I attended Kanakuk Kamps from when I was about 9-12 and I can say that those 3 years truly changed my life. I was raised in a somewhat religious household and attended a Christian school in the south, so naturally all of my friends pressured me and my parents into me going. At first it was fun if not a little silly. There are so many fun activities. However, the longer I attended the camps, the more they truly scarred me in ways that I can barely even comprehend to this day. First of all, the Bible studies, K'Life, and devotionals go completely against scientific fact. I truly believe that you can be religious and still believe in science, but this obviously does not apply to these camps. It wouldn't even have been so bad if they did not have so many cases where they were shoving these ideas into our impressionable minds! Secondly, the community there is extremely toxic and has continuously gotten worse. The amount of homophobia, misogyny, and shaming use is so incredibly blatant that it swerved my view of the world massively. As a young girl who was slowly discovering her sexuality, the mere thought that I could be gay made me want to die after what all of the girls in my cabin would say about the lgbtq+ community. It took me a very long time, and lots of therapy, to fully accept that I am homosexual. I also remember them doing these dances every year where the boys would ask us to dance. This wouldn't have been terrible if our counselors didn't shame us and call us selfish if we declined. It felt so disrespectful that the boys could ask us all night long but we weren't allowed to say no! The male counselors would also make fun of their campers if they did not ask a girl to dance. It wasn't even teasing, it was humiliation. I can only imagine how a queer boy would feel being surrounded by so much toxic masculinity. They also had this thing every year at all of the camps where they would reenact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with live people, and shame us for not being grateful enough for his death. And I just remember how everyone, including myself, would just cry uncontrollably because we felt so horrible about ourselves afterward. While these are just a few of the horrors that these camps have to offer, I couldn't possibly list them all here. So please, from a teenager who has been severely traumatized by these camps, DO NOT send your children here! This place is like a cult and I truly believe that my doubts of religion stemmed from this place. read more

If i could give this camp zero stars i would. I didn't want to leave a review in the first place, but it felt wrong not to. First off, IF YOU ARE NOT RELIGIOUS OR DO NOT PRACTICE RELIGION DO NOT GO HERE! I am agnostic and felt shamed my entire stay at this camp. I went with my cousin who is Christian, without thinking that the camp enforced religion so heavily onto you. My two cousins and I left after our third day there. Not only was i talked about behind my back by the other girls in my cabin for my religious standpoint, but i was so uncomfortable the entire time. During bible studies, i didn't have a bible and felt judged by every person in the room. I quietly stood by while they talked and prayed. During other "bible studies" the preacher talked about how atheists and agnostics are bad. How do you think that made me feel? These were the words of a worker at the camp "have you ever asked god if he is real?" i responded by saying no. why would i if i not believe in him? then she said "well he is real. tonight i want you to ask him to wake you up at 2am and he will prove it" ARE YOU KIDDING?! how utterly disrespectful this was is honestly hard to put into words. Again, do not go here. You will have all of your belongings taken from you (including jewelry, makeup, and electronics) and you will essentially be brainwashed by everyone there. When my aunt and uncle came to pick us up, a camp manager told us that we were putting her job on the line (which we were not) and that we probably would not be welcome there again, which i am perfectly fine with. Right before we left, a seeming nice woman came up to me and we just made small talk, she asked if i was involved in any church activities and i responded by saying that i'm not religious, so no. then she walked away from me and didn't talk to me again. How do you think this made me feel? My cousin (who suffers from separation anxiety from her parents, and IBS) cried the entire time, and begged to call her parents. they wouldn't let her. we eventually did get to go home, but not without putting up a fight. I absolutely hated every minute of it and am sorry i even considered going in the first place. read more

