I refused to talk to the therapist who was a joke came out once a week for like 2 hours for 10 kids. Support Groups In 2005, the programs tuition was reportedly arond $7,100 per month. Aspen Ranch - OurTroubledTeen.com I saw girls with eating disorders and learned how to binge and purge. Once put into PCS submission you are held here by a minimum of 3 staff, youre pulse regularly checked to indicate your level of anger.You are normally on the ground (also known as Carpet Time for a norm of 45 miutes to an hour). I know it seems salty but the pics were just a service to parents, in helping them believe they just shipped their kid out to summer camp. Deputies later found the youths, but Garfield County Attorney Wallace Lee subsequently determined there was not enough information or evidence to charge the teens with any crime. The psychological abuse was never ending, if you were suspected of doing something wrong you would be forced to go into the basement and sit at a desk until you admitted what you were accused of. Aspen Ranch is situated in a valley on 160 acres of rolling hills with attractive dorms, a school area and a large in-door equine facility. Aspen Ranch was an Aspen Education Group behavior-modification program that opened in 1995. Because it was a wilderness program, Aspen Achievement Academy did not have a central campus but instead took the children on backpacking trips in the area surrounding, . He began working for Aspen in 1993 at Aspen Youth Alternatives and the Oakley School. The author of this book is someone I met personally. of its show at Aspen Achievement Academy. PCS includes a barrage or various pressure points and bent wrists, locked joints, and strained tendons. Be positive , and appreciate what we have today. Aspen Ranch - Loa, Utah In route she asked to speak with her mother and was told No. Aspen took money from my parents, promising they could do something positive. Takes appropriate care for gear, clothes, and other possessions. announced that the Aspen Ranch, along with four other Aspen programs, would be closing at the end of the current school year. State Legislation Reports Usually there was only 1 buffalo/eagle per group, reserved for the most senior kid who is responsible for the chores , setup/breakdown of camp and ensuring that there isnt a trace of us left behind. Aspen Ranch uses a physical restraint system called PCS (positive control system) which is actually FAR from positive. Founders and Notable Staff Be positive , and appreciate what we have. I know that there are many more programs that are probably more abusive than what I experienced here but that doesnt take away from the facts. worked as the Clinical Director of Aspen Ranch for five years. In April of 2007, a 16-year-old boy successfully committed suicide at Aspen Achievement Academy. Aspen owns many programs many of which have been shut down for teen deaths from dehydration, deadly restraints, and heat exaustion. Contact Info (435) 836-2080 Questions & Answers Q What is the phone number for Aspen Ranch? , he teen attempted to hang himself with a shoelace from a tree at the ranch. Tel: (435) 836-2080, 4358362080 Register to let other graduates of Aspen Ranch High School find and contact you. I refused to talk to the therapist who was a joke came out once a week for like 2 hours for 10 kids. After my two months without drugs, I had gained no weight whatsoever due to the lack of nourishing food. Based on the new inflicted self-image, this phase focus on transition them into the home settings. They use any method of getting you down, whether it be calmly asking you to cooperate with them or tackling you through a crowd of people onto concrete (which seems to be a staff favorite). Contact: Kevin Knutson Program Director 435-836-1103 High School Alumni in Loa, Utah (UT) - Class Finders During this period of time you are either silent in a basement, or outside doing manual labor (changing watering pipes, building fences etc). Her current employment is unknown. After leaving Aspen Ranch, he created a therapy clinic called Therapy on the Fly in 2009. Aspen Ranch, Loa, UT 84747 - amfibi.com I was fortunately able to maintain my footing, but may well have died if I had slipped; it was a long way down, and I certainly wouldnt have been able to lift myself back up from such a fall. According to, , Working in correctional settings led to employment with the Utah Department of Corrections where he designed and developed a residential substance abuse treatment program utilizing the Therapeutic Community Model at the Central Utah Correctional Facility. Never bathed got dime size of soap coffee can of water and washcloth once a week. I was never properly evaluated, they just kept giving me medications. Once you are PCSed (on top of everything) you have to goto R&R (redirection and recovery) more commonly known as the room where you where red sweat pants and sweatshirts even in the dead of the summer (in the Desert) to no avail. She felt abandoned, dissociated and developed false allegations. For example I myself was a bit ADHD according to staff, and the staff aparently thought that they were doing me a favor recommending that i be prescribed to ritalin (methylphindate), which actually led to a number of seizuresto bad they didnt bother to check to see if my family had a history of amphetamine related seizures. Anonymous (HEAL), 9/23/2005: (SURVIVOR) I wish I knew where to begin. Aspen Achievement Academy (1988-3/2011): 98 South Main Street, Loa, Utah 84747. 