I'm writing this review months after the fact (well into the winter) because the negative impact…read morefrom last summer's Park Camp experience is still lingering in our home.
My daughter, who was thrilled to return for her second year at Park School Camp after an unforgettable first summer, continues to mimic an inappropriate behavior she picked up from observing the camp counselors: constantly hiking up and rolling her shorts to make them shorter. Despite our ongoing efforts to address and correct this at home, it's become a stubborn habit that's proven difficult to break, all because she saw it modeled as "normal" by the adult role models at camp. This was never an issue before.
The contrast between the two years could not have been more stark, and the disappointment is profound given the significant financial investment I made, as a lone parent household. Thousands of dollars for what is marketed as a premium summer program on a beautiful campus. The first year was, admittedly, truly exceptional: the staff were kind, knowledgeable, professional, and courteous; the weekly themes were creative and fully embraced; and the events were spectacular, thoughtfully planned, and executed with evident care and resources. It genuinely felt like a meaningful investment in the children's growth, joy, and development - a true, dream like partnership between the camp and families.
The following year, however, felt like a complete bait-and-switch. Cost-cutting measures were glaringly apparent in every aspect, from reduced staffing quality to stripped-down programming. Weekly themes were barely present - if they existed at all - they felt tacked-on and half-hearted rather than woven into the daily experience. Events that had once been "out of this world" were now subpar: fewer in number, smaller in scale, and lacking the creativity and polish of the prior year.
The professionalism evaporated; many counselors dressed casually to the point of inappropriateness, often in extremely short shorts that sent confusing messages to young, impressionable campers who should be able to view them as role models. I am not exaggerating when I say that I saw counselors' private parts showing on more than one occasion.
If I had had viable backup childcare options lined up, I would have pulled my daughter out right away and demanded a refund. As it stood, we felt trapped into seeing it through.
When I repeatedly raised concerns with the administration - specifically about the counselors' attire and its clear influence on the kids, proposing a straightforward solution like staff uniforms or basic dress code guidelines, I was stunned by their dismissive response. They refused to act, citing fears of "getting sued" if they enforced any standards. This struck me as a weak excuse; a simple, neutral uniform policy could have preserved professionalism and consistency without inviting controversy, yet they opted for inaction over prioritizing positive role modeling for the children entrusted to them.
Overall, this experience shattered our trust in the program. What was once a summer highlight has left lasting negative effects we're still navigating months later, alongside deep hesitation about ever returning.
Families paying premium rates rightfully expect accountability, consistency, and genuine investment in quality - not apparent corner-cutting that undermines the entire experience. Sadly, the second year fell disastrously short of the high standard set by the first, leaving us feeling deceived by what amounted to a classic bait-and-switch.
As a business owner myself, I fully understand how tough the economy has been on everyone these past few years, and I genuinely wanted to give the program the benefit of the doubt. Cost pressures are real, and no one expects perfection in difficult times. However, the lack of accountability and unwillingness to engage seriously with constructive feedback left me no choice but to share this publicly. I tried repeatedly to resolve these matters privately, but my concerns were not taken seriously.
I hope this review helps other families make informed decisions and perhaps encourages the camp to restore the high standards that made our first year so special. Regrettably, I don't think we will be returning.
