– Wilderness camp sexual assault lawsuit
– Boy’s death accusation against wilderness camp.
By Trend News Line 2024-02-12 23:42:37.
Former Student Sues North Carolina Wilderness Camp Over Alleged Sexual Assault and Neglect
A former student of Trails Carolina, a wilderness camp in North Carolina, has filed a lawsuit against the program, claiming that staff members ignored her reports of sexual assault by another camper and failed to provide her with basic necessities during her attendance in 2016.
The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, accuses Trails Carolina of creating an environment where troubled children sexually assault each other and failing to provide adequate medical care, food, and shelter for the children in its custody.
This legal action comes shortly after the tragic death of a 12-year-old boy who died the morning after arriving at the camp. Authorities have stated that the cause of death did not appear to be natural.
Trails Carolina’s owner, Wilderness Training & Consulting, and a public relations firm representing the camp have not yet responded to requests for comment.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff, identified as Gertie, attended Trails Carolina for three months at the age of 12. A week after her arrival, another student in her group sexually assaulted a fellow camper. Despite reports of the assault, staff members did not remove the alleged abuser from the group. Instead, they placed Gertie’s bed next to the assailant’s, leading to further incidents of sexual assault.
Gertie reported the assaults to staff members, including her therapist, but no action was taken, and she was told not to disclose the incidents to anyone else. The lawsuit also details other instances of neglect, such as the group being forced to drink water from a nearby stream through a dirty bandanna due to broken water filters, resulting in some students developing pinworms. Gertie also experienced medical issues, including symptoms of a urinary tract infection, but was not taken to a doctor.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and a jury trial, highlighting the emotional pain and post-traumatic stress disorder Gertie has endured as a result of her time at Trails Carolina.
Trails Carolina has faced controversy in the past. In 2014, a 17-year-old student died after leaving the camp and falling into a stream. A 2021 investigation revealed that the camp had waited five hours before calling for help to find the missing student. Despite being fined, Trails Carolina was allowed to continue operating.
In a similar lawsuit, a former student alleges that she was molested at age 14 by another student in her group, and staff members denied her request for separate housing. Trails Carolina has denied these allegations.
The Department of Health and Human Services has ordered Trails Carolina to cease new admissions and have at least one awake staff member while children are sleeping during their investigation into the recent death of the 12-year-old boy.
Gertie hopes that her lawsuit will raise awareness and provide justice for all those who have experienced trauma in similar programs..
Wilderness camp boy died accused ignoring sexual assault new lawsuit
Wilderness camp accused of ignoring sexual assault new lawsuit.