9/10/2019: (PARENT) They recommended and coordinated with two men picking up my daughter and bringing her to the Academy. I had NEVER done drugs, never smoked a cigarette, never been arrested, nor had I been in trouble at school. Service hours: examples of service include hauling hay, scooping horse manure out of barn and corrals, feeding pigs, filling in holes in the road), When a student forgets something, they must do an image breaker which consists of making yourself look like a fool for at least 30 seconds (for example: acting like you are pregnant, acting like a dog, pretending to be blind, role-playing a gay policeman, etc.). The Academy noted significant mental health issues and thought of hospitalizing her but did not. School & Program Visits, 10/2000 - Driving Cattle and Chasing Fear at During the programin the Utah desertthere was a massive snowstorm with high winds. Aspen Ranch Loa Utah - Facebook Aspen Ranch Institutes Equine Certification Program - StrugglingTeens This riot made the authorities reconsider AAAs license because other parties like tourists, hikers and vacationists frequent the public lands around Capitol Reef National Park and they worried that they could dbe help responsible if these parties were assaulted by runaway youths. And another time for having cookies that my mother sent me for Christmas. In order to advance through the levels, the residents had to complete packets and demonstrate certain behaviors. Gil Hallows was the Executive Director of Aspen Achievement Academy beginning in 1996. Bromley Brook School (2004-2011): 2595 Depot Street, Manchester Center, Vermont 05255. I was once punished in this reflection circle for having tampons in my room. So I ended up limping my way back. ASPEN RANCH is an Utah Dba filed on April 5, 2002. . One you graduate from mouse to coyote you get more privileges like a mount for your pack, talking, sit around the fire, eat warm food etc Some people graduated the program without progressing further but if you completed the list of tasks you could graduate from coyote to buffalo. Afraid of any other forms of punishment, I did. The family came and were an active part of the healing. Generally, the rules seemed to change on a whim, without any form of notification. Anonymous, submitted directly to Wiki, 11/6/2020: (SURVIVOR) I was misdiagnosed as depressed, bi-bolar, and schizophrenic at the age of 16 at Aspen Ranch. For more information on this phase, please follow the link. James Crown, a billionaire businessman who held several leadership roles including board member of JPMorgan Chase, died Sunday in a racing accident in Colorado. Aspen Ranch was a. member from 1999 until its closure in 2011. . Aspen Ranch School enrolls 69 middle and high school students from grades 8-12. In March of 2010, Aspen Education Group announced that the Aspen Ranch, along with four other Aspen programs, would be closing at the end of the current school year. Once put into PCS submission you are held here by a minimum of 3 staff, youre pulse regularly checked to indicate your level of anger.You are normally on the ground (also known as Carpet Time for a norm of 45 miutes to an hour). My childhood effectively ended that day in my fifteenth year, when I arrived at Aspen Achievement Academy. Anonymous (Just Another Hike), HEAL Program Information Aspen Achievement Academy, Aspen Achievement Academy Website Homepage (archived, 2002), Train them like rats (The Guardian, 2/22/2006), Aspen Achievement Academy Secret Prisons for Teens, Utah wilderness, youth therapy programs closing (Salt Lake Tribune, 3/25/2011), behavior-modification program founded in 1989 as Wilderness Academy. Everyone starts out as a mouse for a 3-4 days. The program is far away from any big city distractions. Every kid in the program came from upper-middle class or rich homes. Write at least one letter home to your parents, including the identification of issues that you and your family can work on. This level lasted until student demonstrated sufficient progress to rank up, including a demonstration of accountability to the satisfaction of staff. If you ever tried to tell your parents about the torture you were suffering through the conversation would be immeadiatly terminated. On this level, the residents gained additional privileges such as more room time, and a weekly rider night, wherein students of this rank would get to watch a PG-rated movie and enjoy a single junk food item of their (limited) choice. As listed on the program website the tasks that a detainee must be able to handle are: Complete a bow drill fire on five separate days. This website uses cookies and third party services. