Trails Carolina: Death of 12-Year-Old Boy Sparks Investigations and Accreditations Suspension

Trails Carolina, a wilderness-based residential therapeutic program located in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, has come under scrutiny following the death of a 12-year-old boy on February 3, 2024. The incident has prompted both state investigations and the suspension of the program’s accreditation by the Association of Experiential Education Council.

Trails Carolina: Death of 12-Year-Old Boy Sparks Investigations and Accreditations Suspension

Incident Details

• The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Health Service Regulation found several deficiencies in the program, leading to plans for the revocation of its license.
• According to a report, the death of the 12-year-old boy was likely due to suffocation in his tent, with staff members admitting some responsibility for the incident.

Previous Incidents

The recent death of a 12-year-old boy at Trails Carolina is not the first incident at the camp. In 2014, another child in the camp’s care died after trying to run away, according to a state health department investigation at that time. This history of incidents, along with the recent death, has raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of camp attendees.