If I could give less than one star I would. This place is absolutely evil and left me with an unimaginable amount of trauma. I went for five years and, while the activities were fun and I genuinely enjoyed them, the spirituality aspect of it was nothing but a farce. Instead of teaching about God's love, they preached fear and hate and guilt-tripped me into thinking that "unless you do x y and z, God hates you and you're going to hell". I was literally told "God loves you, but not who you are" when I told one of the upper staff something very personal, and that's something that took me years to cope with. On top of that, sexism and racism were rampant. The girls and ONLY the girls were forced to sign a "purity contract" pledging purity until marriage, whereas the boys had a separate talk that ignored all of that and instead only focused on "impure thoughts about sex". The girls were also forced to adhere to modesty to "protect our brothers in Christ", yet the boys had no such policy and were clearly favored by the upper staff. As for the racism, Native American culture is completely disrespected and each person is inaugurated into one of the four "tribes" as means of promoting comradery and the spirit of competition. It's one thing to talk about the cultural roots of the camp, but it's another thing to have the camp director dress up in traditional Native American clothing and do traditional Native American dances as a form of welcoming. Their philosophy is fused with hypocrisy and fear-mongering, creating a barrier between "us and them", so unless you want your child to be traumatized, skip out on this place read more

A lot has changed over the past few years now I'm going now as I write with and from what I've read the place has changed now i cant speak for all to the camps but i can for two K-7 and K-kountry they were amazing now right now the corona virus is going around and they are taking huge safety precaution right now they are on the edge of cancelling but its still going to happen now onto the camps themselves they have wonderful and nice counselors and the party's are amazing and you are not being pressured to do things and each cam has there own good about them K-7 i had just done my first year there for the age you need to be to get in 12-18 the actives and the amount of learning was amazing there was a rock wall and sailing and so much more and the walk with Christ you have is amazing you are able to sit and watch your friends do it they keep boys and girls tee pees away from each other and have curfew for reasons but you do the actives with the guys the party's are really fun and thought out and they don't care if you don't have a outfit for it now for K country its different from K-7 they have actives what are made for the age group 6-11 and the boys and girls are separated as in all camps and with the biggest party they then go to the water park they have next to it to celebrate it and the food ever where is amazing and they really think about safety and lot in all camps they let you do what you want under the rules and what active your brain is assigned to so all in all as someone going i think i would be a fun camp for your kids or you * *sorry i cant spell or type that well read more

I went to kanakuk every summer from around 2005 to 2008. This place caused me psychological damage for years to follow. There were nightly sermons often filled with guilt about how we are awful sinners and need to constantly repent. I remember crying my eyes out every night because I was supposedly this terrible, sinful person and as a result Jesus had to be tortured and murdered. Amongst the kids in the kamp there was tremendous judgement. Who could be the most christian person there, who could out-christian who. I would leave camp every summer trying to convert all of my friends back home, since we were taught that everyone who wasn't christian like us would burn in hell. Every year they would do the "Stations of the cross", re-enacting the night jesus was crucified. They would ACTUALLY whip a counselor who was acting as jesus. As a child, it was traumatic. Their main teaching is "god first, others second, yourself third". While this sounded great when I was a christian, I now look back on it and see how that caused me to not have respect for myself. To only live your life for god and others and never put yourself first. While I was there I actually came in contact with Pete Newman, PLEASE google him if you don't know who he is. Nothing happened to me, however a kid in my cabin was touched by him. In summary, do not send your kids to this camp. It is physically, psychologically, and spiritually dangerous. This place should have been shut down a long time ago. Shame on Joe White. Shame on all of them. read more

