Catherine Freer Wilderness Program

Incidents on record

1. May 27, 2002 Death

   On May 27, 2002 a 15-year-old girl died on her first full day at the Nevada program after collapsing while hiking; the cause was heatstroke and dehydration, and her parents filed a lawsuit that was settled for an undisclosed amount.source 1, source 2, source 3

2. 2002 Lawsuit

   The parents of a girl who died in 2002 sued the program; the case was settled for an undisclosed amount.source

3. May 2002 Death

   A 15-year-old Arizona girl died during a hike in Tonopah, Nevada, on May 27, 2002; the program is based in Albany, Oregon.source

4. May 2002 Incident

   ABC Primetime featured Catherine Freer on May 23, 2002; four days later a participant died in the program.source

5. March 2003 Death

   A participant was killed by a fallen tree branch in March 2003.source

6. March 26, 2003 Death

   On March 26, 2003 a 16-year-old participant was killed in his sleep when a tree branch fell on him.source

7. 2005 Injury

   In 2005 an 18-year-old participant suffered a severe head injury after slipping and hitting his head on a log during a hike in the Willamette National Forest and later recovered.source

News coverage

• T

  TIME Oct 7, 2011 General

  New Efforts to Crack Down on Residential Programs for Troubled Teens

  Federal lawmakers introduced the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2011 to regulate residential facilities and prohibit abusive practices, physical deprivation, and unauthorized restraints. The legislation follows Government Accountability Office findings documenting widespread allegations of abuse and multiple deaths at such programs. Industry groups and political opponents have expressed opposition to federal regulatory oversight, favoring state-level authority instead.

• W

  Woodbury Reports Oct 1, 2001 General

  Seen and Heard - October 2001

  This industry newsletter compilation details various administrative updates, staff appointments, program expansions, and leadership changes across multiple therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness programs, and youth residential facilities for October 2001. Notices include new program accreditations, facility curriculum updates, and personnel transitions within the troubled teen industry.

• W

  Woodbury Reports May 1, 2001 General

  Seen 'n Heard, 5/2001

  This industry news compilation from May 2001 reports on staff appointments, curriculum development, book awards, and legislative updates across various emotional growth schools and wilderness programs. Notable updates include progress on Oregon state regulations for outdoor treatment programs and personnel changes at several residential facilities.

• W

  Woodbury Reports Jan 1, 2000 General

  Seen 'n Heard, 1/2000 - Short news clips about Special Schools & Programs

  The January 2000 issue of Seen 'n Heard provides brief updates on several specialty education programs, including a risk‑assessment comparison of wilderness therapy, an upcoming Small Boarding Schools Association conference, corrections to earlier listings, and plans for new group‑home and facility expansions. The items are presented as factual notices without editorial commentary.

Staff

Administration

• Rob Cooley

  Former Executive Director (2006-2012)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • a Clinician Intern at the Children's Crisis Treatment Center in Philadelphia from 2004 until 2005
  • Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Council

• Paul Smith

  Former Program Director (2010)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Arbinger Institute Managing director
  • Anasazi Foundation Board Secretary
  • Copper Hills Youth Center Therapist

• Rob Koning

  Former Executive Director (2012)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • New Vision Wilderness Therapy Former Executive Director (2012)

• Kirk Shimeall

  Former Program Director, Wilderness Director (2010-2012, r/troubledteens wiki)source

Notable staff

• Amy Cirincione

  Former Clinical Director, Field Therapist / Coordinating Therapist (2009)source

• Julia Andrick

  Former Marketing Director, Marketing Communications Director, Media Contact (2006-2009)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Santiam Crossing Marketing Communications Director, Marketing Director, Admissions Director, 2007-2012
  • Boulder Creek Academy Director of Outreach and Marketing
  • Trails Carolina Admissions and Outreach Director
  • Northwest Academy Director of Admissions, Admissions Director, 2018

• Kevin Riley

  Former Clinical Director, Coordinating Therapist (2007-2009)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Santiam Crossing Clinical Director, 2008

• Will Twombly

  Former Staff (before 2006)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Three Rivers Montana Therapist, 2006
  • True North Wilderness Program Parent Therapist, 2012

• Katherine Eastlake

  Former Clinical Director (2011)source

• Adam Drummer

  Former Field Guidesource

• Adam Goddard

  Former Coordinating Therapist, Therapistsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Pinnacle Point Hospital Staff
  • Capstone Treatment Center Former Staff

