Accreditation of White County camp under review

The Associated Press

August 5, 2005


Travis Parker, 13, was pinned to the ground by up to three staffers on April 20 after he protested when he was denied food as punishment, according to documents from the Human Resources Department.

ATLANTA - The accreditation of a state camp for troubled youths is under review after the death of 13-year-old boy there.

Travis Parker died April 21, one day after being held face down for more than an hour by counselors at the camp in White County.

Richard Klarberg, president of the New York-based Council on Accreditation, says the council has several concerns about the incident.

The council is reviewing state reports on Parker's death.

Meanwhile, six camp counselors have been charged with murder.

The council may send staffers to visit the Appalachian Wilderness Camp to find out what happened and what the camp is doing to prevent similar incidents.

Klarberg says the council is particularly concerned about the restraint used on a boy who had asthma and about the training of the counselors.

The council cannot shut down the camp. But losing accreditation could hurt its standing and dissuade people and agencies from sending children there.

Also, officials says Georgia requires the wilderness camp to be accredited.





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