(UPDATE) For more evidence about how abusive NLA was, I've made a public google doc including everything you need to know about one's experience there. I've been speaking with my psychiatrist and family about NLA alot within these past 5 years, and they describe it to be like a prison or concentration camp. Here is the link to the document. It will be worked on continuously as I come across evidence, remember things I've blocked out, and learn other student's experiences. I've also included more pictures of the students, residence, and work we had to do. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nC1ACs7jhjNSNKoZolD2_doFp1WB7DVYG_PXutU7jLQ/edit (ORIGINAL) Abusive, shitty staff, unreasonable expectations, and crazy rules that restrict you from doing your daily responsibilities. But if you get off on manipulating vulnerable kids and exploiting desperate parents, you're in luck! I went there from 9-14-18 to 12-18-19, and I still haven't recovered from what I went through. They've conditioned us students to do as we're told, not question authority (no matter the circumstances), second guess ourselves at every given moment, and believe that saying no to an adult will get you in trouble. I was unable to tell my mother I'm not a fan of her chicken, I had a full blown panic attack because I thought that no matter what I did, I'd get sent away again because the staff there had me convinced that I'm always at risk of being sent away. They would threaten students by saying they were going to sent them to a wilderness camp. None of this is on my mom though. Please know that when parents send their kids away, their desperate. NLA exploited them when they were in need. Don't believe anything about NLA unless it's come from a student. I wish I could say more, but I don't know where to start. If you have any questions about the troubled teen industry or about the abuse at NLA, please reach out to me at zcdens@gmail.com. I may have left a review here before, I truly have no idea. I've tried speaking out about this so many times that I've forgotten the sites I've reviewed on. They also kept bunnies there. They were in horrible conditions. They were in a small shed called the "Bunny Barn", and they relied solely on the students for their food and exercise. My mini rex was given 1/3 cup of pellets in the morning (too much) and a handful of hay (way too little). There was absolutely no greens contributed to their diet. The bunnies were kept in 12in high x 12in wide x 18in deep WIRE cages, and you only changed their water once a week, and you'd clean their trays once a week and their cages once a month. They required you to change the bedding of their tray every morning, but they're still living in their own urine and feces. There would be up to 14 bunnies in these sheds. they'd be on the ground under a waist high wooden shelf that held the remaining bunnies. None of them were spayed. The students were supposed to take them out 3 times a week, but with the ridiculous schedule and punishments I had, I was unable to take out my rabbit (resulting in more punishments), and the staff wouldn't help out. I don't know if that's legally considered abuse, but that's pretty messed up to me. NLA is horrible, and Craig, Christy, and multiple staff should do jail time. It's sickening to see certain staff members continuing to live their lives normally when all they've done is put us down. When you graduate, you're given a flash drive with all of the pictures you were in, a packet/check of the weekly allowance you made, and the diploma. I got no flash drive. I got no money. So I asked some friends to send me spme pictures I was in. In respect, I will cover the staff members faces with and "S" and the students (and one nice staff's) with a bunny. I understand that these photos aren't necessarily incriminating, but I'd like you to know that the other students felt just as miserable as I looked. read more

This place doesn't work. I was forced to come here at 11 years old thinking it would be "fun and rewarding" (that's what my parents said) It gave me minor trauma and i've never had that before. They just lied to you about "confidentiality and your safe to talk to me" (all therapists and staff) They really snitched to the other staff and gossiped. All they want is their paycheck. It was mostly 13 yr old girls + and there was no one my age which made it worse. The other girls were nice and all, but i really never understood them because of my immaturity. Now realizing what life is really like, i regret everything i did there. Also, i was given a false diagnosis that really gets on my fucking nerves.. I got myself kicked out and i went straight home. read more