Facility profile Idaho
Ascent Wilderness Program
Also known as Caribou Ridge Intervention
Closed
Naples, Idaho
Ascent Wilderness Program was a wilderness therapy in Naples, Idaho, operated by Universal Health Services (UHS). It operated from 1994 to 2010.
Incidents on record
-
1996 Lawsuit
In 1996 a former resident sued Ascent Wilderness and Northwest Academy claiming abuse in 1994-1995, including taunting by untrained counsellors, withheld medication, sleeping among dead rats and being forced to sit outside in January.source
News coverage
-
Allegations of Abuse at U.S. Troubled‑Teen Boarding Schools Involving Canadian Teens
The article reports allegations of physical restraint, solitary confinement, and sexual misconduct at several U.S. troubled‑teen boarding schools that housed Canadian teenagers. Survivors describe harsh punishments, forced medication, and isolation, and the facilities have faced legal and regulatory scrutiny. The piece highlights gaps in oversight and the impact on the survivors’ mental health.
Staff
Administration
-
Troy Knight
Healthcare Administration Program Director (2008)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Wilderness Quest Executive Director, 2007
- Clearview Horizon (2009) [joined 2009-05-22 Executive Director
- joined 2009-06-04]
- Clearview Horizon Executive Director (2009)
-
Chris Ankney
Executive Director (2008)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Ascent Inc. Interim Executive Director, Executive Director, 2008
- Ascent Intervention Interim Executive Director, 2009
-
Trilby Hoover
Executive Director (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Ascent Inc. Staff, 2006
- Passages to Recovery Executive Director, Admissions Director, before 2007
- Sheep Gate Services Founder, 2007
- Shadow Mountain Academy Admissions Director, Admissions, 2008-2009
- Ascent Wilderness Intervention Executive Director, 2021
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy executive director
- Northwest Academy
-
Larry Blakey
Executive Director (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- SquareOne Staff, 2001
- On Track Staff, before 2025
- VisionQuest Staff, before 2025
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy executive director
- On Track Wilderness Program
- Rocky Mountain Academy founded SquareOne with Rob Spear
-
Brian Rossiter
Program Director (1997, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- SageWalk Wilderness Program Director, 2004
- Evoke Cascades Executive Director, 2005
- SeaChange Hawaii Director of Admissions/Marketing, Admissions Director, 2010-2011
- Santiam Crossing Executive Director, 2012
- Phoenix Outdoor Program Director, before 2025
- Second Nature Cascades executive director
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy program director
- King George School program director
- Second Nature exec director
-
Ramon Palacios
Program Director (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Ascent Inc. Staff, 2006
- Heart Cry Recovery Executive Director, Founder, 2009
- Ascent Outdoor Wilderness Program Program Director, before 2009
- Passages to Recovery Staff, before 2009
- Four Circles Recovery Center Founding team member, before 2009
- Wilderness Quest Staff, before 2009
- HeartCry Recovery Owner, 2009
- Northwest Academy Staff, 2010
- Ascent Wilderness Intervention Program Director, 2021
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy program director
- Boulder Creek Academy Chemical Dependency Counselor
-
Brian MacInnes
Program Director (1994, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- North Idaho CEDU Schools Director of Adventure Education, 2002
- Cedu Director of Family Education, 2003
- Santiam Crossing Program Director, 2005
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy program director
- CEDU Family of Services director of adventure ed Northern Idaho
Notable staff
-
Dan Kemp
Admissions Director, Director of Admissions (2008)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Phoenix Outdoor Admissions Director, 2006
- Suws Director of Admissions, 2009
- Northwest Academy admissions director
- Island View RTC Director of Program Development
- The Oakley School Headmaster and director of admissions
- Aspen Education Group Division director
- SUWS Adolescent and Youth Programs admissions director
-
Jim Powell
Clinical Director (2008)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- KidsQuest Wagon Train Clinical Director, 2006
- Powell & Elliott Collaborative, LLC (2008) [founded 2008 Co-Founder
- founded 2008
- Friends of Families with Children in Crisis Foundation Co-Founder, 2008
