting concepts when it comes to "therapy". My last memory of you is discussing our favourite episodes of Degrassi Junior High as we were being escorted by the sheriffs to the busses that took us to quarantine. I don't think I've ever been so happy to take a shower.
Mike
-
Im glad an ex-staff has validated the whole premise that EMT skills are NOT all that you need when doing wilderness. I hate the fact that so many of these schools list only that as qualifications for being wilderness staff. For example, I find it doubtful that EMT training covers something like snakebite, (especially since treatment is contingent on the type of snake), or tracking, or dealing with different kinds of parasitic infections, or bear maulings.. etc.
well, maybe bear maulings.
-
Mike Parr was an *sshole. And so was all of the adults in my life @ the time they paid pathfinders to get rid of me. It seem funny to me, now looking back. Summer of 93 in the black range. I was in school with decent grades holding a job. A sober teen with no drug or alcohol habit. And I was the one with the rug yanked out from under me. With 4 fathers and 3 mothers by adoption , marriage and divorce. Not one could be trusted.
Needles to say I have moved on now. With a successful business I started and a Family that loves and cares about me. Pathfinders was a horrible experience in my life, I could never do that to my son….I am happy to hear that pathfinders is no more. Mike Parr should do some time in prison, in my opinion. Hey what goes around comes around.
I can be e-mailed @ [email protected]
Daniel Jesse Katz
-
Yet another one who falls into the adopted/divorced/remarried parents category.
Glad Im not the only one.
-
My name is Grant Handzlik I did pathfinders, spring creek, and cascade school.
Musta been like 1991 or so now. I remenber Brad and Mike very well.
Long time but I remember it all clearly. Lets get back together.
[email protected]
-
Im glad an ex-staff has validated the whole premise that EMT skills are NOT all that you need when doing wilderness. I hate the fact that so many of these schools list only that as qualifications for being wilderness staff. For example, I find it doubtful that EMT training covers something like snakebite, (especially since treatment is contingent on the type of snake), or tracking, or dealing with different kinds of parasitic infections, or bear maulings.. etc.
well, maybe bear maulings.
I was trained as an EMT in university. EMT training is not designed to give a person the skills to treat injuries. An EMT is trained to keep a person alive long enough for them to get to treatment. Wilderness EMT training is designed for giving you the skills to keep someone alive when in a wilderness setting that is far from medical assistance. For wilderness staff its a good training to have, providing, they also have a satellite phone that is charged and ready to call for a medical evacuation of some sorts.
However, WEMT doesn't prepare you in anyway to be a giver of therapy. It doesn't prepare you for leading expeditions. It absolutely does not prepare you for dealing with "troubled" youth. I use the quotation marks sarcastically to emphasize my disdain with the number of labels being hung on kids these days.
-
I am AMAZED to find this forum and I will tell you why:
In a nutshell: I attended Pathfinders in Albuquerque, New Mexico from about March 31st to April 9th 1995.
I ran away from the program (the black range mountains?) with one other person, named JASON, and he mentioned that he lived in San Diego, California. Apparently, I was supposed to be there from 6 months to whenever they decided that it was time to return. We made it back to Big Springs Ranch after a couple of days. I believe that the program was shut down afterwords, due to liability problems.
First, I would like to make sure that this board is still active. It was a CRAZY story that I would love to go more in-depth. My main quest, as I am sure you have guessed, is to find JASON. It was a hell of a trust and bond that I have not experienced many other people, if anyone really.
That’s how I ended up here and I will definitely check back often in my efforts to find him. PLEASE POST
CRAZY
:rocker:
-
I am AMAZED to find this forum and I will tell you why:
In a nutshell: I attended Pathfinders in Albuquerque, New Mexico from about March 31st to April 9th 1995.
