The Chronicle’s key findings

 Tens of thousands of U.S. teenagers have attended a network of leadership retreats that deploy questionable and potentially harmful methods.

 The “experiential learning” camps aim to promote social justice, but often rely on

controversial methods of unearthing students’ personal pain.  Experts described many of the camps’

activities as reckless, and misguided about the safe handling of trauma.

 The programs, which date back decades, are

unsupported by research and have had little

outside review.