Hell Camp: Teen Nightmarerelease date and where to watch

May 2024 · 3 minute read

IN the late 80s, Steve Cartisano launched the Challenger Foundation — a Utah wilderness therapy camp where "kids are worn down until they're good again."

Years after a teenager died at the camp, Netflix released a documentary about the organization called Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare — here's how to watch it.

What is Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare about?

Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare is a documentary following the stories of former participants of the Utah-based Challenger Foundation.

The Challenger Foundation housed dozens of "troubled teens" for 63 days and was created to correct the behavior of these participants.

Parents paid nearly $16,000 for their child to attend the program.

Once they arrived at the camp, counselors made teens walk hundreds of miles in extreme weather and were said to adapt to strict rules including "strip searches and military haircuts."

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While the camp saw results for a few participants hailing Cartisano as a "genius," others saw this camp as an alleged form of abuse.

In 1990, 16-year-old Florida teen Kirsten Chase was initiated into the Challenger Foundation.

Three days into the program, Kirsten was on a hike in extreme weather where she began to complain about a headache.

While on the hike, the teen collapsed and died. An autopsy later revealed her cause of death was listed as "exertional heat stroke."

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This incident led to legal investigations surrounding the Challenger Foundation and the eventual downfall of Steve Cartisano.

Who was Steve Cartisano?

Steve Cartisano was a former military special forces officer born on December 15, 1978, in Modesto, California.

Following his years with the Air Force, Cartisano launched the Challenger Foundation in 1988.

While Cartisano received backlash since the camp's launch, the ex-military member remained an advocate for his program.

Following Kirsten's death, Cartisano and the Challenger Foundation were charged with negligent homicide and nine misdemeanor counts of child abuse.

In 1992, Cartisano "was acquitted of all criminal charges in Chase's death," according to the documentary.

However, the company faced many other civil suits which resulted in Cartisano filing his company for bankruptcy.

Eventually, Cartisano tried to set up another similar program in Hawaii but was later banned from doing so in the state.

On May 4, 2019, Cartisano passed away from a heart attack while battling colon cancer.

When does Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare premiere?

Netflix's Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare premiered on December 27, 2023.

The hour-and-a-half-long documentary can be watched on the streaming service.

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Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare includes exclusive interviews with former participants and their family members.

Viewers can also expect multiple clips from the camp highlighting how the teenagers were treated throughout their 63-day enrollment.

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