Brat Camp

The first season, featuring RedCliff Ascent, won an International Emmy. Subsequent seasons saw declining viewership. The American version of Brat Camp was cancelled after its one-season run, but is being aired in Canada on Slice as of early 2007. The UK version was also aired in the United States in 2004 on ABC Family, and its popularity resulted in ABC ordering an American version.

Brat Camp
Country of originUnited Kingdom
United States
Production
Running time60 mins. (inc. adverts)
Release
Original networkChannel 4 (UK)
ABC/BBC K (U.S.)
Original release13 July 2005 (2005-07-13) –
24 August 2007 (2007-08-24)

Brat Camp is a reality television show.

On 24 August 2007, it was announced that the show had been cancelled, along with shows such as Celebrity Big Brother and You Are What You Eat.

United Kingdom

There have been five UK series.

The format is distributed internationally by DRG and has been adapted in several territories.

Series 1
UK Series 1: Redcliff Ascent - Wilderness therapy (4 episodes)
Name From Published problem
James Fonfé Marlow Drug issues
Fran Somerset Anger issue
Rachel Greenberg Leyton Alcohol issue
Charlie Mason Putney Anger issue
Tom Philips Kidderminster Drug issue
Dan Leary Surrey Drug issue caused by depression

Redcliff was asked to be featured in a second round of Brat Camp, but declined when it became obvious that the next season would require tougher kids and increased drama. The first series won an International Emmy Award for best non-scripted program. RedCliff Ascent spokesman, Stephen Schultz mentioned that "RedCliff Ascent is a treatment program, not a TV show".[1] James Fonfe' became quite a media icon after his return to the UK. While most students struggle a bit upon return home, a year later James was working with his mother teaching swimming and had been drug-free, as verified by urine tests administered by his mother. As James put it: "You do feel trapped. But it is worth it. I am glad I did it. I wouldn’t go back now, but I don’t have a problem any more – if I had a problem in the future then I would go back."[2]

Series 2
UK Series 2: Turnabout Ranch - Residential treatment center (5 episodes)
Name From Published problem
Alex Parkins Leicester Alcohol issue, disrespectful, expelled from school and bullies her mother
Joe Sheldrick Surrey Disobedience and disrespectful
Ed McAllister Banbury Drug issue and stealing from family.
Jemma Henley Oxford Disobedience, shoplifter and expelled from 3 schools
Xanthe Laird Devon Cannabis use, alcohol issue and disrespectful
Jenni Greevy Southampton Anger issue, disobedience and disrespectful
Josh Melvin Finchley Drug issue, disrespectful and drug fuelled anger issues

Series 3
UK Series 3: Aspen Achievement Academy - Wilderness therapy (4 episodes)
Name Age From Published problem
Julia Krzyzanowska 16 Dorset Drug issues
Georgie Turnbull-Atkinson 16 Crawley Drug issues as well as run-ins with the law
Lydia Rowlands 16 Southampton Drug issue as a result of being victim of bullying
Lucy Tyson 15 Lancaster Anger issue, disrespectful and greedy
Danni Calardo-Thompson 15 Leicester Running away from home, alcohol and drug-issue
Rosie Raven 15 East London Truant, depressed as a result of being victim of bullying

The third series followed a girls-only group with the principal activity being a single extended hike. This series aired from 8 February 2006 on Channel 4. In addition, Brat Camp Unseen, a half-hour show with additional footage, was aired on E4.

Series 4

The fourth series that followed a girls-only group, Family Brat Camp, aired from 4 October 2006, and brings along the parents of the four children to make them take responsibility for their kids' behaviour at the SUWS wilderness program in Idaho.

UK Series 4: Aspen Family Camp, Idaho - Wilderness therapy
Name From Published problem
Claire Sparrow, parents Dean and Sandy Essex Expelled/suspended from 1 school
Amanda Kenny, parents Sandra and Bill Croydon Drinking, stealing from parents
Rebecca Paramor, parents Mandi and Mark Hebden Bridge Drug issue

Series 5

The fifth UK version aired October 2007. According to a statement on ANASAZI's homepage,[3] a special 21-day version of their normal 42-day program is being developed for television, after which Twenty Twenty Television will fund the remainder of the treatment if the parents and clinical staff consider it necessary.