Sexually abuses children. DO NOT GO HERE. Watch this video for more information about SURVIVORS of this camps abuse. https://youtu.be/idY-44IZ1SY Not a holy camp, a disgusting cover-up for old men to get their hands on children. Appropriation of indigenous tribes, teaches misrepresentation and disgusting values. If you are gonna show kids representation of already underrepresented groups, DO IT PROPERLY. Doesn't give families back their money after NEGLECTFULLY not testing their counselors and making sure they do a quarantine before camp starts. They will give your children covid and ruin their summer. Not only that, they'll sexually molest them. They absolutely brain wash you. Not true christianity is taught here. NOT loving. NOT accepting. DO NOT chance your child's well being just because of a few tone deaf reviews on this camp. I would never take the chance for my child to go through living hell. There are many better summer camps that are religiously oriented that are amazing. If you choose to send your kid to this camp after reading this review: I hope CPS removes them from your life because clearly you're sick in the head and not making a safe choice for your kid. To all of the amazing parents stearing clear of this place, sincerely, your kid will thank you later :) read more

I went to Kanakuk for seven years and participated in Kanakuk's other ministries such as KLIFE (which has a presence in over 20 U.S. cities). My brother was abused here for a decade, during summer months and year-round since Kanakuk encourages off-season interactions with campers by staff. During civil litigation, Kanakuk retraumatized him then silenced him with an NDA as part of the settlement terms. He was afraid to speak about his trauma even in therapeutic settings after that and died by suicide in 2019. Because of discovery in dozens of lawsuits to date, it is now known that Kanakuk leaders knew serial predator Pete Newman was abusing children (nude four-wheeling, basketball and swimming) as early as 1999. Despite multiple reports and red flags, they failed to report and covered up misconduct. And that's just one known abuser of many over several decades: FactsAboutKanakuk.com/known-abusers Parents should educate themselves by reading the investigative reports on Kanakuk Abuse published by USA Today, VICE News (Emmy Award-winning coverage), Christianity Today, and many others. read more

20 years ago I walked out of Kanakuk as a kid changed forever... Just last week I walked out with my daughter and our entire family changed forever... I'm so thankful for the role of Kanakuk in kids lives and the work that is done all over the World to reach families with hope and love! There is absolutely nowhere else you could go to have that much fun, be poured into by quality college-aged fun Christians, and strengthen your walk with the Lord. My daughter started school yesterday and already she is seeking out ways to bless her classmates, encourage them, and share the hope that she has been so fired up about since being home! She has been an encouragement in our home to begin learning Scripture and memorizing it, praying every night at bedtime, and praying in the morning for the day. Thank You Kanakuk, The Wiebe's at KWEST, and Joe White for continuing to pour into kids to reach the World for Christ! She will be coming back next year and we're hoping to send our 15 year old to K-Golf and come as a family to K-Kauai next summer! :) read more

Kanakuk and Kanakomo Kamps as well as other Kanakuk family retreats have been a part of our family for over 25 years. All of our children have been and continue to participate in these activities. This Christian and leadership ministry has been a blessing to our family. It allows the kids an opportunity for growth in a safe environment. Parents are free to communicate with staff at any time including during their kid's kamp weeks. Questions and input are always welcome! There are I'm Third and K-Life groups for the kids to continue gathering in a safe environment throughout the school year. As with any organization, there are boundaries, rules and regulations designed to help keep everyone safe and it does take a financial commitment to support the kids, maintain the facilities, staff who care for the kids and kamps, etc. just as we have in our own personal lives. This is a Christian summer camp. If you or your child do not thrive in this type of environment then Kanakuk is probably not for you. read more

I attended Kanakuk Kamps with my parents having high hopes for a positive and enriching experience. Unfortunately, my time there was marred by a deeply distressing event. I was subjected to extensive sexual abuse that has left a lasting impact on me. Even more troubling was the camp's response. The camp administration has continually seemed more focused on protecting their reputation than actually addressing the gross negligence and ensuring children's safety. This lack of accountability has only compounded the trauma I experienced. I believe it's important for potential attendees and their families to be aware of all aspects of the camp environment. My hope is that by sharing my experience, the camp will take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of all its participants in the future. Please take this review seriously, as it's written with the intention of protecting others from experiencing similar trauma. read more

