⇐   ⇒

Horror at Casa by the Sea

October 6, 1999 by
Filed under: Teen Gulag 

The Author would like to remain anonymous.

I am a survivor of a WWASP facility (AKA. big league money-grubbing concentration camp). I spent 22 months at Casa by the Sea, just outside Ensenada, Mexico. I was enrolled against my will/knowledge. If I come some up the entire experience in one word, I would say abuse. The children enrolled in that program were abused physically, emotionally, and mentally. We were not allowed to speak English, intimidated by employees, without contact from family or friends for months, refused access to say the truth about what was going on, denied a decent education, and raped of our dignity.Females on “lower levels” (levels 1-3) were not allowed to shave, or look in mirrors. The septic system was so horrible that used toilet paper (if there was any at the time) had to be put in a bucket next in the stall. That, mixed with the hot and humid Mexican weather made the stench frequently unbearable, and students were forced to clean out the buckets without gloved or adequate cleaning supplies. There were no vacuums and allot of mold in the trailers we slept in, resulting in frequent allergy and asthma attacks. If a student had a medical necessity, it would rarely get treatment, and maybe that’s a good thing, because the treatment was probably worse than the cause. After reporting a severely ingrown and infected toenail several times, I was taken to the nurses office where she gave me a local anaestheic and cut my big toenail off at the base, with her desk scissors. She poured some powder on it (to stop the horrible bleeding, I suppose), put a large Band-Aid on it , and told me to leave. My parents were charged about $500 for the procedure.

Well, I could go on and on about the kids who were forced to eat foods they were allergic to, the 5 minute cold showers, not being permitted to wear shoes and the punishments received for doing something as random as: standing without permission, sitting without permission, looking out of line, speaking in English, speaking at all or flushing your toilet paper. I could tell you all about the psychological damage that the seminars we must attend to come home have bestowed on me, how we were told our parents were on a “vacation” and didn’t want us anymore. I could probably write a book on how many addicts came through those big gates (me being one of them) and receiving NO HELP with their illness. But I won’t, even though I kind of already did. Ha, sorry. I’m just trying to enlighten a few more people to the ways of WWASP and teen lockdowns in general. Thanks for hearing me out.

    Filed under: Teen Gulag 
    Tags:
    ⇐   ⇒


    Comments

    • Anonymous

      My sister went to this school, and I am disgusted at the exploitations of teen problems and parent concern for financial gain. I know that most parents believe their children are “getting help”, but most of the girls fake their way through the programs just to survive and often return to society scarred and much worse off than when they entered. Psychological abuse can break a person more than physical abuse, and after reading many of these experiences of inhumanity and violations of personal freedoms (http://www.nospank.net/chambar… is a great, very detailed narrative), I have nothing but respect and admiration for those who endured these experiences and have the fortitude, not only go on living normals lives, but tell their stories to spread the message. Thank you for your post.

    • Allison ankrom

      I am I survivor of Casa By the Sea. I was there when the school was closed. I am trying to connect with some of the girls I attended with. I was in Knowledge family. If you know how i can contact any of these people please help. We were not permitted to exchange last names, so it makes it difficult to search.

    • Benjamin8612

      I also was at casa, and am trying to find people who were there before too. I am a male and was in Honor family during the summer of 2004. Luckily for me I was 17 when my parents sent me and when I turned 18 I decided to “choose out” . I wish to talk about experiences at casa with someone whos been there. I am also part of the lawsuit that is going on.

    • Allison

      hey I know someone who was also there in 2004 when the camp was closed. what lawsuite is this? im almost positive he would probably be interested?!

    • Kayla DT

      I too survived Casa By the Sea I was there from 99-2000 I spent 9 months there. To say the least I completely agree with all the comments made here. It was the worst time of my life. Subject to standing and facing a wall all day because someone tried to run, at the same time getting yelled at, about something that was not my fault at all. The food was whole other story I gained about 50 pounds because of the malnuritment it was ridiculous to say the least the food was not healthy.  The schooling was not that great, and really the groups we did the Mexican women they had running the group was not a licensed professional. As to a comment made earlier my experience was that all the girls fake it until they make it…. like it was said survival mode! I had nightmares for years after that I was back there and trapped that I couldn't leave. I of course had anger. There truly was not help there for young people with their lssues, right now there is a lawsuit going on against them for abuse.