- Friends of Families Foundation Co-Founder, 2008
-
Guy Hardcastle
Director of Business Development (2008)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Ascent Inc. Director of Business Development, before 2009
- West Ridge Academy (2009-2010) [joined 2009-04-13 Director of Business Development, Director of Admissions
- joined 2010-05]
- Wilderness Quest Director of Operations, before 2009
- West Ridge Academy Director of Business Development, Director of Admissions (2009-2010)
-
Jonathan Gurney
Clinical Services (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Carlbrook School Director of Advising and Clinical Director, Dean of Advising, Transition Services, 2001-2019
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy clinical services
-
Matthew Fitzgerald
Admissions Director (1994, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Rocky Mountain Academy Senior Counselor/Admissions Counselor, 1989
- Northwest Academy Director, 1997
- Northwoods Co-Owner and President, 1999
- Northwoods Boarding School co-owner/president
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy admissions director
-
Reid Treadaway
Director of Admissions (2003, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Rocky Mountain Academy Front-line staff, then Admissions Director, Admissions Director, 1996
- SUWS of the Carolinas Admissions Director, 2000-2003
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy Director of Admissions, 2003
- InnerChange Admissions Specialist, 2010
- Boulder Creek Academy Director of Admissions and Business Development, Director of Admissions, Admissions and Business Development, 2012-2013
- BlueFire Wilderness Admissions Director, 2013
- Blue Fire Wilderness Admissions, 2014
- BlueFire Wilderness Therapy Admissions/Co-Founder, Co-Founder and Director of Admissions, 2021-2025
- CEDU Family of Services regional director of admissions
- New Haven RTC admissions specialist
- Sunrise RTC admissions specialist
- Fulshear Treatment to Transition admissions specialist
-
Roger D. Topp
Former Admissions Counsellor, Field Instructor, then Admissions Counsellor (before 2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- The Ridge New Hampshire Admissions Director, 2025
- Shortridge Academy admissions director
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy admissions counselor
-
Nikole Brown
Clinical Director (1998, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Ascent Wilderness Intervention Clinical Director, 1998-2021
- Northwest Academy Clinical Director, 2007
- Ascent Inc. Clinical Director, before 2007
-
James H. Powell
Former Clinical Director (before 2011, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- CEDU High School Clinical Director, 1988
- Friends of Families Founder, 2008
- Benchmark Young Adult School Clinical Director, 2009
- CEDU Mountain Schools Clinical Director, before 2009
- Powell and Elliott Collaborative Founder, 2009
- Friends of Families with Children in Crisis Foundation Staff, 2009
- Benchmark Transitions (2009-2019) [joined 2011 Clinical Director, Executive Clinical Director
- joined 2011]
- Ascent Wilderness Staff, 2010
- KidsQuest Wagon Train Clinical Director (2006)
-
Rachel M. Webster
Therapist (2007-2021, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Ascent Wilderness Intervention Therapist, 2007-2021
- Boulder Creek Academy (2008-2025) [joined 2008 Clinician, Therapist
- left 2025]
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy therapist
- Boulder Creek Academy clinician
-
Kaysie Dannemiller
Therapist (2006, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Catherine Freer Wilderness Program Wilderness Guide, 1995
- Rites of Passage Guide, 2010
- Ascent Wilderness Intervention Therapist, 2021
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy therapist
- Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy wilderness guide
- Rite of Passage, Inc guide
-
Dan Tadlock
Therapist (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Northwest Academy (2007-2025) [joined 2007-11-13 Senior Clinician, Director of Family Services, Clinical Supervisor
- left 2025]
- Hawk’s Landing Therapeutic Home for Boys CEO, 2016
- Ascent Wilderness Intervention Therapist, 2021
- Ascent Wilderness Therapist, before 2025
- Northwest Academy Senior Clinician, Director of Family Services (2007-2011)
- Ascent Wilderness Therapy therapist
Documents
Documents on file (3)
From the Unsilenced archive
156 documents about Ascent Wilderness Program that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their folders: Ascent Wilderness, Caribou Ridge Intervention.
