{"id":9641,"date":"2022-03-11T16:08:13","date_gmt":"2022-03-12T00:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/?p=9641"},"modified":"2022-03-12T23:38:32","modified_gmt":"2022-03-13T07:38:32","slug":"open-sky-wilderness-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/open-sky-wilderness-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Sky Wilderness Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Open Sky Wilderness Therapy<\/b> (2006-present) Durango, CO\/ Southeast UT<\/span><\/h1>\n

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

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

Open Sky Wilderness Therapy is a behavior-modification program that opened in 2006. It is marketed as a Wilderness Therapy Program for troubled teenagers aged 14-17. Open Sky claims to help treat teenagers with a history of one or more of the follwing: Self-Esteem Issues, Mild Eating Disorders, Oppositional Defiance, Entitlement, Drug Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Anxiety, Depression, Bi-Polar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Anger Management, ADD & ADHD, Learning Differences, Social Skills Deficits, Identity Issues, Self-Harm, Chemical Dependency, Relationship Issues, School Problems, Grief & Loss, Family Problems, Promiscuity, Attachment Issues, School & Work Problems, Negative Life Patterns, Gaming Addiction, and Adjustment Issues. The average length of the program is reported to be between 9 and 12 weeks, but may be much longer if the teenager is deemed resistant. In 2017, it was reported that the cost of the program was roughly $558 per day, meaning a 10-week stay at Open Sky costs the parents nearly $40,000. There is also a one-time enrollment fee of $3194. Open Sky has been a <\/span>NATSAP<\/span><\/a> member since 2006.<\/span><\/p>\n

The address associated with the program’s headquarters is <\/span>1970 E 3rd Ave #205, Durango, CO 81301<\/span><\/a>. However, the program actually operates out of two basecamps depending on the time of years. From May through September, the program operates out of a base camp in <\/span>Durango, CO<\/span><\/a>. From September through April, the students are taken across the border to another base camp located in the <\/span>Canyonlands<\/span><\/a> of Southeastern Utah, near the city of <\/span>Blanding, UT<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Open Sky Wilderness also operates a program for young adults aged 18-28, but this program is voluntary and the participants can leave at any time.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Aaron Fernandes<\/b> is the Co-Founder, Co-Owner, and CEO of Open Sky Wilderness. Before starting Open Sky, Aaron worked at the confirmedly abusive <\/span>Aspen Achievement Academy<\/span><\/a>, which was an <\/span>Aspen Education Group<\/span><\/a> behavior-modification program. He is married to Emily Demong\/Fernandes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emily Demong Fernandes<\/b> is also the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Open Sky Wilderness. She has also worked as the Clinical Director of Open Sky. She previously worked at the confirmedly abusive <\/span>Aspen Achievement Academy<\/span><\/a>, which was an <\/span>Aspen Education Group<\/span><\/a> behavior-modification program. She is married to Aaron Fernandes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Danny Frazer<\/b> is the Co-Founder and Program Director at Open Sky Wilderness. He previously worked as a Field Director at the confirmedly abusive <\/span>Aspen Achievement Academy<\/span><\/a>, which was an <\/span>Aspen Education Group<\/span><\/a> behavior-modification program. He also worked for many years as a Chairman on the Board of the <\/span>Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Council (OBHIC)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lauren Lollini<\/b> is the Co-Owner of Open Sky Wilderness. She also previously worked as a Therapist and the Admissions Director of Open Sky. She too had previously worked at the confirmedly abusive <\/span>Aspen Achievement Academy<\/span><\/a>. She no longer works at Open Sky.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tere Snodgrass<\/b> is the current Professional Relations\/Admissions Director of Open Sky Wilderness. She previously worked in Admissions at <\/span>Second Nature Blue Ridge<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sebastiaan Zuidweg<\/b> is the current Clinical Director of Open Sky Wilderness. He previously worked at the <\/span>Catherine Freer Wilderness Program<\/span><\/a> as a Lead Therapist.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kirsten Bolt<\/b> currently works as a Clinical Therapist at Oopen Sky Wilderness. Prior to this, she worked as a Clinical Therapist at the confirmedly abusive <\/span>Aspen Achievement Academy<\/span><\/a>, which was an <\/span>Aspen Education Group<\/span><\/a> behavior-modification program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonathan Mitchell<\/b> currently works as a Clinical Therapist at Open Sky Wilderness, and has since 2009. He previously worked as a Therapist at the confirmedly abusive <\/span>SUWS in Idaho<\/span><\/a>. He then went on to work as a Senior Guide at <\/span>Passages to Recovery<\/span><\/a>, another reportedly abusive <\/span>Aspen Education Group<\/span><\/a> behavior-modification program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tim Mullins<\/b> worked Therapist at Open Sky Wilderness. He had previously worked as a Field Instructor at <\/span>Second Nature Entrada<\/span><\/a>. He then went on to work as an Assisstant Therapist at <\/span>In Balance Ranch<\/span><\/a> in Arizona. He then went on to work at <\/span>San Cristobal Treatment Center<\/span><\/a> as a Therapist, before working at Open Sky. He is <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> by survivors to be abusive and unprofessional. He left Open Sky in October of 2015, and went on to work as a Therapist at <\/span>Pacific Quest<\/span><\/a> and for the <\/span>Evoke Entrada<\/span><\/a> wilderness program. He currently works as the Clinical Director of <\/span>Red Mountain Sedona<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Like other behavior-modification programs, Open Sky uses a level-system consisting of five levels. The levels are reported to be:<\/span><\/p>\n