Brat Camp

Reality TV show

Brat Camp

Country of origin| United Kingdom
United States
Production
Running time| 60 mins. (inc. adverts)
Production company| Twenty Twenty Television
Original release
Network| Channel 4 (UK)
ABC/BBC K (U.S.)
Release| 13 July 2005 (2005-07-13) –
24 August 2007 (2007-08-24)

Brat Camp is a reality television show.

The first season, featuring RedCliff Ascent, won an International Emmy. Subsequent seasons saw declining viewership. The American version of Brat Camp was cancelled after its one-season run, but is being aired in Canada on Slice as of early 2007. The UK version was also aired in the United States in 2004 on ABC Family, and its popularity resulted in ABC ordering an American version.

On 24 August 2007, it was announced that the show had been cancelled.

## United Kingdom

[edit]

There have been five UK series.

The format is distributed internationally by DRG and has been adapted in several territories.

### Series 1

[edit]

In series one of Brat Camp, the teenagers are enrolled at RedCliff Ascent, a wilderness therapy program based in the town of Enterprise, Utah. Upon arrival, the team is blindfolded and then driven out to Escalante Desert[1] they spend weeks hiking up various mountains in this region.

UK Series 1: RedCliff Ascent - Wilderness therapy (four episodes)  Name  | From  | Published problem

|
|

James Fonfé  | Marlow | Drug issues
Fran  | Somerset | Anger issue
Rachel Greenberg  | Leyton | Alcohol issue
Charlie Mason  | Putney | Anger issue
Tom Philips  | Kidderminster | Drug issue
Dan Leary  | Surrey | Drug issue caused by depression

RedCliff Ascent was asked to be featured in a second round of Brat Camp, but declined when it became obvious that the next season would require tougher kids and increased drama. The first series won an International Emmy Award for best non-scripted program. RedCliff Ascent spokesman, Stephen Schultz, mentioned that "RedCliff Ascent is a treatment program, not a TV show".[2] James Fonfe' became quite a media icon after his return to the UK. While most students struggle a bit upon return home, a year later James was working with his mother teaching swimming and had been drug-free, as verified by urine tests administered by his mother. As James put it: "You do feel trapped. But it is worth it. I am glad I did it. I wouldn’t go back now, but I don’t have a problem any more – if I had a problem in the future, then I would go back."[3]

### Series 2

[edit]

UK Series 2: Turnabout Ranch \- Residential treatment center (5 episodes)  Name  | From  | Published problem

|
|

Alex Parkins  | Leicester | Alcohol issue, disrespectful, expelled from school and bullies her mother
Joe Sheldrick  | Surrey | Disobedience and disrespectful
Ed McAllister  | Banbury | Drug issue and stealing from family.
Jemma Henley | Oxford | Disobedience, shoplifter and expelled from 3 schools
Xanthe Laird  | Devon | Cannabis use, alcohol issue and disrespectful
Jenni Greevy  | Southampton | Anger issue, disobedience and disrespectful
Josh Melvin  | Finchley | Drug issue, disrespectful and drug fuelled anger issues

### Series 3

[edit]

UK Series 3: Aspen Achievement Academy \- Wilderness therapy (4 episodes)  Name  | Age  | From  | Published problem

|
|
|

Julia Krzyzanowska  | 16  | Dorset | Drug issues
Georgie Turnbull-Atkinson  | 16  | Crawley | Drug issues as well as run-ins with the law
Lydia Rowlands  | 16  | Southampton | Drug issue as a result of being victim of bullying
Lucy Tyson  | 15  | Lancaster | Anger issue, disrespectful and greedy
Danni Calardo-Thompson  | 15  | Leicester | Running away from home, alcohol and drug-issue
Rosie Raven  | 15  | East London | Truant, depressed as a result of being victim of bullying

The third series followed a girls-only group with the principal activity being a single-extended hike. This series aired from 8 February 2006 on Channel 4. In addition, Brat Camp Unseen, a half-hour show with additional footage, was aired on E4.

### Series 4

[edit]

The fourth series that followed a girls-only group, Family Brat Camp, aired from 4 October 2006, and brings along the parents of the four children to make them take responsibility for their kids' behaviour at the SUWS wilderness program in Idaho.

UK Series 4: Aspen Family Camp, Idaho \- Wilderness therapy  Name  | From  | Published problem

|
|

Benjamin Tait, parents Jennifer and Matthew  | Oxford | Drug issues, Expelled from school
Claire Sparrow, parents Dean and Sandy  | Essex | Expelled/suspended from 1 school
Amanda Kenny, parents Sandra and Bill  | Croydon | Drinking, stealing from parents
Rebecca Paramor, parents Mandi and Mark  | Hebden Bridge | Drug issue

Benjamin died of a drug overdose in 2009.[4]

### Series 5

[edit]

The fifth UK version aired October 2007. According to a statement on ANASAZI's homepage,[5] A special 21-day version of their normal 42-day program is being developed for television, after which Twenty Twenty Television will fund the remainder of the treatment if the parents and clinical staff consider it necessary.