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Im lucky that my father yanked me out of that place after about 6 months, because I know many others that spent a lot more time there and were not nearly as lucky as I was. Ashley (Survivors Breaking Silence), 6/16/2006: (SURVIVOR) I am a survivor of the aspen ranch school, located in Loa, UT. For the first two weeks you arrive at Aspen Ranch you are placed on a level known as round-up. This was after my 3rd or 4th check in from her. She disappeared shortly after the discovery that her best friend, Teresa Lynn Vanagas, had been brutally raped and beaten to death on Halloween night in 2006. A letter from the parents which given the poor family structure of a typical detainee often is the first time the detainee learns of the motive for forcing the person to the program. Also, One day after hours of uphill hiking i passed out from dehydration/over heating briefly, this happened to someone else a few weeks later. The levels are reported to have been: During the first month, the teenager could only write letters and receive mail from parents, which was all read and censored by staff. Ran away to a town was gone almost 24 hours and they didnt tell my parents til they found us and acted like it was no big deal and we were safe entire time. The address associated with the program was. BOX 369 Loa, Utah 84747-0369, US Get directions Employees at Aspen Ranch Wes Shaw -- Sharlet Huff. Aspen Achievement Academy (1989-2011) Loa, UT. Never saw a toilet. They had limited responsibilities or expectations. The on campus psychiatrists perscribe you medications based on staff behavioral reports, without even consulting you to see how you feel about putting a new foreign substance into your body or checking past medical records (could be detramental to your well being). you gain more privilege with ranks you can obtain with time and camping/therapy related tasks. Aspen Ranch was a NATSAP member from 1999 until its closure in 2011. The mailing address for Aspen Ranch is 2000 W. DRY VALLEY Loa, UT 84747- 4358362472 (mailing address contact number - ). I was on separates all the time so I barely ate. You can not have any contact with your parents and get to talk to a therapist maybe once or twice. While on this level, the residents were assigned a team, including a living facility. Aspen Ranch Loa Utah They'd also like to know if there have been any online blogs, articles, postings, etc. He fell 75 feet, fractured several bones and suffered head injuries, but ultimately survived. Billionaire James Crown killed in race car crash | CNN Business I was driven by ambulance roughly four hours away, to Provo, before I could receive adequate treatment. History and Background Information. Leads group without exhibiting dominating or controlling qualities, Gives and receives constructive feedback regarding strengths and weaknesses, In this phase the detainee was allowed to clean up the camp, their clothes and their body, so their family members dont face the harsh reality of a detainee being paced 7 weeks in the wilderness with limited possibilities of attending personal hygiene. We got 10 tortillas jar of pb and block of cheese to last us a week of personal food we ate that for breakfast and lunch and group food would be like a box of Mac cheese divided by 10. You arent allowed to talk/socialize with the other kids for whatever reason, just the counselors that serve as alternating chaperones every week. Aspen ranch was a school for criminals and drug addicts and I learned a wealth of information to get myself into even more trouble once I was released than i had ever been before I was sent there. Dr. Phil has been known to send teenagers to various Aspen Education Group programs, including Aspen Achievement Academy. This phase lasted until student demonstrated sufficient progress to rank up.. It claimed to enroll teenagers with a history of the following: Low self-esteem, Lack of motivation, Trouble with teachers, Poor grades, Depression, Confrontational behavior, Substance abuse, Defiance toward authority, Manipulative behavior, and Entitlement. The program enrolled both boys and girls, but it separated the teens into single-sex groups. He was charged with three count of felony sexual abuse and one count of lewdness. Asks for help and guidance from others appropriately. During the programin the Utah desertthere was a massive snowstorm with high winds. I recall one incident while I was on crutches, wherein the team was walking to school during the winter. At one point, I threw myself in a ditch and tried to cut my wrists with a mildly sharp rock that I found, during which time I was laughed at by my counselors. Also, during this period I was suffering from extreme heroin and cocaine withdrawal, that had left me at a weight of only 130 lbs, and was never allowed to see a doctor, or provided with any medical treatment for my extreme pain and nausea; I collapsed almost unconscious on the second day, and was dragged by my pack strap for almost a mile, while being constantly derided by my counselors. We were made to carry packs weighing up to 100lbs, which were made of only a camping tarp tied together with a seatbelt strap. Ken Murphy worked as a Therapist at Aspen Achievement Academy. These effected me for years and i believe have had long term effects on me as well, even 20 years later. Let's remember the memories that will never leave our hearts. During this period of time you are either silent in a basement, or outside doing manual labor (changing watering pipes, building fences etc). Aspen Achievement Academy - Wikipedia Unsilenced Project, Inc. (Unsilenced) is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation (Federal Tax ID: 87-4398897) by the IRS with federal tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3). He