{"id":9639,"date":"2022-03-11T16:05:09","date_gmt":"2022-03-12T00:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/?p=9639"},"modified":"2022-03-12T23:39:02","modified_gmt":"2022-03-13T07:39:02","slug":"outback-therapeutic-expeditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/outback-therapeutic-expeditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Outback Therapeutic Expeditions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Outback Therapeutic Expeditions<\/b> (2001-present) Lehi, UT<\/span><\/h1>\n

Wilderness Therapy Program<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

History and Background Information<\/b><\/h2>\n

Outback Therapeutic Expeditions is a behavior-modification program founded in 2001 and owned by <\/span>Aspen Education Group<\/span><\/a>. It was originally named “Walkabout” but changed its name to Outback Therapeutic Expeditions in 2004. It is marketed as a “wilderness therapy” program for teenagers aged 13-17 who are dealing with a multitude of issues including: Depression, Anxiety, Learning disabilities, Social isolation, Identity Development, Academic Issues, Dangerous\/Risky Behaviors, Peer Dependence, Defiance, Emotional Outbursts, Electronics Addictions, Substance Abuse, Traumatic Events, and Bullying. The average length of stay is reported to be between 6 and 10 weeks. It has been a member of <\/span>NATSAP<\/span><\/a> since 2002. It also claims to be accredited by the <\/span>Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Council (OBHIC)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The address associated with Outback Therapeutic Expeditions is <\/span>50 N 200 E, Lehi, UT 84043<\/span><\/a>, but the program actually operates roughly one hour southwest of Lehi <\/span>between the Sheeprock and Simpson Mountain Ranges<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2005, the tuition was reported to be $380 per day ($21,280 for 8 weeks), which included gear. In 2006, the price had been raised to $445 per day ($24,920 for 8 weeks) plus a one-time $1,450 enrollment\/gear fee, bringing the total cost to $26,370 total for 8 weeks. In 2020, they no longer list their daily rate for tuition on their website, but they do note that they have an additional one-time enrollment fee of $3,500, so it is likely that the daily rate has also increased substantially. There is now also a fee for a physical examination upon enrollment.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>Episode 2<\/span><\/a> of Lifetime’s “Teen Trouble”, 17-year-old Jacob is sent to Outback Therapeutic Expeditions for lying, stealing, and “smoking a massive amount of dope (meaning cannabis)”.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2011, six other Aspen Education Group programs (<\/span>Aspen Achievement Academy<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>New Leaf Academy of Oregon<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Aspen Ranch<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Bromley Brook School<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>SunHawk Academy<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>NorthStar Center<\/span><\/a>) merged into Outback Therapeutic Expeditions. Outback Therapeutic Expeditions remains in operation today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Founders and Notable Staff<\/b><\/h2>\n

McKay Deveraux<\/b> is the current Executive Director of Outback Therapeutic Expeditions. He has worked at the program since 2002 in several positions, including Primary Therapist, Program Director, Field Director, and Field Staff. He reports that he was a “troubled youth” which is partially what drew him to begin working in wilderness programs. Prior to joining OTE, he worked at an unnamed wilderness program for roughly 3 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Greg Burnham<\/b> is the current Clinical Director and a Primary Therapist at Outback Therapeutic Expeditions. He began his career in the TTI as a Therapist at the <\/span>confirmedly abusive<\/b> Cedar Ridge RTC<\/span><\/a>, where he worked from 1999 until 2002. He then worked at an outpatient counseling center from 2002 until 2005. After this, he worked as a Therapist and later as the Assistant Clinical Director of the <\/span>confirmedly abusive<\/b> New Haven RTC<\/span><\/a> from 2005 until 2013. He then went on to work as a Therapist and Clinical Director of the reportedly abusive <\/span>Wingate Wilderness<\/span><\/a> from 2014 until 2017, when he joined OTE.<\/span><\/p>\n

Richard Meeves<\/b> is the current Co-Owner and CEO of Outback Therapeutic Expeditions. He formerly worked as the Executive Director of the program. He had previously worked as as Primary Therapist at <\/span>Second Nature Wilderness<\/span><\/a> in Duchesne, UT and <\/span>Aspen Achievement Academy<\/span><\/a> in Loa, UT. He also worked as the Clinical Director at <\/span>Aspen Ranch<\/span><\/a> in Loa, UT. He is now the Director of Clinical Services for CRC Health Group, <\/span>Aspen Education Group\u2019s<\/span><\/a> parent company, as well as the CEO of <\/span>Aspiro Wilderness<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Theresa Wardle<\/b> is the current Admissions Director of Outback Therapeutic Expeditions. She began her career in the TTI working at several notorious and <\/span>confirmedly abusive<\/b> CEDU<\/span><\/a> programs. She worked as a Therapist at CEDU’s <\/span>Rocky Mountain Academy<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Northwest Academy<\/span><\/a>, and later worked as the Admissions Director of <\/span>Boulder Creek Academy<\/span><\/a>. Around 2003, Theresa and her husband, Patrick, opened a “therapeutic foster care” program for teenage girls called <\/span>The Wardle Home<\/span><\/a> in Naples, Idaho. She has worked at OTE since April of 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel Hazen<\/b> is the current Program Director of Outback Therapeutic Expeditions. His prior employment is presently unknown.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jason Scott Calder<\/b> worked as the Director of Outback Therapeutic Expeditions in 2015. In 2017, he was arrested on counts of rape, forcible sodomy, and forcible sexual abuse in connection to a several incidents that occured at another residential treatment program, <\/span>New Haven RTC<\/span><\/a>, where he had been working as a therapist. Calder had also previously worked at <\/span>La Europa<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Link<\/span><\/a> to archived staff list for Outback Therapeutic Expeditions (2005)<\/span><\/p>\n

Program Structure<\/b><\/h2>\n

Very little is known about the program structure at Outback Therapeutic Expeditions. It likely uses a level-system which is common in many behavior-modification programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Daily Life<\/b><\/h2>\n

As described by a <\/span>survivor<\/span><\/a> who spent 347 days at Outback, the typical daily schedule is as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n