    • Roguestatus3

      I attended as well my name is brad haney. I am looking to get involved any way I can with the lawsuit and I am more than willing to talk about thing that happened there with you. Give me a call or email me my number is 224 636 4090 and my emailnis roguestatus3@gmail.com. Hope to hear from you

    • Carcar716

      I recently posted my journal entries that I wrote at Casa by the Sea. Here's the link:
      http://www.therealcasa.blogspot.com

    • Elbrancheau

      I was there for two years and was there when it closed. After casa closed I was sent Iowa to Midwest academy and I disagree with all of you. I was an addict also, and although proper therapy was not provided, it did change my life and the way I think of things. Y'all basically sound like a bunch of victims to me. I relapsed my first year in college in 2006 but noe have been clean and sober since then. I'm married and have two beautiful boys and my family is wonderful. Sorry but y'all need to be grateful for what your parents tried to provide for you and stop acting like this horrible act was committed by your parents by sending you there and the staff at Casa.

    • DROI

      I know right?
      Those Casa staff sure whipped those kids into shape with the exciting living condition.

      “Thanks for sending me to camp mommy, when I don’t follow the rules I get beat, but I know that it’s good for me.”

      I’m sure these people abused at the Casa would definitely like to send the staff gifts and nice cards telling them how much they helped them and how much fun they had at the Casa.

    • CHEY DENNIS

      MY NAME IS CHEYENNE I ALSO ATTENDED CASA BY THE SEA FROM APRIL 1999-JAN 2001  IT WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER AND WHAT OTHER PLACE HAS ALL THE SURVOVORS THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH EXACTLY THE SAME     ITS BEEN 12 YEARS AND I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES EVERYNIGHT THAT IM LOCKED INSIDE CASA AND I CANT GET OUT        PARENTS TALK TO UR KIDS AND LOVE THEM  DONT SEND THEM AWAY  I DIDNT COME HOME FOR 12 YRS BECAUSE I JUST CLDNT FORGIVE MY PAENTS FOR SENNDING ME THERE     

    • CHEY DENNIS

      NO U GOT IT WRONG I DID LEARN AND AM A DIFF PERSON BUT THE TREATMENT THERE WAS NOT THERAPY IT WAS ABUSE AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAD IT DECENT THERE WERE THE BROWN NOSERS  IVE BEEN CLEAN FOR YRS BUT THATS NOT TO SAY THAT WE WERENT TREATED INHUMANELY

    • CHEY DENNIS

      YEAH I FOUND LIKE 6 PEOPLE FROM LOYALTY FAMILY THAT I WAS IN BUT ONLY CUZ I REMEMBERED THEIR LAST NAME   I WILL NEVER SEND MY CHILD TO A PLACE LIKE CASA  IT SHLDA BEEN NAMED HELLHOLE BY THE DESERT   OH CRAP  I EVEN WENT TO HIGH IMPACT   WHY? BECAUSEI WANTED TO TALK TO MY BROTHER WHO THEY WOULDNT LET ME COMMUNICATE WITH

    • CHEY DENNIS

      HELL YEAH IF THERE IS A LAWSUIT  HIT ME UP EMAIL IS CHEY.DENNIS@AOL.COM   I WAS IN LOYALTY FAM 99-01

    • CHEY DENNIS

      THE SCARS ARE STILL THERE EVEN FOR THE GUYS ITS BEEN 12 YRS BUT I DONT SLEEP BUT 2-4 HRS A NITE BECAUSE OF NIGHTMARE STILL  BUT I HAVE GRADUATED I HAVE CAREER FAMILY ECT   BUT I DEF KNOW IT WAS HARDER THAN IT WLDVE BEEN IF I HADNT GONE TO CASA  HECK   I WASNT EVEN DOING DRUGS ANYMORE WHEN I GOT SENT THERE I HAD BEEN CLEAN FOR 6 MONTHS BUT OH WELL CANT CHANGE THE PAST    IM GLAD I FINALLY FOUND THIS PLACE  GLAD IM NOT ALONE   NO BODY WHO HASNT GONE THRU IT CANT UNDERSTAND SO ITS HARD TO TALK T ANYBODY

    • CHEY DENNIS

      the horrible act was by the staff not our parents    they didnt know any better  they were only going off what they saw and read online ect   its the horrible people who ran it is the horrible part

    • Anonymouse

      What place do you recommend for kids? Talking does not work! I need something!