Anonymous’ Testimony – Wingate Wilderness

Hello this is my story.

I attended Wingate Wilderness In the summer of 2015. I was taken from my bed by two men and transported to southern Utah to attend Wingate. The transporters told me I was going to a “fun summer camp for about a week”.

After I arrived, I realized that I was lied to. The conditions were awful. I was given very minimal food and water. I felt like I was starving all the time. When all my food for the week would run out I would have to wait until the next food drop to sustain myself. I always felt weak and had no energy due to the lack of food and water provided. We were forced to hike miles and miles a day carrying a 60 pound backpack (i was only about 85 pounds at the time). These hikes were brutal and through rough mountain terrain. Some days we would hike over 15 miles. We were constantly put into dangerous situations such as high temperatures, lack of water, dangerous terrain, dangerous wildlife, etc.

All the therapists that worked there as well as the staff used forms of attack therapy to dehumanize and embarrass us. My therapist forced the Mormon religion down my throat because my parents as well as herself were Mormon. I did not have a say. I could not express my own opinion. She separated me from some of the friends I made while I was there because we “were getting too close”. I was forced to ignore my friends. I felt completely alone.

The staff were irresponsible and negligent. They did not care about us in the slightest. I witnessed multiple girls being verbally and physically abused by staff as well as other girls In the program. No one did anything to help those girls. I did not know the day of the week or the time while I was there. They kept us completely disoriented and shut off from the rest of the world. I did not know when I would be leaving until the day I left the program. Everyday was a dark endless cycle. While I was there, I battled depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. I did not share this to anyone out of fear that if I told someone I would be forced to stay longer. I did not get the help i needed and deserved. Other kids in the program did not get the help they needed and deserved.

To this day I suffer from depression and anxiety as well as other trauma caused by Wingate Wilderness.

Programs like this are evil places that only look at you as a price tag – not a human being.