had asked to use the latrine, and when he didnt respond to prompts from staff, they went looking for him, found him unconscious and revived him. The family came and were an active part of the healing. Lynn Thomas In this podcast, Lynn Thomas, Executive Director of the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), gallops into a discussion of the use of horses in psychotherapy and the benefits that they can bring to clients. Aspen Ranch - Loa, UT 84747 - The Real Yellow Pages I have myself lost the feeling in the tips of my fingers for days as a result of being held in PCS submisson for over 3 hours. PCS includes a barrage or various pressure points and bent wrists, locked joints, and strained tendons. This phase typically lasted between 2 and 3 weeks. Melodie Rose worked as the Executive Director of Aspen Ranch beginning in 2006. He previously worked for the Utah Department of Corrections where he designed and developed a residential substance abuse treatment program utilizing the Therapeutic Community Model at the Central Utah Correctional Facility. Class of 2000 Megan Ross Aspen Ranch High School Class of 2000 Heather Rusk Aspen Ranch High School Micah Schaeffer Aspen Ranch High School Class of 2000 Melanie Stewart Aspen Ranch High School Class of 2000 Audrey Sucasa Aspen Ranch High School Vameng Xiong Aspen Ranch High School Class of 2012 Kimberly Young Aspen Ranch High School Aspen Ranch was located at 2000 W Dry Valley Rd, Loa, UT 84747. Aspen Ranch is a residential treatment facility, emotionally disturbed children practice located in (, In April of 2007, a 16-year-old boy successfully committed suicide at Aspen Achievement Academy. Many survivors report that they developed PTSD as a result of their time at Aspen Ranch. It is unknown whether or not he sexually abused any of his clients while at Aspen Ranch. You dont get any warm food, youre given a bag of granola, a bag of oats to mix with iodine water, and a raw head of broccoli. Please spread the word! So I ended up limping my way back. program. Every week you got to speak with your parents, on speakerphone, with your therapist present for 20 minutes. If you are in an urgent situation and need help call 911. He had asked to use the latrine, and when he didnt respond to prompts from staff, they went looking for him, found him unconscious and revived him. Summer Camp. Aspen Ranch, a licensed residential treatment center for struggling teens ages 13-17 . In 2006, Kimberlee Ramsey ran away from home following her time at AAA. . We got 10 tortillas jar of pb and block of cheese to last us a week of personal food we ate that for breakfast and lunch and group food would be like a box of Mac cheese divided by 10. It is unknown whether or not he sexually abused any of his clients while at Aspen Ranch. During this phase, which normal last about 14 days, the detainee must do chores and that behavior has consequences. One July morning when I refused to go outside, the sheets were ripped out from under me and I was carried and thrown onto a staircase where two men put my shoes on picked me up and dragged me to the feild where I was to work. A Theraputic Boarding school/ rehabilitation cente..my ass. It was worst time and I read it got shut down. Also, One day after hours of uphill hiking i passed out from dehydration/over heating briefly, this happened to someone else a few weeks later. Check out recent bills in congress ie. We had to drink water from cow ponds and put iodine in water but it was always hot smelly and dirty water and thats what we got for hiking all day in the heat. This was after my 3rd or 4th check in from her. The Ranch is an ideal environment for young people, between the ages of 13 and 17, who need an opportunity to turn their lives around. ASPEN RANCH | Loa | Add to My list Added Companies Products . For more information on this phase, please follow the link provided. ROBERT MICHAEL PEYTON Aspen Ranch, 2000 W Dry Valley Road, Loa, UT According to the newspapers, the female staff member allegedly admitted to sodomizing the girl and was fired shortly after. In 2013, he was arrested after he confessed to an LDS bishop that he had sexually abused a 14-year-old female client of his while working at Therapy on the Fly. Learn more about this school's teachers and students. The program had a maximum enrollment of 80 teens, and the average length of stay was reported to be between 6 and 12 months. since May 04, 2007 In 2013, a former Equine Therapist at Aspen Ranch, Scott Peterson, was, after he confessed to an LDS bishop that he had sexually abused a 14-year-old female client of his while working at his therapy clinic, Therapy on the Fly. It was marketed as a wilderness therapy program for teenagers ages 13-17. Address: Aspen Ranch, 2000 W Dry Valley Road, Loa, UT 84747-0369. This level was typically unachievable due to the tremendous and arbitrary requirements. At least now things are being done to stop these predators and alert parents. AspenSurvivor (Amazon), 1/16/2011: (SURVIVOR) Link to H.E.s Survivor Testimony, 12/11/2010: (SURVIVOR) I am 26 years old and was held prisoner at Aspen Achievement Academy for 2 and a half months in the winter of 1994. A residential facility that provides habilitation services and other care and treatment to children diagnosed with mental health