''Brat Camp'' was a
reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...
show.
The first season, featuring RedCliff Ascent, won an
International Emmy
The International Emmy Awards, or International Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. Bestowed by the New York–based International Academy of Television Arts and Sc ...
. 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
The American cable television, cable and satellite television network that is now known as Freeform (TV channel), Freeform was originally launched as the CBN Satellite Service on April 29, 1977, and has gone through several different owners (and s ...
, and its popularity resulted in ABC ordering an American version.
On 24 August 2007, it was announced that the show had been cancelled, along with shows such as ''
Celebrity Big Brother
''Big Brother VIP'', is an adaptation of the '' Big Brother'' reality television series. It is the celebrity version of its parent franchise ''Big Brother'', the celebrity version airs in several countries, however, the housemates or houseguest ...
'' and ''
You Are What You Eat
''You Are What You Eat'' is a British dieting programme presented by Trisha Goddard and Amir Khan that broadcasts on Channel 5. The show was originally broadcast on Channel 4, before moving to Channel 5 in 2022 for its revived series. Both t ...
''.
United Kingdom
There have been five UK series.
The format is distributed internationally by DRG and has been adapted in several territories.
Series 1
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". 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."
Series 2
Series 3
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
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
. 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
Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyom ...
.
Sadly, Benjamin died of a drug overdose in 2009.
Series 5
The fifth UK version aired October 2007. According to a statement on ANASAZI's homepage, 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.
United States
Germany
*The German version is called ''Teenager außer Kontrolle'' (engl. Teenagers out of control) . The show is being broadcast on
RTL
Series 1
*Aspen Education Group revealed in a job ad that children from Holland would also be in a show.
Series 2
Series 3
The production company searched for new candidates for a third season. 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.
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
RTL 5 is a Dutch free-to-cable television channel that was launched on 2 October 1993. It mainly broadcasts American films and hit series but also reality shows, comedy, travel, international shows and local productions including ''Expeditie Robi ...
in the fall of 2006.
Keith Bakker was the teenagers' head coach.
In the news
The UK version of the show generated some criticism. An influential children's charity,
Barnardo's
Barnardo's is a British charity founded by Thomas John Barnardo in 1866, to care for vulnerable children. As of 2013, it raised and spent around £200 million each year running around 900 local services, aimed at helping these same group ...
, expressed concerns that the TV show sends a message to parents that a short period of "
tough love
Tough love is the act of treating a person sternly or harshly with the intent to help them in the long run.
Description
Bill Milliken described tough love through the expression, "I don't care how this makes you feel toward me. You may hate m ...
" can resolve any problems.
Charity hits out at Brat Camp message (inthenews.co.uk)
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
A body cavity search, also known simply as a cavity search, is either a visual search or a manual internal inspection of body cavities for prohibited materials (contraband), such as illegal drugs, money, jewelry, or weapons. Body cavities frequen ...
, the initial stages of which were implied but not shown.
See also
* ''Intervention'' (TV series)
*Teen escort company
Teen escort company, also called a youth transport firm, is a term used in the United States to describe a business that specializes in transporting teenagers from their homes to various facilities.
United States
As a transport option, parents ...
*Wilderness therapy
Wilderness therapy, also known as outdoor behavioral healthcare, is a treatment option for Emotional and behavioral disorders, behavioral disorders, Substance use disorder, substance abuse, and Mental disorder, mental health issues in adolescen ...
*Therapeutic boarding school
A therapeutic boarding school is a residential school offering therapy for students with emotional or behavioral issues. Description
The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs listed 140 schools and programs as of 2005. Therapeut ...
*Residential treatment center
A residential treatment center (RTC), sometimes called a rehab, is a live-in health care facility providing therapy for substance use disorders, mental illness, or other behavioral problems. Residential treatment may be considered the "last-ditch ...
*Behavior modification
Behavior modification is an early approach that used respondent and operant conditioning to change behavior. Based on methodological behaviorism, overt behavior was modified with consequences, including positive and negative reinforcement continge ...
Notes
External links
''Brat Camp''
at Channel4.com
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
A website dedicated to Brat Camps
Production company programme entry
Redcliff Ascent, UK series 1
Turnabout ranch, UK series 2
Aspen Achievement Academy, UK series 3
SageWalk Wilderness School, US serie
Aspen Family Camp, UK series 4, German serie, Dutch serie
Anasazi Foundation, UK series 5
Nederland version
*
{{Freeform
2000s American reality television series
2000s British reality television series
2005 American television series debuts
2007 American television series endings
2005 British television series debuts
2007 British television series endings
ABC Family original programming
American Broadcasting Company original programming
American television series based on British television series
Channel 4 original programming
International Emmy Award for Best Non-Scripted Entertainment winners