What would you do with a teen who curses at you, breaks the law in your house and doesn't listen to anything you say? That's the dilemma facing nine families dealing with out-of-control teenagers - whose ages range from 14-17 -- and with issues from ADHD to drugs, promiscuity and fights, in ABC's new reality series, "Brat Camp," premiering in two back-to-back episodes, tonight, Wednesday July 13 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. The nine families make a tough choice and send their kids to SageWalk, The Wilderness School, in the wilds of Oregon for a period of more than fifty days, in the desperate hope that, once it's over, they'll get back the children they once knew.

Reality Reel Media
07.13.05

In the special two-hour premiere, we meet the kids as they arrive at SageWalk, learn about their issues and see their defiance in action, as they're confronted for the first time with the harsh realities of camp life. Forced to hike 10 miles with 40-lb. backpacks, the kids celebrate Thanksgiving in the wilderness without family, and with the ultimate question being whether they'll make it home for Christmas.

The participants include:

Lauren, 17, from Davis, CA, a straight "A" student who excelled in everything until her father suddenly passed away when she was 11. Unable to deal with the grief, Lauren turned to drugs and admits to smoking pot every day and doing whatever it takes to get her fix. Lauren's mother sent her to SageWalk hoping that her daughter would face up to her father's death and quit drugs.

Jada, 15, from Boston, MA, refuses to go to school. She has dropped out of two boarding schools and nine private schools in the last six years. Instead of going to school, she throws parties and experiments with sex, drugs and alcohol. Jada's an aspiring singer who thinks she doesn't need school because she's going to be a star one day. She's also a compulsive liar who is always making excuses. Her parents sent her to SageWalk so that she'll become motivated about her life, stop taking things for granted and start telling the truth.

Nick, 14, from Seattle, WA, is a dyslexic teenager who is constantly fighting with his family. Not only does he disrespect his father and yell obscenities at his mother, he once even pulled a knife on his twin brother. Unable to deal with Nick's relentless anger issues any longer, his parents made the decision to send him to SageWalk.