Documents
- 10-Signs-Your-Teen-Is-In-Trouble.pdf
- About_40_behavioral_school_staffers_rehired___2005_10_19.pdf
- ACADEMIC-UNDERACHIEVEMENT-2.pdf
- ADD_ADHD-2.pdf
- Additional Links for Ascent Wilderness.xlsx
- Additional Links for Caribou Ridge Intervention.xlsx
- ADJUSTMENT-PROBLEMS-2.pdf
- Admissions3.pdf
- Admissions7.pdf
- admisspacket.adult.pdf
- ADOPTION-ATTACHMENT.pdf
- American-Healthcare-Brochure-lite.pdf
- ANGER-DEFIANCE.pdf
- Ascent Compass Newsletter - Summer 1997.pdf
- Ascent.pdf
- Ascent_Ad___1999_04_29.pdf
- Ascent_first_step_for_help___1998_04_12.pdf
- Bankruptcy_a_hard_hit_for_town___Part_1___2005_03_30.pdf
- Bankruptcy_a_hard_hit_for_town___Part_2___2005_03_30.pdf
- Barnett_win__disappears___Part_1___2010_03_22.pdf
- Barnett_win__disappears___Part_2___2010_03_22.pdf
- Ben_Wood_s_Hawaii___1981_11_08.pdf
- Care_home_ordered_to_shut_down___2020_02_29.pdf
- CEDU Ascent Participant Admission Contract Page 1.jpg
- CEDU Ascent Participant Admission Contract Page 2.jpg
- CEDU Ascent Participant Admission Contract Page 3.pdf
- CEDU Transportation Contract for a Minor to Ascent in Naples Idaho - Grant of Guardianship 1996 - Page 1.pdf
- CEDU Transportation Contract for a Minor to Ascent in Naples Idaho - Grant of Guardianship 1996 - Page 2.pdf
- CEDU Transportation Contract for a Minor to Ascent in Naples Idaho - Grant of Guardianship 1996 - Page 3.pdf
- CEDU Transportation Contract for a Minor to Ascent in Naples Idaho - Grant of Guardianship 1996 - Page 4.pdf
- CEDU Transportation Contract for a Minor to Ascent in Naples Idaho - Grant of Guardianship 1996 - Page 5.pdf
- CEDU Transportation Contract for a Minor to Ascent in Naples Idaho - Grant of Guardianship 1996 - Page 6.pdf
- CEDU_schools_get_new_life___2005_10_19.pdf
- CEDU_shutting_down___Part_1___2005_03_26.pdf
- CEDU_shutting_down___Part_2___2005_03_26.pdf
- D of Maple Lake Academy and Pacific Quest Wilderness.pdf
- DEPRESSION-ANXIETY-3.pdf
- ENTITLEMENT.pdf
- Ex_students__case_merits_jury_trial__lawyer_says___2000_10_05.pdf
- FAMILY-CONFLICT-FAMILY-DISCORD.pdf
- Field Instructor.pdf
- Future_brightens_for_closed_schools___2005_08_16.pdf
- Future_brightens_for_closed_schools___Part_1___2005_08_16.pdf
- Future_brightens_for_closed_schools___Part_2___2005_08_16.pdf
- G of Pacific Quest Wilderness.pdf
- Gillette_runs_to_repeat___Part_1___2009_06_29.pdf
- Gillette_runs_to_repeat___Part_2___2009_06_29.pdf
- GRIEF-LOSS.pdf
- Group_home_gets_approval___Part_1___2011_10_07 (1).pdf
- Group_home_gets_approval___Part_1___2011_10_07.pdf
- Group_home_gets_approval___Part_2___2011_10_07 (1).pdf
- Group_home_gets_approval___Part_2___2011_10_07.pdf
- Health_Department_cites_2_teen_treatment_facilities_on_Big_Isle___2020_01_14.pdf
- Hilo_athlete_s_work_with_youth_forges_IRONMAN_mentality___2015_09_12.pdf
- Hilo_company_pays_back_wages_after_federal_probe___2012_07_13.pdf
- Idaho_academy_straightens_kids_out___1995_04_24.pdf
- IDENTITY-ISSUES.pdf
- INTERNET-ADDICTION.pdf
- ISOLATION.pdf
- JT from Ascent.pdf
- Ka_u_care_home_ordered_to_shut_down___2020_02_29.pdf
- LACK-OF-CONFIDENCE.pdf
