REVEALED: NC ‘wellness’ camp where boy, 12, died is a ‘cruel’ boot camp for troubled youths and charges parents $10k-a-month as counselors swear at kids and refuse to let them shower – as it emerges another child died from hypothermia while ‘running away’

A ‘wellness camp’ in North Carolina where a 12-year-old boy has died has been described by fellow participants as ‘extremely cruel’.

Trails Carolina, a camp for “troubled youth,” is in the spotlight after an unnamed pre-teen died at the facility on Saturday.

Former participants who attended the camp in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, have previously described the conditions as “not humane.”

It also made headlines in 2014 when 17-year-old Alec Lansing died of hypothermia after running away from the camp.

Speak with WBTV in 2021, Kathleen Reilly explained how she was woken up in the night by her father telling her she was being taken to camp.

17-year-old Alec Lansing, seen here, ran away from his group during a field trip in November 2014 and died of hypothermia

Jeremy Whitworth (pictured) is the co-executive director of the Trail Carolina camp, based in North Carolina

Reilly was 16 at the time of the ordeal, which took place in 2012, and recalled being frog-marched from her family home by a man and woman in restraints.

Speaking to the outlet, she said: “The guy said, damn, you’re going camping.

“Then he said we can do this the easy way or the hard way and he had restraints and he said the police had been made aware that you are a danger to yourself and others. If you run, I will tackle you. Your flight leaves in two hours.’

After being taken to the airport and flown to North Carolina, she was accepted into the program, which can cost more than $30,000 for a three-month stay.

Reilly said she spent weeks in the wilderness without access to showers or basic hygiene.

She remembers, “We once went 17 days without showering. We were constantly denied basic hygiene.

“It’s just, that was, again…” it’s just part of the process, yeah, I’m in the woods. It’s just not normal.

‘It’s not human. You still don’t even want to admit what it does to your brain. It’s like it’s still there and they have power over you.’

Another participant, who spent three months at the camp in 2017, shared a similar experience to Reilly’s.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “There was a lot of shame.

Reilly was 16 at the time of the ordeal and recalled being frog-marched from her family home by a man and a woman in restraints.

Reilly said she spent weeks in the wilderness without access to showers or basic hygiene

“Quote, take away the quote” therapy is about building resilience through, you know, physical hardship, some kind of military boot camp or seal training or something.

‘But the problem was: there are still safety measures in that kind of environment. Not here.

The person said staff would restrict bathroom access during the weeks in the woods.

He recalled in the outlet having to poop in his pants, then being forced to wear the same pair for two weeks.

Former employee Jonathan Hyde also told the newspaper that he worked at the camp in the summer of 2020, and raised issues about training staff to interact with the children.

He said: ‘I had children who were vocally suicidal. I had kids trying to run away. I had kids trying to fight you.

“One of the problems with this place is that the people who spend most of the time with them are not trained therapists.”

According to Hyde, he only had three days of training before he was sent into the woods with participants.

Former employee Jonathan Hyde worked at the camp in the summer of 2020 and raised issues about the training of staff to interact with the children

The company site states that they are ‘dedicated to helping teens cope with behavioral or emotional issues’

Former participants who went to the camp in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, had described the conditions as “not human.”

Previous studies by WBTV to the center also found that state inspection reports had cited deficiencies between 2010 and 2019.

Among these violations were citations for improper handling and administration of medications.

The camp was also cited for failing to protect participants from harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation.

One of those quotes related to the death of 17-year-old Alec Lansing, who walked away from his group during a field trip in November 2014.

Investigators believe Lansing climbed a tree and fell into a stream, breaking his hip and rendering him immobile.

His body was found 12 days later after he went missing, still in the creek. The report into his death revealed that staff waited five hours before calling for help.

Due to a charge, Trails Carolina was fined $12,000 but allowed to continue operating.

On Saturday, a 911 caller reported that a 12-year-old was not breathing at the camp, while rescue efforts were made at the scene.

Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office said the unnamed teen was transported to the camp Friday, with his parents’ permission, by two men from New York.

Police said rescue efforts were initiated at the scene and then halted as the child appeared to have been deceased for some time.

“The child was sent to Winston Salem for autopsy because his death appeared suspicious as he had arrived at the camp less than 24 hours before his death,” police said.

On Saturday, a 911 caller reported that a 12-year-old was not breathing at the camp, while rescue efforts were made at the scene. Facilities within the facility can be seen here

Images shared by the center show the accommodations for those staying at the camp

The forensic pathologist said an investigation revealed that the death did not appear to be natural, but the manner and cause of death are still pending.

The sheriff’s office said, “Trails Carolina Camp has not fully cooperated with the investigation.”

On Tuesday, investigators obtained two search warrants for separate locations in the camp.

One location is the camp where the incident occurred and the second location is where the other campers who were in the cabin at the time of the boy’s death were moved.

The camp told police that staff members assigned to the hut where the incident occurred had been placed on leave.

A spokesperson for Trails Carolina said: ‘We are shocked by the tragic loss of a young life and our deepest condolences go out to the student’s family and loved ones.’

“Our priority is to recognize and respect the unfathomable impact on their lives and maintain the integrity of the investigation into the cause.

“We are cooperating fully with investigators and have engaged external professionals to assist us in conducting our internal investigation.”

According to the camp’s website, their mission is to give children the self-confidence, coping mechanisms and communication skills that will help them become the best versions of themselves.

According to the camp’s website, their mission is to give children the confidence, coping mechanisms and communication skills that will help them become the best versions of themselves. Wilderness therapy costs between $600 and $1,000 per day.

The camp, led by co-director Jeremy Whitworth, offers wilderness therapy programs for young boys (10-13), young girls (10-13), teen boys (14-17), and teen girls (14-17).

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement: “While we cannot comment on ongoing or potential investigations, Trails Carolina notified the NCDHHS Division of Health Service Regulation on February 3 of the death of a client .

“We extend our condolences to the person’s family and friends.”

DailyMail.com has reached out to Trails Carolina for further comment.