Sagewalk and TV's "Brat Camp" Reality Show

One Teen Describes His Time on the Inside

I'm 16 years old. This past January, I was sent to SageWalk, a place for "troubled" teens, which is now being featured on the reality TV show Brat Camp. SageWalk's mantra is: "Committed to bringing harmony and laughter back into the homes of families by offering help for today and hope for tomorrow."

The behavior problems that got me sent to SageWalk involved disrespect for two things: the law and my parents. I got in trouble for drug use, selling of illegal substances, and driving without license or insurance in the car, which I stole from my dad's house. I was identified as Gifted despite moving 7 times since primary school.

My parents tried punishing me, talking to me, sending me to psychologists and counselors, and eventually they made threats. Of course, these punishments and threats didn't stop me from being a troublemaker. I felt life was empty, meaningless and worthless. Since I couldn't bring myself to commit suicide, I did whatever I wanted, regardless of consequences. Being shuttled off to the wilderness of Oregon for an extended stay was one of the consequences of my actions.

Some of the teenagers that get sent to SageWalk are tricked into going by their parents. I wouldn't say I went voluntarily, but I wasn't transported like the majority of my campmates. I had tried to find someone to drive me far away the night before, but no one I knew was available.

Sagewalk Rules and Regulations

Two counselors, Luna Mongoose and Wily Red Fox, came to the airport, put me in a white suburban and took me to a building where I signed papers. They had me take off all my clothes and put all my possessions in a small box. They packed my backpack full of what I'd need for the field.

Two hours later, my two fellow intakes, Dillon and Andrew, arrived. They took us to a medical clinic before being dropped off at Buffalo Group and Desert Owl. At that point I wasn't prepared to make any changes in my behavior. No place like this could change me - I would pretend to change and cooperate just to get out.

As for the instructors, it was a mix. Some were so cool - in fact, some of the greatest people I've ever met in my life. They were so insightful and helpful. And then others were just so f*cking annoying, and I wished I could just knock them out every time they made a smart comment.

In the morning we performed camp breakdown and camp setup, both of which we had to accomplish in 35 minutes. We dug a sump for spit and dirty water, and made a good fire pit. We ate minimal amounts of plain food and did physical labor rearranging wood, spreading wood chips along trails and hiking multiple miles with 50-plus-pound packs on our backs.

Success Rates and Recidivism

SageWalk claims a really high success rate for teens exiting the program. They require you to stay in a hotel in Oregon for a couple of days to do some family-skills-building activities with your family and the families of those taken out of the field with you.

I learned that I am extremely quick to give up when things do not work out immediately. However I also learned that my biggest motivation for doing things that are difficult or even near impossible, is simply to prove my opposition wrong. It is only people who prompt change that make people re-consider the status quo. Change is now. Change is immediate. And change is every person who says "no" when they don't agree.

The reality show Brat Camp, which follows teens around SageWalk, is not representative of the now segregated camp - it's no longer co-ed. As for SageWalk's soaring success rate, I guess what they say is true: it won't work if you don't want it to. What I can say is that I graduated and even earned my earth name: Winter River. Considering the importance SageWalk attaches to this initiation, I'd say it was a success.