- LACK-OF-MOTIVATION.pdf
- LEARNING-DIFFERENCES.pdf
- Light_at_the_end_of_the_tunnel___Part_1___2018_07_19.pdf
- Light_at_the_end_of_the_tunnel___Part_2___2018_07_19.pdf
- Marathon_battle_ahead___Part_1___2015_11_20.pdf
- Marathon_battle_ahead___Part_2___2015_11_20.pdf
- Marathon_winner_pulls_disappearing_act___Part_1___2010_03_22.pdf
- Marathon_winner_pulls_disappearing_act___Part_2___2010_03_22.pdf
- Marketing show for wilderness camp for troubled teens.mp4
- Mental_health_facility_planned___Part_1___2011_08_23.pdf
- Mental_health_facility_planned___Part_2___2011_08_23.pdf
- Mental_health_home_delayed___2011_09_02.pdf
- Milestone_of_service___Part_1___2002_09_10.pdf
- Milestone_of_service___Part_2___2002_09_10.pdf
- MOOD-REGULATION-ISSUES-1.pdf
- New_boss_slated_for_Cedar_CAP___2000_06_28.pdf
- News_of_record___1998_04_09.pdf
- NG from New Leaf Academy, Pacific Quest, Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy.pdf
- No_stopping_Gillette_from_Kona_Marathon_Repeat___Part_1___2009_06_29.pdf
- No_stopping_Gillette_from_Kona_Marathon_Repeat___Part_2___2009_06_29.pdf
- Notice_of_Public_Meeting_and_Hearings_Planning_Commission_County_of_Hawaii___2004_10_01.pdf
- Notice_of_Public_Meeting_and_Hearings_Windward_Planning_Commission_County_of_Hawaii___2011_07_15.pdf
- Notice_of_public_meeting_and_hearings_windward_planning_commission_county_of_Hawaii___2011_08_12.pdf
- Notice_of_public_meeting_and_hearings_windward_planning_commission_county_of_Hawaii___2011_09_09.pdf
- Oahu_runner_does_mom_proud_at_Volcano___Part_1___2016_08_21.pdf
- Oahu_runner_does_mom_proud_at_Volcano___Part_2___2016_08_21.pdf
- Pacific_Quest_Foundation_donates__10K_to_Boys___Girls_Club___2021_03_11.pdf
- Pacific_Quest_Foundation_gives__10K_to_Boys___Girls_Club___2021_03_09.pdf
- Pacific_Quest_link___2008_06_18.pdf
- Papaikou_s_Ghost_is_content_in_2nd___2011_03_21.pdf
- Personal_injury_suit_against_schools_to_start___Part_1___2002_11_02.pdf
- Personal_injury_suit_against_schools_to_start___Part_2___2002_11_02.pdf
- Police_Youths_hijack_vehicle___Part_1___2010_07_15.pdf
- Police_Youths_hijack_vehicle___Part_2___2010_07_15.pdf
- POOR-SELF-IMAGE.pdf
- POOR-SOCIAL-SKILLS.pdf
- pq-course-descriptions.pdf
- RELATIONSHIP-ISSUES.pdf
- SBA honors Big Island businesses - Part 1 - 2011-04-07.pdf
- SBA_honors_Big_Island_businesses___Part_2___2011_04_07.pdf
- SCHOOL-ISSUES.pdf
- School_s_shutdown_troubles_community___Part_1___2005_03_29.pdf
- School_s_shutdown_troubles_community___Part_2___2005_03_29.pdf
- Schools_seek_second_chance___2005_04_02.pdf
- Schools_seek_second_chance___Part_1___2005_04_02.pdf
- Schools_seek_second_chance___Part_2___2005_04_02.pdf
- Settlement_reached_in_school_suits___2002_11_05.pdf
- State_orders_illegal_care_homes_to_cease_and_desist___2020_01_15.pdf
- State_orders_illegal_care_homes_to_cease_and_desist___2020_01_20.pdf
- SUBSTANCE-EXPERIMENTATION_ABUSE.pdf
- Suit_says_schools_for_troubled_teens_set_stage_for_abuse___Part_1___1998_04_01.pdf
- Suit_says_schools_for_troubled_teens_set_stage_for_abuse___Part_2___1998_04_01.pdf