I ran away from the program (the black range mountains?) with one other person, named JASON, and he mentioned that he lived in San Diego, California. Apparently, I was supposed to be there from 6 months to whenever they decided that it was time to return. We made it back to Big Springs Ranch after a couple of days. I believe that the program was shut down afterwords, due to liability problems.
First, I would like to make sure that this board is still active. It was a CRAZY story that I would love to go more in-depth. My main quest, as I am sure you have guessed, is to find JASON. It was a hell of a trust and bond that I have not experienced many other people, if anyone really.
That’s how I ended up here and I will definitely check back often in my efforts to find him. PLEASE POST
CRAZY
:rocker:
Well, I hope you'll tell your story anyway. Perhaps it might enable Jason to find you. Ya never know...
-
Here's a blast from the past, from back when Mike Parr was just two years removed from his Probation Officer days.
This article was originally published in The Los Angeles Times on September 23, 1982, with the title of "The Pursuer: Runaways Are His Business (http://http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/670009892.html?dids=670009892:670009892&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+23%2C+1982&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=The+Pursuer%3A+Runaways+Are+His+Business&pqatl=google);" and also on September 27, 1982, in The Anchorage Daily News with the title of "He rescues runaways by keeping them away from home (http://http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FNMhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dJ8FAAAAIBAJ&dq=mike-parr&pg=4245%2C5791964)." Copied below is the version from The Toledo Blade, published 'bout 2 weeks later still.
The two paragraphs in brackets were added in from the Anchorage Daily News version (there were a couple of other paragraphs missing from that one). I presume the original version is the most complete, but that is in a pay-per-view archive.
-------------- • -------------- • --------------
The Toledo Blade
October 8, 1982
Runaways Given New Start Away From Home (http://http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=13gUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sgIEAAAAIBAJ&dq=mike-parr&pg=3464%2C3480297)
Parents Hire Ex-Probation Officer To Deal With Chronic Offenders
By ANN JAPENGA
The Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — It was his 17th birthday. Tony was enjoying a rare restaurant meal and a reunion with his mother, who he had not seen much of since he ran away from home a year ago. His mother, however, had something in mind besides a birthday get-together.
Tony was halfway through his meal when a tall stranger slid into the booth next to him. He said his name was Mike Parr. He said that Tony was going on a ride.
Tony (not his real name) motioned the waiter over and asked him to call the police. "I'm being kidnaped," he said.
Officers arrived shortly thereafter and Mr. Parr explained himself. He said that he was a former probation officer now in business privately. He had been hired by Tony's parents to rescue their son, a chronic runaway. He tried to convince the officers it would be best if they would let him do his job and take Tony to a ranch in Redding, Calif., which boards and educates problem adolescents.
"The way it stands now, the kid is cooked," he said. "He has no future here."
With the police on his parents' side, Tony realized he was trapped. He climbed into the back seat of Mr. Parr's Saab for an all-night drive.
With hordes of runaways each year, parents resort to police and psychiatrists to keep their children home, often spending thousands of dollars in the process.
(Mr. Parr had one client who said he had spent $125,000 trying to cure a wayward youth. "They hadn't done one thing right," Mr. Parr said. "Parents always make emotional decisions at a time when you can't do that.")
AT ONE TIME parents may have gotten results from county probation departments, but cutbacks in the last five years have meant that cases get less individual attention and are often referred to private agencies, Mr. Parr said.
In 1977, California legislation passed saying that runaways no longer can be institutionalized if they have not committed a crime. So when a runaway is reported to the probation department, he is listed as missing, and it is up to local law-enforcement agents to spot the child. If found, he may be placed in a temporary shelter. Spokesmen for Southern California county probation departments in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles said their main goal is to reunite the family.
Mr. Parr does not work that way.
"My objective is to get them as far away from home as possible," he said. "It's always the parents' problem. It may look at first like I'm blaming the kid, but I'm not."
Although a father of three, Mr. Parr has not much faith in parenting instincts. "Adults don't like kids much," he advised Tony, once they were alone in the car together. "You get in their way, they're gonna get rid of you."
