Trails Carolina Death: Nestled in North Carolina's Nantahala National Forest, Trails Carolina was a wilderness therapeutic programme for troubled youth. After it was established in 2008, parents who were finding it difficult to support their kids started to flock to the camp.

1. TRAILS
CAROLINA DEATH
What You Need to Know

2. Trails Carolina Death – What You Need
to Know
Trails Carolina Death: Trails Carolina 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.
However, in November 2014, tragedy struck when 17-year-old Alec Lansing
died while attending Trails Carolina. Lansing had wandered off from a group
camping trip and was found dead two days later. His death was ruled an

3. accident, but it raised serious questions about the safety of wilderness therapy
camps.
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.

4. 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

5. 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.