A Broward County teenager died early Saturday while attending an
orientation campout for a private Lauderhill Christian and
military academy, authorities said.
The boy, who has not been identified, was one of 33 cadets
attending the Back to Basics Christian Military Academy's
Training and Leadership Corp campout. The students, fourth
through 10th graders, had been camping at Oleta River State Park
in North Miami-Dade County since Wednesday, said Lynda Browne,
principal and owner of the school.
The 13-year-old boy, who was sleeping in a tent with other
cadets, awakened at about 3 a.m. and collapsed while being
escorted to the restroom by a volunteer drill sergeant, Browne
said. His identity was not released.
North Miami police responded to the scene and rushed the boy to
Parkway Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead,
police said. The cause of death is undetermined and pending a
medical examiner's report.
Browne said the boy's mother told her that her son "wasn't the
most physical, strong or athletic child."
"Our prayers go out, as well as our condolences, to the family,"
Browne said. "We just want them to know our hearts are broken."
This would have been the boy's first year at the academy,
located at 5770 West Oakland Park Blvd. He previously attended a
now-defunct Christian academy, Browne said.
The cadets' last known activity was a relay competition on the
beach Friday night, Browne said.
The campout is geared toward leadership development and team
building for new and returning students, Browne said. Saturday
was the last scheduled day of the orientation camp.
Florida state boot camps have been under fire since January,
when a 14-year-old boy died after being manhandled by guards at
a Panama City boot camp for juvenile offenders. The scuffle was
caught on videotape.
Martin Lee Anderson's death led to protests in the Capitol and
Gov. Jeb Bush's office, the resignation of the head of the
state's law enforcement agency and the elimination of
military-style boot camps. His death remains under
investigation.
Back to Basics Christian Military Academy, which serves students
from fourth through 12th grade and is beginning its second year,
is not regulated by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
Students are referred to the school solely through
word-of-mouth, and the school does not accept children with
serious court records, Browne said.
"There are many children who are lost in the public school
system," she said. "Our school will assist children academically
and behaviorally. If they have issues in terms of structure, we
meet the children where they are, whatever issues they have,
whatever issues that their parents identify."
The academy subcontracts with Fort Lauderdale-based Juvenile
Military Training and Leadership Corp to conduct the orientation
campout, which is run by trained and certified National Guard
drill sergeants, Browne said.
"The children get the very best of care," Browne said. "Under no
circumstances are our students brutalized, nor are they maligned
verbally. They are treated with the utmost respect."
Staff writer Brian Haas and researcher Bill Lucey contributed
to this report.
Tonya Alanez can be reached at tealanez@sun-sentinel.com or
954-356-4542.
Copyright © 2006, South
Florida Sun-Sentinel