Two years ago Mr. Parr left the Santa Barbara County probation department and got a call which would be the start of a new career. The caller, an attorney, said that he had a juvenile client who had been arrested for selling cocaine to an undercover officer. His parents were looking for a way to keep him out of juvenile hall.
First, Mr. Parr placed the boy in a drug rehabilitation program. Next he fulfilled the boy's lifelong dream of learning to fly by enrolling him in an aviation school, where the boy is to this day.
SANTA BARBARA chief probation officer Alan Crogan said that it is becoming common due to cutbacks in the department for retired probation officers complete probation reports on a private basis — although he said that he had not heard of anyone else offering Mr. Parr's complete service of locating and rehabilitating runaways.
Mr. Parr charges $500 and up. Tony's parents paid $1,000 to have their son escorted to a new home.
Included in the fee is an ongoing followup. Mr. Parr said that he strictly avoids counseling or therapy — he just tells the parents and child what will work.
"The ones that fail are the ones whose parents come to take them home," he said. "Sometimes the parents just can't stand to see the kid change for the better."
There is no job title for what Mr. Parr does, and no way for parents to find him, except by word of mouth. In this manner Mr. Parr's reputation has spread throughout affluent suburbs around the country. In a typical case he might be asked to track down a runaway on the streets of Hollywood, or pick up a punk in a Chicago nightclub. He finds a school or a home for the child and persuades the youth to go there. A favorite way of persuasion is to visit kids at dawn. Before the child is fully awake, he is on his way.
[In the two years he has been in the business, Parr said, he had placed teen-agers in small boarding schools, ranch homes, sports-oriented schools and "emancipation homes" (for young people who are capable of living independently). He has also located specialized training courses and placed kids in the Marine Corps.
"This is a business, man," he told Tony as they drove over at dusk. "I'm not trying to jam you. Parents are big showoffs. Having a good kid is like having a good car. I want your parents out there bragging me up to their friends so their friends will call me."]
MR. PARR advises runaways to try to curb their wanderlust until they are 18 and to take advantage of their parents' money while it's offered. "I say, 'Your parents' lives are set, but you can do wonderful things'."
Tony listened to the advice from the back seat, dozed awhile, and woke up plotting how he would escape from his new home.
"You come back, I'll catch you again, and you'll go to Provo," Mr. Parr warned. (Provo Canyon School in Utah has a reputation as one of the toughest juvenile facilities in the country.)
Once Mr. Parr locates the runaway, it is a battle of wills to get him to go along. He never uses force. It is not legal for him physically to detain a child.
In Tony's case, Mr. Parr talked to him until the boy understood there was really nowhere to go but into the waiting car. If he ran, his parents would commit him to a psychiatric hospital or a prisonlike school.
"Usually there's a little whimpering," Mr. Parr said. "Then they listen to the deal."
Driving on an Interstate at 2 a.m., Mr. Parr played a cassette tape of the University of Michigan marching band at high volume to keep himself awake. Tony slept through the commotion.
At 4 a.m. he pulled off an Interstate onto a country road and drove past miles of fenced fields and pear orchards. He turned into a dark driveway. A dog barked, and a man came to the door wearing a bathrobe and carrying a Coleman lantern.
Tony went right to bed. Mr. Parr sat around the kitchen table and talked with the house proprietor by lamplight. His manner had been matter-of-fact when talking with Tony about his future, but a real concern came out in his voice now. He pleaded with the proprietor not to let the boy's parents back into his life. Let him start over again living here, he said.
After less than a week on the ranch, however, Tony ran away. This time Mr. Parr will be back on his trail with the plan of sending him somewhere too far away to run home.