illness, behavioral issues, and intellectual disabilities and are not able to live independently. Aspen ranch was a school for criminals and drug addicts and I learned a wealth of information to get myself into even more trouble once I was released than i had ever been before I was sent there. Provides appropriate leadership to other group members. One day, I waited for this vehicle for an hour or so but it turned out that they werent doing that anymore, and decided not to tell me as much. National Payment . Each cottage had three bedrooms with bunk beds in them. While at Aspen, I was forcibly deprived of food and made to hike long distances for the first 72 hours of my stay. I remember it being difficult, but not abusive (but thats just me). People in Mouse phase are not allowed to talk during. Peterson was. Schools & Program Visits - Mar, 2000 Issue #67, Schools & Program Visits - Oct, 2000 Issue #74, 2002 03 30 Nine schools cleared of warning status. While at Aspen, I was forcibly deprived of food and made to hike long distances for the first 72 hours of my stay. I found that out when I got home because we werent allowed to talk to them only through letters that we got once a week. His prior and current employment is presently unknown. According to articles about the incident, the boy apparently asked to use the bathroom after eating and jumped off of a cliff in the, , about 20 miles southwest of Hanksville. to one to 15 years in prison in March 2014. Safer Alternatives, Program Archive It was marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenagers (13-18) who struggle with a variety of emotional, behavioral, or academic challenges such as low self-esteem, academic underachievement, substance abuse, and family conflict. Aspen Achievement Academy was a NATSAP member from 1999 until its closure in 2011. It was reported that one of these assaults occurred on the girls graduation night. The counselor, Steve, said candidly, I just realized that we could actually die here. My main point though, please do not put your child through this, two years later I am still suffering from the lies I was fed. Anonymous (HEAL), Aspen Ranch Secret Prisons for Teen (archived, 2020), Aspen Ranch Visit Report StrugglingTeens, Therapist arrested, accused of sexually abusing teen client (FOX13, 10/31/2013), Therapist accused of sexually abusing patient sentenced (FOX13, 3/10/2014), Utah therapist sent to prison for having sex with teen client (Salt Lake Tribune, 3/10/2014), Therapist, 36, jailed for 15 years for sexually abusing his 14-year-old Mormon patient (Daily Mail, 3/10/2014), behavior-modification program that opened in 1995. This initially raised suspicions that Ramsey had been involved in the death of her friend, but she was later found and cleared by police. He died in a helicopter transport en route to the hospital. All letters were read before sent, all incoming mail opened read and inspected before given to you. The psychological abuse was never ending, if you were suspected of doing something wrong you would be forced to go into the basement and sit at a desk until you admitted what you were accused of. Takes more active role in individual therapy. Q Where is Aspen Ranch located? I have seen many of my friends at Aspen Ranch end up with broken wrists from PCS. Im lucky that my father yanked me out of that place after about 6 months, because I know many others that spent a lot more time there and were not nearly as lucky as I was. , I am a survivor of the aspen ranch school, located in Loa, UT. Aspen Ranch uses a physical restraint system called PCS (positive control system) which is actually FAR from positive. I had no idea that this program was still operating, as I had heard while at another program that a child had died there, but apparently that is not the case. No rating done yet on this camp. Aspen Ranch is surrounded by towering green mountains and incredible red rock desert which offers a great alternative to school for your troubled teen. 877-231-0734 www.aspenranch.com October 27, 2008 In an effort to improve professionalism and measure proficiency in the field of equine-assisted psychotherapy, Aspen Ranch, a co-ed, licensed residential treatment center for troubled teens, has created its own equine co-facilitated psychotherapy certification program. The program has been moved, in name only, and merged with another wilderness therapy program in Utah - Outback Therapeutic Expeditions - in March 2011. The aftercare i went to, Hidden Lake Academy required that you go to a wilderness program before hand, otherwise you had to go through their questionably bootleg wilderness program called Ridge Creek, but anyways i heard a lot on the more hardcore legitimate wilderness programs. This phase last about 14 days. Prior to this, she worked as the Program Director of the notorious and confirmedly abusive Turn-About Ranch, which is another Aspen Education Group program. Actively participates in daily process groups. The Academy noted significant mental health issues and thought of hospitalizing her but did not. I ran away all the time was restrained countless times by 20 year old staff that prob had 2 weeks of training. Reading about the kids who died in the Aspen Achievement academy in years since then doesnt shock me.

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