Brat Camp

Last updated

Brat Camp
Bratcamp.JPG
Country of originUnited Kingdom
United States
Production
Running time60 mins. (inc. adverts)
Production companyTwenty Twenty Television
Original release
Network Channel 4 (UK)
ABC/BBC K (U.S.)
Release13 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.

Contents

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

United Kingdom

There have been five UK series.

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

Series 1

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)
NameFromPublished 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

UK Series 2: Turnabout Ranch - Residential treatment center (5 episodes)
NameFromPublished 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

UK Series 3: Aspen Achievement Academy - Wilderness therapy (4 episodes)
NameAgeFromPublished problem
Julia Krzyzanowska16 Dorset Drug issues
Georgie Turnbull-Atkinson16 Crawley Drug issues as well as run-ins with the law
Lydia Rowlands16 Southampton Drug issue as a result of being victim of bullying
Lucy Tyson15 Lancaster Anger issue, disrespectful and greedy
Danni Calardo-Thompson15 Leicester Running away from home, alcohol and drug-issue
Rosie Raven15 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

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
NameFromPublished 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

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
NamePublished problem
Natasha Whitlock, mother Montanadomestic problems caused by overindulgence [6]
Nicole Pear, mother Jackiefoul-mouthing, anger management
Chloe Weeks, mother Helendrug and anger-issue
Laura Wardman, mother Deldisobedience

United States

US Series: SageWalk, Oregon - Wilderness therapy
NameAgeFromPublished problem
Frank Hewitt16 Sacramento, California Anger issue
Lauren James17 California Drug issue as a result of death in the family
Isaiah Alarcon17 California Anger issue
Jada Chabot15 Boston, Massachusetts Disobedience and dishonesty as a result of domestic violence.
Nick Thompson14 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 Dreyfuss17 California Started using cannabis after finding out that he was adopted. He then started stealing money from his mother.
Derek Ross14 Arkansas ADHD and destructive; refuses to take medication
Lexie McNulty17 California Depressed, hostile outcast as a result of being victim of molestation at the age of 12.
Heather Norton17 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

Series 1

German Series 1: Turnabout Ranch - Residential treatment center
NamePublished problem [7]
Vanessa SchumacherAlcohol issue, too much partying
Simon SeidelDrug issue, stealing from parent
Marvin KrausGang problem, alcohol issue
Gina ZieglerAlcohol issue, alternative lifestyle issue (Punk SubCulture)
Gerrit KöhlerNumerous accounts of malicious damage
Daniel PfeifferTruant, not been at school for a year

Series 2

German Series 2: Catherine Freer - Wilderness program
NameAgePublished problem [9]
Andreas Engel15Serial burglar
David Pfaff17Drug issue
Dzeneta Beckenbauer15Street fighter
Kevin Osterhagen15Gang-member
Kurt Daecher16Political issue (Neo-nazi)
Pascal Sankt17Drug dealer
Stacy Gruenewald17High School drop-out
Vivien Thalberg16Runaway

Series 3

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
NameAgePublished problem [12]
Chrissi Trommler15LifeStyle issue (Punk SubCulture)
Kevin Waechter16Being charged with assault, truancy
Jennifer Unger14Weak health by mother causing her to be too independent
Andreas Fuhrmann16Compulsive gambler
Linda Kalb16Street fighter
Moritz Mueller17Given up by his parents. Faces trial.

Netherlands

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
NameAgePublished problem. [14]
Alexander Jansens15 depressed
Demi Boogaard15Anger Issue
Donny Houtkooper15Anger Issue
Dormeshia Lucas15Anger Issue
Laurens Krantz17 depressed
Maurice Claes17Alcohol issue, Internet Addiction Disorder
Roni Marqueringh17Drug issue, has been arrested by the police

In the news

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

  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".
  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

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