# # #
-
Someone from my group contacted me yesterday and I guess it re-sparked my interest in connecting with people from Pathfinders. This is Alexis, a.k.a. the girl who got the infection and lost her finger. I would really like to connect with anyone who was with me that Summer. I only remember a few first names. I have no idea if anybody checks this forum anymore, but if someone happens to, hit me up. [email protected]
-
Do you remember what year you were there? That might help people find you.
Welcome to Fornits!
Hedge
-
When it closed in 1996.
-
Ok, I know that I'm late but here is my story about running away: The day before Easter, 1995, they drove my into the mountains. I remember putting the visor down because the sun was in my face. When we stopped it was night time and I was with Willy. He was being really friendly. When we stopped he told me to take off all my cloth and put on Army fatigues. After hiking a few miles, I told him that I didn't want to do this and he replied "let's get to camp and we'll call your parents, cause we don't want people like you here". When we got there another guy threw me to the ground and was yelling in my face.
First, I tried faking a broken arm. Then I invited someone to run away and they ratted me out. Finally, I invited a new kid Jason and he agreed. We put on as many layers as possible and pocketed as much food as possible. Then, when the sun was setting and we were loose to collect firewood we took off. We ran and ran and ran. That ngiht was sooo cold and we slept as close to eack other to conserve heat as possible. The next day we started moving towards the sun in the morning and away from it in the afternoon. We drank filtered water with our shirts. On the second day we saw the Pathfinders SUV and were going to hotwire it, but didn't, we kept hiking. Finally, we cam out of the mountain and saw a search plan. Then we got to Big Spring Ranch and he made a call and so did I, to out family. 30 min later Mike, Willy, and 3 other can in and threw us to the floor, and then the SUV.
They took us to Subway and sad " you guys must be starving". They got food for all of then and ate it infront of us, but none for us. Then they took us to the airport and send us home. They said that they could not be liable for us anymore. After 2 weeks, we won!
Sorry for grammer, I wanted to tell it but now I'm in a rush. I could make a movie over my experience really.
contact me at Steplogic1 on AIM
-
hi there, i did pathfinders from nov. 95 - jan 96. i was in the black range and the jornada. staff i remember are sarah, willie, terry, jim, and brad. fellow programmers i remember are ben (still grateful to you), mindy?, and guilio.
i have big black spaces in my memory of pathfinders; i remember some pretty frightening encounters with willie, them forcibly cutting off my hair, the pain of hiking with a pinched nerve, ben's compassion, and the amazing vistas, mike parr's hideous spitting face and plumber's butt...and the horrible set-up of my "graduation."
i know they broke me but i can't remember how. the feelings are overwhelming and at times very confusing.
i am also looking for a later "grad" of pathfinders who became a dear friend of mine at cascade...claire van den brandhoff (platinum blonde from holland)...if anyone remembers her or knows how to get in touch, please let me know!
i welcome contact from any other "grads" at prianka dot nagpal at g mail.
also, what an awesome escape story! i felt to scared and helpless to even try, though i did fantasize about it!
-
I was there in 92 @ Black Range mountians, my parents told me how they found this great camp where you do tons of fun activites and attend school. I had already atteneded Challenger so I knew this wasnt going to be a fun place. 2 nights later I went to bed and woke up to find two strange men in my room, I was zip tied and put on a private plane to Albequre, NM. After being searched and given clothes to wear we drove to the mountians, meanwhile Mike was going on about how I needed to talk about the abuse and incest.....What abuse and incest?? I was there 11 weeks before walking off, I hid for a few hours before I gave up. Willie sure taught me that wasn't going to happen again, after another week I ended up running away. Mike called my parents and told them he knew all about them molesting me and if they didnt pay him he would expose them. Brad found me at a bus station and called Mike where he showed up with some other man, it wasnt a good day. My parents haven't spoken more than 20 words to me since then and are still in denial. They really think Pathfinders was a great program and that I told everyone there my parents abused me. Im guessing no one reads this anymore but on chance if anyone does contact me. I need to know if Im the only one who experianced some not so great moments there.
[email protected]