Steve Cartisano faced a string of legal challenges stemming from contentious practices at his Challenger Foundation. In 1990, a tragic incident claimed the life of teenager Kristen Chase during a foundation hike, resulting in negligent homicide charges against Cartisano. However, these charges couldn’t be substantiated, allowing him to persist in his operations.
Over time, lawsuits filed by participants and parents alleged instances of physical and psychological abuse, yet Cartisano managed to evade severe repercussions. He shifted operations to modified wilderness camps in the Caribbean, encountering legal issues but eluding consequences amidst the upheaval post-9/11. In 2019, Cartisano succumbed to colon cancer, leaving behind a contentious legacy and a troubled wilderness camp industry.Born on August 15, 1955, in Modesto, California, Steve Cartisano, a retired Air Force instructor and military special forces officer, founded the Challenger Foundation in 1988. This initiative aimed to provide wilderness survival programs for troubled teens, driven by Cartisano’s own tumultuous upbringing, which included parental abandonment.
Cartisano’s approach focused on rigorous physical and mental exercises, employing stern methods to reform wayward teenagers. Despite legal controversies, he persisted in operating wilderness camps until his passing on May 4, 2019, at the age of 63.