UK Series 5: ANASAZI Foundation, Arizona - Wilderness therapy
Name Published problem
Natasha Whitlock, mother Montana domestic problems caused by overindulgence [4]
Nicole Pear, mother Jackie foul-mouthing, anger management
Chloe Weeks, mother Helen drug and anger-issue
Laura Wardman, mother Del disobedience

United States
US Series: SageWalk, Oregon - Wilderness therapy
Name Age From Published problem
Frank Hewitt 16 Sacramento, California Anger issue
Lauren James 17 California Drug issue as a result of death in the family
Isaiah Alarcon 17 California Anger issue
Jada Chabot 15 Boston, Massachusetts Disobedience and dishonesty as a result of domestic violence.
Nick Thompson 14 Seattle, Washington Anger issue as a result of being teased because of his handicap (dyslexia). He attempted to stab his brother due to his jealousy.
Shawn Dreyfuss 17 California Started using cannabis after finding out that he was adopted. He then started stealing money from his mother.
Derek Ross 14 Arkansas ADHD and destructive; refuses to take medication
Lexie McNulty 17 California Depressed, hostile outcast as a result of being victim of molestation at the age of 12.
Heather Norton 17 Virginia Drug issue as a result of adoption and wanting to be closer to her birth mother. Her birth mother had drug issues too.

Germany
  • The German version is called Teenager außer Kontrolle (engl. Teenagers out of control) . The show is being broadcast on RTL

Series 1
German Series 1: Turnabout Ranch - Residential treatment center
Name Published problem[5]
Vanessa Schumacher Alcohol issue, too much partying
Simon Seidel Drug issue, stealing from parent
Marvin Kraus Gang problem, alcohol issue
Gina Ziegler Alcohol issue, alternative lifestyle issue (Punk SubCulture)
Gerrit Köhler Numerous accounts of malicious damage
Daniel Pfeiffer Truant, not been at school for a year
  • Aspen Education Group revealed in a job ad that children from Holland would also be in a show.[6]

Series 2
German Series 2: Catherine Freer - Wilderness program
Name Age Published problem[7]
Andreas Engel 15 Serial burglar
David Pfaff 17 Drug issue
Dzeneta Beckenbauer 15 Street fighter
Kevin Osterhagen 15 Gang-member
Kurt Daecher 16 Political issue (Neo-nazi)
Pascal Sankt 17 Drug dealer
Stacy Gruenewald 17 High School drop-out
Vivien Thalberg 16 Runaway

Series 3

The production company searched for new candidates for a third season.[8] Filming did take place during the summer of 2008 at a wilderness program called Monarch Center in Colorado. It will be broadcast at RTL starting from 25 February 2009.[9]

German Series 3: Monarch Center Colorado - Wilderness program
Name Age Published problem[10]
Chrissi Trommler 15 LifeStyle issue (Punk SubCulture)
Kevin Waechter 16 Being charged with assault, truancy
Jennifer Unger 14 Weak health by mother causing her to be too independent
Andreas Fuhrmann 16 Compulsive gambler
Linda Kalb 16 Street fighter
Moritz Mueller 17 Given up by his parents. Faces trial.

Netherlands

The Netherlands version did after extended negotiations end up with a customized program, where the teenagers were sent to Kenya. It was called Van etter tot engel (English: From brat to angel) and was aired by RTL5 in the fall of 2006.[11] Keith Bakker was the teenagers' head coach.

Netherlands - Customized wilderness program in Kenya
Name Age Published problem.[12]
Alexander Jansens 15 depressed
Demi Boogaard 15 Anger Issue
Donny Houtkooper 15 Anger Issue
Dormeshia Lucas 15 Anger Issue
Laurens Krantz 17 depressed
Maurice Claes 17 Alcohol issue, Internet Addiction Disorder
Roni Marqueringh 17 Drug issue, has been arrested by the police

In the news

The UK version of the show generated some criticism. An influential children's charity, Barnardo's, expressed concerns that the TV show sends a message to parents that a short period of "tough love" can resolve any problems.[13]

The show also received some criticism for an incident in which a young woman was forced to strip to their underwear and then made to have a cavity search, the initial stages of which were implied but not shown.

See also

Notes
  1. "When the cameras are rolling" Addiction professional, January/February 2006 Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  2. From the wilderness to the right track Archived 24 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Channel 4 at 25 book
  3. Anasazi press release Archived 10 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. I'm Brat from the brink, By Melanie Swan, People. Co.Uk, 21 October - 2007
  5. RTLII page about the program Archived 2 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, (In German)
  6. Job ad from Aspen Education Group
  7. Lebenshilfe mit RTL: Neue Staffel "Teenager außer Kontrolle" Archived 27 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, (In German)
  8. Add for families (In German), homepage of the production company
  9. RTL Zuschauerservice, RTL homepage (In German)
  10. Lebenshilfe mit RTL: Neue Staffel "Teenager außer Kontrolle", (In German)
  11. "Nederland version".
  12. Die Kandidaten, (In Dutch)
  13. Charity hits out at Brat Camp message (inthenews.co.uk) Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
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