Facility profile North Carolina

SUWS of the Carolinas

Closed Old Fort, North Carolina

SUWS of the Carolinas was a wilderness therapy in Old Fort, North Carolina, operated by Aspen Education Group. It operated from 2000 to 2023.

About SUWS of the Carolinas

It was operated by SUWS of the Carolinas, a Delaware limited liability company, per its enrollment agreement.source Phoenix Outdoor and SUWS of the Carolinas merged into one program sharing both names.source It was run by Acadia Healthcare.source It was owned by Aspen Education Group.source

Began as a sister program of SUWS Idaho.source Celebrating 10-year anniversary.source It presented on challenges facing the modern family at a national educational consultants' convention in Philadelphia.source Its address was 363 Graphite Road, Old Fort, NC.source It charged a $3200 enrollment fee plus $545 per day (about $49,000 for 12 weeks).source

Stays lasted 8 to 12 weeks.source It was operated 4 tracks: Phoenix Outdoor (dual diagnosis 14-17), Seasons (co-ed 10-14), Luna (girls 14-17), Bravo (boys 14-17).source It cost $465 per day plus $2,000 enrollment fee (2010 enrollment agreement).source The minimum stay was 28 days.source

It was licensed in North Carolina.source It was a member of CRC Health Group.source It was licensed as a Residential Therapeutic (Habilitative) Camp by North Carolina.source Licensing: not a registered boarding or private school in North Carolina.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.

20002005201020132015201620182020202320002023

  1. 2000

    1. Opened

      Opened in Old Fort, North Carolina

  2. 2005

    1. Incident

      Incident

      A survivor of summer 2005 reports a youth in his group attempted suicide on the trail with parachute cord and was resuscitated by staff.

      Incident

      source

  3. 2010

    1. Incident

      Injury

      A 2010 alumna described heat exhaustion and collapses on hikes with 60-pound packs without medical attention.

      Injury

      source

    2. IncidentMay 2010

      Runaway

      In May 2010 two teenage girls ran away and were found 14 hours later.

      Runaway May 2010

      source

  4. 2013

    1. IncidentMay 2013

      Runaway

      In May 2013 two teenage boys ran away.

      Runaway May 2013

      source

  5. 2015

    1. OwnershipFebruary 11, 2015

      Acadia HealthCare: Bought CRC Health Group, owner of the Aspen youth programs, from Bain Capital

      Acadia Healthcare and Aspen Education Group ran SUWS of the Carolinas on either side of the deal.

      Acadia HealthCare: Bought CRC Health Group, owner of the Aspen youth programs, from Bain Capital February 11, 2015

      Acadia announced a definitive agreement to acquire CRC Health Group on October 29, 2014, describing CRC as the nation's largest specialized behavioral healthcare provider with 36 residential facilities and 84 comprehensive treatment facilities. The deal was valued at $1.175 billion in Acadia stock plus assumed debt; Bain Capital took Acadia shares. Acadia announced completion on February 11, 2015.

      source 1, source 2, source 3

  6. 2016

    1. IncidentJuly 2016

      Runaway

      In July 2016 two boys ran away, were arrested and taken to juvenile hall.

      Runaway July 2016

      source

  7. 2018

    1. Incident

      Lawsuit

      A survivor review dated 2018 states she and others were filing a class action lawsuit against the program.

      Lawsuit

      source

  8. 2020

    1. IncidentJuly 2020

      Investigation

      A July 2020 reviewer who says university researchers sent him to evaluate the program reports calling the police on leaving, citing lack of water, food and hygiene.

      Investigation July 2020

      source

  9. 2023

    1. IncidentApril 25, 2023

      Closure order

      On April 25, 2023 Acadia Healthcare announced SUWS of the Carolinas would close on May 15, 2023, citing slowing demand for wilderness therapy.

      Closure order April 25, 2023

      source

    2. Closed

      Closed

Incidents on record

  1. 2005 Incident

    A survivor of summer 2005 reports a youth in his group attempted suicide on the trail with parachute cord and was resuscitated by staff.source

  2. 2010 Injury

    A 2010 alumna described heat exhaustion and collapses on hikes with 60-pound packs without medical attention.source

  3. Abuse

    Survivors allege denial of medical attention, inappropriate contact between residents and staff, physical abuse and neglect, violent restraints, food deprivation and frequent isolation.source

  4. May 2010 Runaway

    In May 2010 two teenage girls ran away and were found 14 hours later.source

  5. May 2013 Runaway

    In May 2013 two teenage boys ran away.source

  6. July 2016 Runaway

    In July 2016 two boys ran away, were arrested and taken to juvenile hall.source

  7. 2018 Lawsuit

    A survivor review dated 2018 states she and others were filing a class action lawsuit against the program.source

  8. July 2020 Investigation

    A July 2020 reviewer who says university researchers sent him to evaluate the program reports calling the police on leaving, citing lack of water, food and hygiene.source

  9. April 25, 2023 Closure order

    On April 25, 2023 Acadia Healthcare announced SUWS of the Carolinas would close on May 15, 2023, citing slowing demand for wilderness therapy.source

  10. Abuse

    A survivor reports being forced to take dextroamphetamine each morning and being made to hike on a broken ankle.source

  11. Abuse

    A survivor reports counselors placed bags over girls' heads to punish them for talking.source

  12. Injury

    A survivor reports a knee injury on a hike requiring surgery, with more than three weeks before staff brought her to a doctor.source

  13. Injury

    A survivor reports a sick girl was forced to hike a difficult route and was later hospitalized for over a week with a bowel obstruction.source

  14. Restraint

    A parent reports a 10-year-old was put in at least 11 holds in his last week, with no communication until he was expelled.source

News coverage

  • 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.

Videos

The Wilderness Therapy investigation continues- SUWS of the Carolinas (2021-09-10) Watch on YouTube

Staff

Administration

  • Melvin Cates

    Former Program Director (2022)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Academic Answers Family Consultant, 2009
    • Lone Star Expeditions Executive Director, Director, 2008-2010
    • National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camping board member

  • Brandon Moffitt

    Former Program Director and Primary Therapist, Therapist (2008-2022, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

Notable staff

Rules and practices

Practices

  • Seclusion or isolation
  • Level system
  • Strip searches
  • Forced medication
  • Behavior contracts
  • Confrontation groups
  • Limits on contact with family

Connections on the network map

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

Ownership

Acquisitions

  • Acadia Healthcare Acquired this program (acquired)

Documents

Documents on file (17)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (17)

From the Unsilenced archive

44 documents about SUWS of the Carolinas that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: SUWS of the Carolinas, Inc - Phoenix Outdoors.

Documents (44)

Wiki entries

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.

Survivor posts and discussion

Advertising and marketing listings

Reference and research

4 of these from SCIAD NET.

Archived pages

From SCIAD NET.

Other links

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