Trails Carolina Death was a wilderness therapy camp for troubled youth, located in the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. The camp was founded in 2008 and quickly became a popular destination for parents who were struggling to help their children.
In November 2014, 17-year-old Alec Lansing died while attending a wilderness therapy camp in the Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. The camp, founded in 2008, was a popular destination for parents struggling to help their children. However, the camp’s safety was questioned after Lansing wandered off from a group camping trip. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) conducted an investigation, finding that the camp had violated several state regulations, including staff training and emergency preparedness. The camp had not been properly trained to handle situations where campers wandered off, and the camp had not had an adequate emergency plan in place. The DHHS report also found that the camp had a history of safety violations. Despite these findings, the camp denied any wrongdoing and released a statement expressing sadness. The aftermath of Lansing’s death led to changes to the regulation of wilderness therapy camps in North Carolina, but more needs to be done to ensure the safety of campers.
What happened to Alec Lansing?
On November 10, 2014, Alec Lansing was on a group camping trip with Trails Carolina staff and other campers. At some point during the trip, Lansing wandered off from the group. Staff members searched for him for several hours, but they were unable to find him.
The next day, Trails Carolina staff and volunteers expanded the search area. They also contacted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for assistance. On November 12, Lansing’s body was found by a search dog in a remote area of the Nantahala National Forest.
Autopsy results : Trails Carolina Death
An autopsy revealed that Lansing had died of hypothermia. He had also suffered a broken hip, which may have contributed to his death. Investigators believe that Lansing fell and broke his hip while wandering off from the group. He was then unable to move and eventually died of hypothermia.
Safety concerns at Trails Carolina
Lansing’s death raised serious questions about the safety of wilderness therapy camps. Some people questioned why staff members had not been able to find Lansing sooner. Others wondered if the camp was properly prepared for emergencies.
Following Lansing’s death, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) conducted an investigation. The investigation found that Trails Carolina had violated several state regulations, including regulations related to staff training and emergency preparedness.
DHHS findings
The DHHS investigation found that Trails Carolina staff had not been properly trained to handle situations where campers wandered off. The investigation also found that the camp did not have an adequate emergency plan in place.
The DHHS report also found that Trails Carolina had a history of safety violations. In the months leading up to Lansing’s death, the camp had been cited for violations related to staff training, emergency preparedness, and camper supervision.
Trails Carolina’s response
Trails Carolina denied any wrongdoing in Lansing’s death. The camp released a statement saying that it was “deeply saddened” by Lansing’s death and that it was committed to providing a safe and effective program for its campers.
However, the camp’s response did little to quell public anger. Many people were outraged that the camp had continued to operate despite its history of safety violations.
Aftermath of Alec Lansing’s death
In the aftermath of Alec Lansing’s death, several changes were made to the regulation of wilderness therapy camps in North Carolina. The DHHS also increased its inspections of wilderness therapy camps.
However, some people believe that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of campers. They argue that wilderness therapy camps should be subject to stricter regulations and that they should be required to have more qualified staff.
Conclusion :Trails Carolina Death
Alec Lansing’s death was a tragedy that should never have happened. His death was a wake-up call about the need to improve the safety of wilderness therapy camps.
While some changes have been made since Lansing’s death, more needs to be done to ensure the safety of campers. Parents should carefully research wilderness therapy camps before sending their children there. They should also make sure that the camps are licensed and regulated by the state.
