I would give this place 0 starts if i could. My experience working at Camp Kamaji over the summer was nothing short of appalling. The management demonstrated an extreme lack of regard for both staff and camper safety, pushing us to our physical and mental limits without proper breaks or days off. In some cases, we went for weeks without a single day of rest, working from morning till night. This environment was toxic and exploitative.
One of the most concerning issues was the blatant disregard for safety. On days when the wind was dangerously strong, the management insisted on forcing children to windsurf, even as they begged not to participate. The camp prioritized activities over the well-being of the campers, putting them at serious risk.
The treatment of staff was equally disturbing, particularly the discriminatory practices. The Mexican staff members, who were already overworked, were threatened with termination for being even five minutes late to lunch, despite working outside in the scorching heat all day without proper breaks. Meanwhile, the white counselors were treated far better than the support staff, who were predominantly people of color. This created a deeply unjust and uncomfortable working environment.
A particularly egregious example of this double standard occurred when a supervisor, Laney Maguire, caught a counselor vaping in a cabin where children were present in the other dorm. Despite the seriousness of this incident, the counselor was let off without even a warning. In contrast, a Mexican cleaner was fired immediately after making a minor mistake in her cleaning schedule. The inconsistency and favoritism displayed by the management were shocking and unacceptable.
One harrowing incident involved management forcing me and another support staff member to work from 4 AM to 6 PM, despite the fact that I was injured. The complete lack of concern for our well-being was alarming.
Additionally, when I was on my way to see a friend at the barn, we both witnessed the horse riding supervisor engaging in animal abuse. She was pinching and slapping a horse because it wasn't following her commands. This happened right in front of the children, showing a complete lack of concern for who was watching. The mistreatment of animals was deeply distressing and further highlighted the toxic environment fostered by the camp.
Moreover, the camp hired a counselor who exhibited extremely inappropriate behavior, including taking young children into bathrooms without reason. This individual was eventually dismissed due to suspected pedophilia, but the fact that such a person was hired in the first place speaks volumes about the lack of proper vetting and oversight.
The camp's hygiene standards were also deplorable. Our bread cabinets were infested with mice, which would chew through the plastic packaging. Despite these conditions, management did nothing to address the issue. When inspectors visited, they were only allowed to speak with the white counselors who were treated well, while those of us who were mistreated were deliberately ignored.
In summary, this camp is a place where safety, fairness, and basic human decency are completely disregarded. I cannot in good conscience recommend this camp to anyone, whether as a place to work or send their children. The management's actions were not only unethical but also dangerous, and they should be held accountable for their gross negligence and abuse. read more