UK Series 5: ANASAZI Foundation, Arizona \- Wilderness therapy  Name  | Published problem

|

Natasha Whitlock, mother Montana  | domestic problems caused by overindulgence [6]
Nicole Pear, mother Jackie  | foul-mouthing, anger management
Chloe Weeks, mother Helen  | drug and anger-issue
Laura Wardman, mother Del  | disobedience

## United States

[edit]

US Series: SageWalk, Oregon - Wilderness therapy  Name  | Age  | From  | Published problem

|
|
|

Frank Hewitt  | 16  | Sacramento, California | Anger issue
Lauren James  | 17  | California | Drug issue as a result of death in the family
Isaiah Alarcon  | 17  | California | Anger issue
Jada Chabot  | 15  | Boston, Massachusetts | Disobedience and dishonesty as a result of domestic violence.
Nick Thompson  | 14  | Seattle, Washington | Anger issue as a result of being bullied because of his learning disability (dyslexia). He attempted to stab his brother due to his jealousy.
Shawn Dreyfuss  | 17  | California | Started using cannabis after finding out that he was adopted. He then started stealing money from his mother.
Derek Ross  | 14  | Arkansas | ADHD and destructive; refuses to take medication
Lexie McNulty  | 17  | California | Depressed, hostile outcast as a result of being victim of molestation at the age of 12.
Heather Norton  | 17  | Virginia | Drug issue as a result of adoption and wanting to be closer to her birth mother. Her birth mother had drug issues too.

## Germany

[edit]

* The German version is called Teenager außer Kontrolle (engl. Teenagers out of control) . The show is being broadcast on RTL

### Series 1

[edit]

German Series 1: Turnabout Ranch \- Residential treatment center  Name  | Published problem[7]

|

Vanessa Schumacher  | Alcohol issue, too much partying
Simon Seidel  | Drug issue, stealing from parent
Marvin Kraus  | Gang problem, alcohol issue
Gina Ziegler  | Alcohol issue, alternative lifestyle issue (Punk SubCulture)
Gerrit Köhler  | Numerous accounts of malicious damage
Daniel Pfeiffer  | Truant, not been at school for a year

* Aspen Education Group revealed in a job ad that children from Holland would also be in a show.[8]

### Series 2

[edit]

German Series 2: Catherine Freer - Wilderness program  Name  | Age  | Published problem[9]

|
|

Andreas Engel  | 15  | Serial burglar
David Pfaff  | 17  | Drug issue
Dzeneta Beckenbauer  | 15  | Street fighter
Kevin Osterhagen  | 15  | Gang-member
Kurt Daecher  | 16  | Political issue (Neo-nazi)
Pascal Sankt  | 17  | Drug dealer
Stacy Gruenewald  | 17  | High School drop-out
Vivien Thalberg  | 16  | Runaway

### Series 3

[edit]

The production company searched for new candidates for a third season.[10] Filming did take place during the summer of 2008 at a wilderness program called Monarch Center in Colorado. It will be broadcast at RTL starting from 25 February 2009.[11]

German Series 3: Monarch Center Colorado - Wilderness program  Name  | Age  | Published problem[12]

|
|

Chrissi Trommler  | 15  | LifeStyle issue (Punk SubCulture)
Kevin Waechter  | 16  | Being charged with assault, truancy
Jennifer Unger  | 14  | Weak health by mother causing her to be too independent
Andreas Fuhrmann  | 16  | Compulsive gambler
Linda Kalb  | 16  | Street fighter
Moritz Mueller  | 17  | Given up by his parents. Faces trial.

## Netherlands

[edit]

The Netherlands version did after extended negotiations end up with a customized program, where the teenagers were sent to Kenya. It was called Van etter tot engel (English: From brat to angel) and was aired by RTL5 in the fall of 2006.[13] Keith Bakker was the teenagers' head coach.

Netherlands - Customized wilderness program in Kenya  Name  | Age  | Published problem.[14]

|
|

Alexander Jansens  | 15  | depressed
Demi Boogaard  | 15  | Anger Issue
Donny Houtkooper  | 15  | Anger Issue
Dormeshia Lucas  | 15  | Anger Issue
Laurens Krantz  | 17  | depressed
Maurice Claes  | 17  | Alcohol issue, Internet Addiction Disorder
Roni Marqueringh  | 17  | Drug issue, has been arrested by the police

## In the news

[edit]

The UK version of the show generated some criticism. An influential children's charity, Barnardo's, expressed concerns that the TV show sends a message to parents that a short period of "tough love" can resolve any problems.[15]

The show also received some criticism for an incident in which a young woman was forced to strip to their underwear and then made to have a cavity search, the initial stages of which were implied but not shown.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ "Sentenced to Nature". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
2. ^ "When the cameras are rolling" Addiction professional, January/February 2006 Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ From the wilderness to the right track Archived 24 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Channel 4 at 25 book
4. ^ "'Brat Camp' teenager killed by drug cocktail". 9 September 2009.
5. ^ Anasazi press release Archived 10 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
6. ^ I'm Brat from the brink, By Melanie Swan, People. Co.Uk, 21 October - 2007
7. ^ RTLII page about the program Archived 2 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, (In German)
8. ^ Job ad from Aspen Education Group
9. ^ Lebenshilfe mit RTL: Neue Staffel "Teenager außer Kontrolle" Archived 27 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, (In German)
10. ^ Add for families (In German), homepage of the production company
11. ^ RTL Zuschauerservice, RTL homepage (In German)
12. ^ Lebenshilfe mit RTL: Neue Staffel "Teenager außer Kontrolle", (In German)
13. ^ "Nederland version".
14. ^ Die Kandidaten, (In Dutch)
15. ^ Charity hits out at Brat Camp message (inthenews.co.uk) Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine

## External links

[edit]

* Brat Camp at Channel4.com
* A website dedicated to Brat Camps
* Production company programme entry
* RedCliff Ascent, UK series 1
* Turnabout ranch, UK series 2
* Aspen Achievement Academy, UK series 3
* SageWalk Wilderness School, US serie
* Aspen Family Camp, UK series 4, German serie, Dutch serie
* Anasazi Foundation, UK series 5
* Nederland version
* Brat Camp at IMDb

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