SageWalk
Bend, OR

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

SageWalk Wilderness School is saddened to confirm the unfortunate death of one of our students on Friday, August 28th. At this time, the exact details of the incident are still being determined. The student had just been admitted into our program the day before, and we do not have any further details of what may have caused his passing. We do know that our EMT-trained staff worked tirelessly with the student until the AirLink emergency helicopter arrived on the scene, at which time the student's care was turned over to the AirLink medics.

SageWalk considers student safety our number one priority and takes this incident very seriously. Over the course of our 12 year history, our program has adhered to the highest standards of care and we currently meet or exceed all industry and state standards. We were the first wilderness program to be individually accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, and we are licensed by the State of Oregon to work with students who are experiencing issues with substance abuse and are also licensed by the State of Oregon as both an Outdoor Youth Program and Private School.

We are making every effort to lend support during this difficult time. We are extending every resource we can to help the young man's family through their loss, and we have made EAP services available to our staff. In addition, our staff is working with the affected students.

Due to the limited information available, HIPAA regulations, and out of respect for the student's family, this is all we are able to communicate at this time. We appreciate your continued support.

Sincerely,

Mike Bednarz