• Adrienne Tauses

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • P.A.C.E. center for girls Staff

• Allan Capp

  Former Field Guidesource

• Allison Sullivan

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

• Averyl Growden

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

• Becky Austin

  Former Supervising Therapist (1996, r/troubledteens wiki)source

• Ben Poynter

  Former Wilderness Guidesource

• Brian J. Bulemore

  Former Supervising Therapist (2001, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • NorthStar Center Clinical Director, 2006-2020

• Brian Reardon

  Former Wilderness Guidesource

• Brook Jackson

  Former Wilderness Guidesource

• Chris Hoskins

  Former Field Guidesource

• Chris Kaiser

  Former Staffsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Pacific Quest Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Co-founder, 2004-2021
  • SUWS Idaho Field guide
  • a field guide for several unnamed programs in Idaho

• Chris Rahm

  Former Coordinating Therapistsource

• Danielle Andrews

  Former Lead Field Guidesource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Brighton Center’s Homeward Bound Shelter Staff, before 2015
  • Four Circles Recovery Center Therapist, Counselor, 2020
  • Magnolia Mill School Therapist, Executive Director, 2022-2025
  • Solstice West Staff, 2015

• David Neiss

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

• Gene Vey

  Former Supervising Therapist (2001, r/troubledteens wiki)source

• Jeff Brand

  Former Wilderness Guidesource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Outpost Program Staff

• Jeff Peyton

  Former Coordinating Therapistsource

• Jon O'Connor

  Former Adventure Activities Trainersource

• Josh Garner

  Former Wilderness Guidesource

• Kraig Mead

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

• Liz Feldman

  Former Asst. Wilderness Managersource

• Lonnie Drouhard

  Former HR Directorsource

• Maria Deshazer

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

• Mark Allee

  Former Wilderness Guidesource

• Mark Andrews

  Former Wilderness Guidesource

• Marlies Luepges

  Former Wilderness Guidesource

• Melissa Proctor

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

• Michelle Bachand

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

• Mike Ervin

  Former Referral Agentsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Aspen Education Group Eastern Regional Director of Admissions (Outdoor Division), 2008
  • Lone Star Expeditions Executive Director
  • Cherry Gulch Owner, Admissions Director (2007)
  • SUWS of the Carolinas admissions director

• Molly DePasqual

  Former Wilderness Guidesource

• Natala Larson

  Former Admissions Directorsource

• Quinn Hoffman

  Former Field Guidesource

• Rachelle Perez

  Former Wilderness Guidesource

• Ryan Demarest

  Former Field Guidesource

• Sabrina Hadeed

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

• Sarah Mack

  Former Marketing Directorsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Explorations Montana Director of Development
  • Skelton, Thomason and Associates Partner, Parent Coach and Director of Business Development
  • Oregon Transition Homes Founder
  • Parent Coach Professionals Associate

• Sebastiaan Zuidweg

  Former Wilderness Therapist, Lead Therapistsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Open Sky Wilderness Therapy Clinical Director

• Sonja Micocci

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

• Tanya Sue Kramer

  Former Program Managersource

• Todd Embree

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

• Travis Moles

  Former Field Guidesource

• Wren Anderson

  Former Wilderness Therapistsource

• Kaysie Dannemiller

  Wilderness guide

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Rites of Passage Guide, 2010
  • Ascent Inc. Therapist, 2021
  • Ascent Wilderness Program Therapist
  • Mount Bachelor Academy Phase III Staff
  • Phoenix Outdoor Staff
  • Rite of Passage, Inc guide

Connections on the network map

The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.

Ownership

• Santiam Crossing owner

Wiki entries

• Catherine Freer Wilderness Program Albany, OR | 1988-2012

Materials and links

External links

A program's own website is linked as an archived snapshot, so the page reads as it did when it was captured.

• jjie.org (archived copy) live site

Staff listing or directory

• LinkedIn profile

Advertising and marketing listings

• Press Release: Catherine Freer Wilderness Expeditions

Reference and research

• UnSilenced Database: Catherine Freer Wilderness Program

Other links

• Catherine Freer Information (archived copy) live site
• Catherine Freer Parent Packet
• Catherine Freer Wilderness Program Website Homepage
• Catherine Freer Application Information Packet
• Catherine Freer: An Inspiration and Friend - By Robert Cooley
• Secret Prisons for Teens- Catherine Freer
• article (archived copy) live site