- Survivor A of Ascent - Northwest Academy - Hyde.pdf
- Survivor A of Northwest Academy.pdf
- Survivor A of Pacific Quest Wilderness.pdf
- Survivor PH of CEDU.pdf
- Taming_the_West___Part_1___2013_04_28.pdf
- Taming_the_West___Part_2___2013_04_28.pdf
- Taming_the_West___Part_3___2013_04_28.pdf
- Taming_the_West___Part_4___2013_04_28.pdf
- Taming_the_West___Part_5___2013_04_28.pdf
- Taming_the_West___Part_6___2013_04_28.pdf
- Teen_arrested_after_alleged_Ka_u_carjacking___Part_1___2010_07_15.pdf
- Teen_arrested_after_alleged_Ka_u_carjacking___Part_2___2010_07_15.pdf
- Teenager_sues_therapy_programs_claims_abuse___1996_07_13.pdf
- Tough_path_for_teens___Part_1___2000_02_17.pdf
- Tough_path_for_teens___Part_2___2000_02_17.pdf
- Transport Contract Page 1.jpeg
- Transport Contract Page 2.jpeg
- Transport Contract Page 3.jpg
- Transport Contract Page 4.jpg
- Transport Contract Page 5.jpg
- Transport Contract Page 6.jpeg
- TRAUMA.pdf
- Trouble_at_academy_worries_neighbors___Part_1___1997_01_09.pdf
- Trouble_at_academy_worries_neighbors___Part_2___1997_01_09.pdf
- Troubled_children__a_troubling_industry___Part_1___2003_07_13.pdf
- Troubled_children__a_troubling_industry___Part_2___2003_07_13.pdf
- Troubled_children__a_troubling_industry___Part_3___2003_07_13.pdf
- Troubled_homes___Part_1___1999_09_05.pdf
- Troubled_homes___Part_2___1999_09_05.pdf
- Troubled_North_Idaho_school_closing___Part_1___2005_02_12.pdf
- Troubled_North_Idaho_school_closing___Part_2___2005_02_12.pdf
- VIDEO-GAME-ADDICTION.pdf
- Volunteers_remove_invasive_plants_from_Mauna_Kea___2014_12_23.pdf
- Wilderness_camp_suit_alleges_mistreatment___Part_1___1996_07_12.pdf
- Wilderness_camp_suit_alleges_mistreatment___Part_2___1996_07_12.pdf
- Wilderness_helps_tame_teenagers___Part_1___1996_06_03 (1).pdf
- Wilderness_helps_tame_teenagers___Part_1___1996_06_03.pdf
- Wilderness_helps_tame_teenagers___Part_2___1996_06_03 (1).pdf
- Wilderness_helps_tame_teenagers___Part_2___1996_06_03.pdf
- Wilderness_school_helps_tame_teens___1996_10_17.pdf
- Yuko_Nakai_gets_her_three_peat__Espinoza_wins_in_marathon_debut___Past_1___2016_06_27.pdf
- Yuko_Nakai_gets_her_three_peat__Espinoza_wins_in_marathon_debut___Past_2___2016_06_27.pdf
Research notes
- Operator: a division of UHS
- Former location: Montana (moved 1994) (r/troubledteens wiki, page "Ascent Wilderness Program" (as of 2025-12-18), source)
- Operator: Universal Health Services (r/troubledteens wiki, page "CEDU:" (as of 2026-01-07)) source
- Cost: $340 per day; over $15,000 for six weeks (r/troubledteens wiki, page "Ascent Wilderness Program" (as of 2025-12-18))
- Operator: CEDU (r/troubledteens wiki, page "Ascent Wilderness Program" (as of 2025-12-18))
- Capacity: 40 (as of 2025) (r/troubledteens wiki, page "Ascent Wilderness Program" (as of 2025-12-18), source)
- Type: Wilderness Therapy (r/troubledteens wiki, page "Ascent Wilderness Program" (as of 2025-12-18), source)
- Woodbury Reports (Feb. 2008) reports Chris Ankney appointed interim executive director of Ascent in January 2008, after the 2005 sale to Universal Health Services.(source)