I went to k-country, k-1, and k-2 as a kid and I also had the honor to work at k-kountry and k-2 Before I joined the US Coast Guard. These camp (kamps haha) gave me as a young nervous awkward kid a sense of independence and freedom, then they helped me as a teenager grappling with the concepts of religion to make my faith my own. The camp does hold church and other Christian services, but they execute them in a way that makes the experience personal and helpful so that a struggling person won't be totally crushed by Biblical law because they can learn about the freedom and forgiveness of Biblical grace. Of course there are your typical summer camp things, ziplines, kayaks, canoes, campouts, parties, sports and so much more, but what kanakuk accomplishes by creating a loving supportive place for children to learn about religion independently is what really made me into the person I am today. I can't thank them enough. read more

Kanakuk Kamps are incredible. We sacrificed to send our kids to Kanakuk camps in the summer and it was worth every penny. Would do it again and again. Our four children are grown and every one of them is very successful in their fields. They are hard workers, honest and moral in every way. We attribute it to the input at Kanakuk of solid values. They are also very caring and have sought to live by the "I'm Third" principle. We are blessed and were blessed through the hard work of all of the workers at Kanakuk. I don't personally know Joe and Debbie Joe White but from what I have seen is that they are genuine and caring of all of the staff and the campers. Wish there were more people like them out there who cared about this younger generation the way they do. read more

Kanakuk has persisted in hiding and minimizing the complete atrocities that it perpetrated knowingly on campers in the past. When they first knew of the sex abuse they protected their reputation instread of protecting kids. They kept the camp going without letting parents know there was a serious systemic issue and then they quickly re-organized the ownership status to limit personal liability. They kept the camp going in order to sweep in the revenue and protected the guilty because they did not want to hurt Christ's reputation. The lack of a huge sincere public apology ever is disturbing. read more

This was my daughters first trip. She is going into the 8th grade and she was the one that actually approached me about attending. After doing some research we agreed to let her go. Our prayer was for her to mature in Christ, and have fellowship with like-minded girls her age. I wish I would of known about this camp sooner. Next summer we are sending all three of our kids to it. They will be 17, 14, & 11. Our daughter came back fired up for The Lord and made some lasting friendships. P.S. I'm 41 and was mad at my parents for not sending me to this camp as a kid :) read more

The appropriation and misrepresentation of Indigenous tribes at this camp is NOT ok. The hundreds of years of genocide of Native people is not to be used as camp group names! Not only are these kids introduced to scripture, but they are introduced to taking from another culture that was prosecuted and tortured by the Christian church and then forced to practice Christianity. Camp is good for the develope of children, just leave anything Native based out of it, then it wouldn't be problematic. read more

Absolutely the best week of the year for my children! They come home more confident and independent each year all while growing their faith! As parents we are also able to recharge while the kids are away having a fabulous time in great hands! The past few years it has become apparent the life long friendships they are forming with kids all over the country will be very beneficial as they grow and spread their wings. Best thing we can do for our kiddos is continuing to send them to Kamp! read more

Kanakuk Kamps are simple wonderful! They have been such a remarkable influence on my daughter's lives. The counselors are excellent role models. Being a camper there is a life changing experience and one that I would hope many could have the opportunity to enjoy. We drive 8 hours to get them there! My daughters have attended K-1 and K-West and look forward to K-2. They also beg us to let them stay a month and not just two weeks. read more

Jesus didn't abuse little kids or lie to cover it up. I can't believe any parents would trust their children to these people. But it has always been that the ones who shout the loudest that they "are doing God's work" turn out to be the biggest perverts. This camp should be closed--permanently--and the land be given back to whichever indigenous peoples ir was undoubtedly stolen from. read more

This Kamp is not just about the sports, the adventure or the friendships, it's about THE HEART of the kampers. After 11 yrs so far of sending our child, we have experienced Kanakuk being an amazing investment in our child's confidence, friendships, heart and soul. Thanks Kanakuk for bringing God's word to life and partnering with us in shepherding our child's heart for the Lord! read more