Summerkids Camp — Hotel in Altadena

My family's experience there in August was surprising and beyond disappointing.

I enrolled both my niece, a 5-year old girl visiting from China and my son to Summerkid Camp.

My niece's first day in the summer camp was July 29. We walked in around 8:20am. Immediately, the Assistant Director Jaimi approached us and without speaking a word to my niece, Jaimi asked me, "Does she speak English?" Stunned by her frankness, I replied, "she speaks basic English, but she is not a native speaker, it will take her some time to adjust." Jaime immediately responded, "If she does not speak English fluently, she shouldn't be here." There was no 'Hello or welcome to the camp". It was confrontational from first moment we met Jaime. I reminded Jaime that we have talked over the phone a few months ago and she had agreed to let my niece attend. Also, we had already paid for the camp in-full, for both children, and were past the refund date. Jaime again relented and let my niece join her camp group.

Around 12pm, we received phone call from Jaime asking us to pick my niece up because, "she didn't talk to anyone, didn't eat her lunch, and has cried." I went there at once, and when I arrived Jaime told me what happened and added "My niece shouldn't be here and she be with her own people". After I pleaded that my niece needs a little time to adjust, the camp's non- structured format is confusing for her and she has never attended a summer camp before, she just needs some time, Jaime told us that she would give my niece another chance the next day, but if she act like this again, she could not come back. I brought my niece home that day.

Day 2 (July 30), My niece had a great day. She told us that she met a friend who also speaks Chinese. We were all very relieved. I noticed that my niece started to speak more English. Also she understood the camp's format and was able to enjoy the activities throughout the day.

Day 3(July 31), my niece came home looking sad but she wouldn't say why.

Day 4 (August 1) morning, when we arrived at the gate of the camp, my niece started to cry uncontrollably and refused to go in. She told us that her friend XXX doesn't play with her anymore. I thought this was just a common thing that kids do and still encouraged her to go in. Jaime saw us outside the gate and walked to us. I explained to Jaime what was going on. Jaime said, "Oh, her friend's name is XXX. We think it's not right for XXX to only speak Chinese to your niece, XXX should speak English and make other friends, and XXX's dad agreed with us."

This was the point I completely lost confidence of Summerkids. They have created a hostile environment for my niece from day one, minute one. To pull away my niece only friend on Day 3, in the excuse of "she needed to make new friends", to me, feels just very strange. I feel like my niece was being targeted and punished for not being a native English speaker. Not willing to continue to expose my family to this toxic situation, I pulled both my niece and my son out of the camp.

For the 4 days we were at the camp, it felt like at every turn, roadblocks were placed to keep my niece from integrating to the camp. A five years old child, foreigner or not, deserves...

My son was at Summer Kids last year. We found Summer Kids to be a warm family environment and my very picky, very sensitive 6 year old loved it. He liked that he got to choose his activities and we liked that he was safe, mostly outside (unless he chose to do an indoor activity) and would come home having thoroughly enjoyed himself. We are fortunate to have this camp as an option and plan to return and continue to be part of this family. Everyone was blind sided by the tragic accident that happened last summer. I felt the camp did the best they could given the details of the situation and my heart breaks for all involved. It troubles me to read recent media that seems committed to generate controversy (thereby increasing ad revenue?) rather than make...

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