Transylvania County, N.C. – A former camper has filed a lawsuit against the wilderness therapy camp Trails Carolina in North Carolina, alleging sexual assault. The camp, located in Lake Toxaway, works with children aged 10 to 17 and charges up to $715 a day in tuition. The lawsuit states that a 12-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at the camp in 2016. It accuses Trails Carolina of creating an environment that enabled abuse and neglect of children in its care. The camp is also accused of failing to provide adequate medical care, food, and shelter for the campers. The lawsuit further claims that Trails Carolina has concealed incidents of physical neglect and sexual assault from parents.
This is not the first incident involving Trails Carolina. In 2014, a child died at the camp after breaking his hip and succumbing to hypothermia. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has issued several statements of deficiencies against the camp, citing failures to train staff on alternatives to restrictive interventions. The department also accuses Trails Carolina of denying access to children and not reporting the use of restrictive interventions as required.
Trails Carolina is part of the troubled teen industry, which has faced controversy and scrutiny due to questions about its efficacy and methodology. Critics argue that parents are often manipulated into sending their children to these facilities and that survivors have reported physical abuse and psychological torment. Misuse of restraints is also prevalent in these camps.
The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the death of a 12-year-old boy at Trails Carolina. The boy was found dead less than 24 hours after arriving at the camp. The camp has been ordered to stop admitting children and to discontinue the use of bivy bags for all children and adults at the camp.
Trails Carolina has not provided a response to the lawsuit or the child’s death.