Facility profile Oregon

SageWalk Wilderness

Closed Redmond, Oregon

SageWalk Wilderness was a wilderness therapy in Redmond, Oregon, operated by Aspen Education Group. It operated from 1997 to 2009.

About SageWalk Wilderness

It closed (2009-09) per news report: motherjones.com, "School Using Lap Dances to Treat ADD Closed, Your Tax $ Involved, But Will It Re-Open? (2009-11-04)", 2009-11-04.source

It cost $425 per day, about $13,175 per month.source Stays lasted 86 days average.source It was also called Sage Walk, The Wilderness School.source It featured on ABC's Brat Camp in 2005.source Split from affiliated residential program Bridges Boys Academy.source

It joined NATSAP in 2002.source

Survivor testimony

What people who lived or worked here say happened. Survivors' own words are published with their permission; forum accounts are what was posted publicly and are reported as claims, not findings.

Reported on survivor forums

Timeline

From the records: who ran it and the deals that moved it, its names, and the deaths, incidents, inspection findings, lawsuits and news stories on file. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.

  1. 1997

    1. Opened

      Opened in Redmond, Oregon

  2. 2009

    1. Incident

      Death

      A child was killed at SageWalk Wilderness in 2009.

      Death

      source

    2. Incident

      Investigation

      No criminal charges were brought against staff over the 2009 death.

      Investigation

      source

    3. IncidentAugust 28, 2009

      Death

      On August 28, 2009 a 16-year-old collapsed on his first day hiking while carrying an 80-lb pack in over 80F heat; staff reportedly thought he was faking and...

      Death August 28, 2009

      On August 28, 2009 a 16-year-old collapsed on his first day hiking while carrying an 80-lb pack in over 80F heat; staff reportedly thought he was faking and called 911 only when his heart stopped; he died of dehydration and hyperthermia and no criminal charges were brought; the program closed shortly after. (r/troubledteens wiki, page "National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)" (as of 2025-12-18))

    4. IncidentSeptember 2009

      Closure order

      After the August 2009 death, the Bureau of Land Management and Oregon DHS suspended SageWalk's permit to operate and all teens were removed; the program never reopened.

      Closure order September 2009

      source

    5. Closed

      Closed

Incidents on record

  1. 2009 Death

    A child was killed at SageWalk Wilderness in 2009.source

  2. 2009 Investigation

    No criminal charges were brought against staff over the 2009 death.source

  3. August 28, 2009 Death

    On August 28, 2009 a 16-year-old collapsed on his first day hiking while carrying an 80-lb pack in over 80F heat; staff reportedly thought he was faking and called 911 only when his heart stopped; he died of dehydration and hyperthermia and no criminal charges were brought; the program closed shortly after. (r/troubledteens wiki, page "National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)" (as of 2025-12-18))source

  4. September 2009 Closure order

    After the August 2009 death, the Bureau of Land Management and Oregon DHS suspended SageWalk's permit to operate and all teens were removed; the program never reopened.source

  5. Abuse

    Survivors report medical neglect, unsanitary conditions, food deprivation and force-feeding, isolation, forced labor, sexual, psychological and physical abuse at SageWalk.source

News coverage

  • The Oregonian/OregonLive Jul 7, 2011 Lawsuit

    Nine former students sue over alleged abuse at defunct 'tough love' Mount Bachelor Academy near Prineville

    Nine former students filed a lawsuit alleging systematic abuse, humiliation, and neglect at the now‑closed Mount Bachelor Academy, a private "tough love" boarding school in Oregon. The complaint cites sexual role‑play, denial of food and medical supplies, and exposure to extreme cold, and seeks approximately $14.3 million in damages from the school and its parent companies.

  • Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth (CAFETY) Jul 5, 2011 Lawsuit

    Oregon “Tough Love” School Sued For Child Abuse: Nine Students File $14 Million Suit - July 6, 2011

    Nine former students filed a $14 million lawsuit against Mount Bachelor Academy and its parent companies, alleging emotional, physical, and sexual abuse during their enrollment in the late 1990s. The facility, which was closed by the State of Oregon in November 2009 following a Department of Human Services investigation, faced substantiated claims of systemic abuse, neglect, and degrading behavioral modification tactics.

  • Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth (CAFETY) Mar 26, 2011 Closure

    Aspen Education Group Discontinues Operations at Five Facilities

    Aspen Education Group announced the consolidation and closure of five therapeutic programs, attributing the decision to declining economic demand. Commentary and historical context note that these closures followed congressional hearings regarding institutional abuse and prior program shutdowns linked to critical incidents, including a death by homicide at a related wilderness camp.

  • The Bulletin Nov 4, 2009 Closure

    School poses a threat to children, say investigators

    State investigators ordered the emergency suspension of Mount Bachelor Academy in Oregon after confirming multiple violations of state rules and allegations of child abuse and neglect, including sleep deprivation, forced manual labor, and inappropriate therapy workshops. The facility was cited for failing to maintain a safe environment and lacking adequate mental health professionals. Separately, an affiliated wilderness program faced scrutiny following a student's death.

  • Mother Jones Nov 4, 2009 Closure

    State Orders Emergency Closure of Mount Bachelor Academy Following Abuse Investigations

    State regulators in Oregon ordered the emergency closure of Mount Bachelor Academy following an investigation that substantiated multiple allegations of abusive and degrading disciplinary practices. The facility's emotional growth curriculum was found to pose an immediate threat to enrolled children, prompting investigations into licensing violations and institutional practices.

  • The Bend Bulletin Mar 15, 2009 Closure

    The story behind Mount Bachelor Academy’s closure

    Mount Bachelor Academy closed permanently following an investigation by the Oregon Department of Human Services that resulted in nine confirmed allegations of abuse and neglect. The private therapeutic boarding school, operated by Aspen Education Group and CRC Health, faced state licensing suspension over punitive and humiliating practices before parent companies announced the facility would not reopen.

  • The Bulletin Jan 31, 2002 Lawsuit

    Obsidian Trails settles wrongful death lawsuit

    The mother of a 15-year-old boy who died in 2000 while enrolled at Obsidian Trails Outdoor Program has reached a settlement in her wrongful death lawsuit. Court documents from the case cited physical restraint and blunt force trauma as causes of death, prompting renewed discussions regarding state oversight and licensing for wilderness therapy programs.

Videos

Link to 'Why This Channel Exists #iseeyousurvivor #breakingcodesilence' Watch on YouTube
Brat Camp USA Intro Watch on YouTube
Link to 'Wilderness Therapy Solo Experence, Neglect, Starvation and Abuse' Watch on YouTube
Wilderness Therapy Injury and Hospital Trip at Sage Walk (2018-08-17) Watch on YouTube
Sage Walk "Brat Camp" Wilderness Therapy (2018-08-06) Watch on YouTube
1 of 5

Staff

Administration

Notable staff

  • Sarah Casson

    Former Director of Admissions (2007)source

  • Brett Merle

    Founder and Executive Director (2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Zenith Family and Counseling Services Senior Interventionist, 2017

  • Alexander MacDonald

    Former Clinical Director (2007-2021, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • CEDU Family of Services Staff

  • Blaine Fisher

    Former Field Directorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Cindy Fogel

    Former Therapist (2002-2006, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Don Thompson

    Former Lead Instructor (2002, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Guy Leguyonne

    Former Admissions Director (2001, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Clear Vision Consulting Owner, 2004
    • Introspections Costa Rica (ICR) Director of Communications, 2006
    • Introspections of Costa Rica Admissions Director, 2007
    • Academy at Sisters Marketing and Admissions Coordinator, Director of Admissions, Admissions, 2008-2009

  • John Novotny

    Former Field Director (2011-2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  • Scott Fitzwater

    Former Therapist (2003, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • NorthStar Center Therapist, Program Director, 2000-2007
    • SageWalk, the Wilderness School Program Director, before 2007
    • Mansfield Hall Admissions Director

  • Willow Huffine

    Former Nursesource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Mark Wardle

    Wilderness operations

    Elsewhere in the industry

Connections on the network map

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

Documents

From the Unsilenced archive

97 documents about SageWalk Wilderness that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Sagewalk Wilderness.

Documents (97)

Wiki entries

Materials and links

External links

Survivor posts and discussion

Advertising and marketing listings

Reference and research

From SCIAD NET.

Other links

Record updated . Generated from the Kids Over Profits facility database. Suggest a correction