Program Structure

Intake: Pollywogs

When they detainees have been processed they are taken to an area where they join a group called Pollywogs. While they are a part of this group, they have to learn 14 safety rules so good that they can recite them verbatim. They are out in the wilderness but not allowed to hike. The main tool is isolation and the urge in among to detainees to move forward in the program, so they can be released.

The program consist of 8 phases the detainees has to complete before being able to see their family again. During the entire stay the only means of communication is by letter.

Some of the phases are called: Coyote, Buffalo and Eagle

Punishment

When a child is not willing to hike, they use pressure points at the last resort. It is called Positive Control System. See video [3].

Criticism

In the rare cases where the program has been evaluated when the parents have tried to get the authorities to pay for their off-spring's stay at RCA, it have not been possible to prove that the program have worked. [7]

In the News

The first season of Brat Camp was filmed at Redcliff Ascent [4]. The program was heavily modified to accommodate the viewer. Redcliff declined to take part in the next seasons, because they could not be as tough as they needed. From the article in Guardian: "The teenagers have the appearance of grizzled explorers: all have severely chapped lips, their faces are sunburned to the point of rawness, layers of skin flaking and peeling away. Their camp-issue clothes are dirty and ripped. And there is the fetid smell of unwashed humanity." [5]

In 1999 a group of boys assaulted the staff members. All eight was later caught. Some ended up in juvenile jail, which were a improvement of their situation [1] [2].

The program is also used to put the teenagers through such a hard torment, that even being rape can seen being bearable compare to the program [6].