College Academy — Local services in Easton

CAUTION INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - They may remove your child from the program depending on their own judgement without formal language assessment.

PROS: dynamic STEM program. CONS: Bossy policy, condescending attitude.

I'm writing on behalf of my Chinese friends who registered for their College Gate summer camp program and got their kids removed on Day 1, without refund and an objective language assessment. They were 2 boys, and it started with one boy drawing with markers on another boy. The director's description was that "the boys refused to listen and kept on behaving inappropriately". As an immigrant and a parent raising my own daughter here, I do see the boys' behavior are out of manner, at least according to American standards, but I don't think these are strict violations. The formal reason that the director gave us was "unable to follow instructions due to limited English understanding". However, the boys did OK in another U.S. summer camp a year ago, and according to my daughter who was in the same camp with them, during a science class where the two boys were separate, the boy who didn't initiate the drawing was perfectly capable of following instructions and behaving normally. The two boys were back to another same class later that day and then the director told us that they both had to be removed, and refused to refund.

Like what other reviewers said, even though the director was patient with us, they insisted on the bossy policy of no refund, no matter how unfair it was for the case. If the reason was the language barrier, at least some objective evidence / assessment needs to be provided. Though I suspect the real reason may be they are just arrogant and feel free to do whatever they want. They are abusing their program's popularity with a bossy policy. ONCE YOU PAY THEM, IT'S MONEY OF NO RETURN.

On the other hand, I have to admit that the STEM curriculum is well designed and highly engaging. My daughter has been enjoying it.

Disclaimer: I haven't interacted with the director f2f, it was from my wife's description as translator for the two boys' parents. Two stars rating is composed of a one-star rating based off the experience for the two boys, and a positive experience for my...

They are not a State licensed summer camp. They made use of an exemption under the State law for Recreational Camps to classify themselves as a Classroom Program. Hence they are not required by law to hire staff with CPR/First Aid training or conduct background checks on them. If you look at their website they call themselves "program" not "camp" and this is because of the fact that they didn't go through the State Licensing requirements.

They have a high enrollment of 200-250 kids in College Gate alone per each location. Accidents are bound to happen with such high enrollment. A parent has to trust that they are doing their due diligence regarding the safety of the kids because there are no other legal checks and balances in place.

Their program directors in Maynard don't know the basics of first aid training. I learned this the hard way when my child had a playground injury which they mishandled and then a year after the injury they still had no clue how to handle it differently. The owner is not trust worthy. I spoke to him twice over the phone and both times he was highly political. I asked him for copies of CPR/First Aid training for the program directors, a copy of the injury report (which I don't think was ever created) and a copy of the emergency policies and procedures. He blatantly ignored all of my emails. I emailed him 4-5 times, each time with a greater sense of urgency since my child was still enrolled in their program. I have not experienced such blatant disregard for a parent's feelings before.

I would caution all parents out there about this program. They run on their own without any external checks and balances that most parents assume would happen. Without those in place, a parent has to assume that the program does a high level of due diligence on their own for the safety of the kids. My own personal experience with them totally negates this assumption. When things are not handled well, which happened in my case, there are no proper channels for the parent to make sure that they are handled...

To be perfectly honest with you, I have had a 100% positive experience attending this camp. I had encountered Counselors and Counselors In Training that have only expressed gratitude and respect towards me, my younger sibling that I overlooked, and my fellow peers. I have never once witnessed or heard of another child being mistreated or having a negative experience of any sort on this campus. I have been provided with the opportunity to make many new friends in the classes I have enrolled in, I have never once seen another person that has felt uncomfortable coming back the next day. I still have connections with other College Academy Campers over one year later. The lunch that was provided, the amount of love and care extended towards me, and the amount of skills I was able to bring back home is beyond measure. I don't know what has gone on behind closed doors, your opinion is still valid. But, attending College Academy 2018 has given me permanent memories I'll...