First off: THIS REVIEW IS FOR PARENTS, KIDS, AND JOB APPLICANTS

So to future job applicants and parents(because I want you to know what we went through it’s important you know how staff was treated) I worked at Camp Keystone for one summer and I have never regret anything more in my entire life.

I was freshly graduated out of high school, well on my way to start college and was looking for a summer job to get some cash to get myself some dorm room supplies. Camp Keystone was recommended to me by my school. There was a mass email sent out to seniors to consider jobs and I loved the idea of camp counciling because I always loved going to camp as a kid and loved my councilors and wanted that same experience.

That’s not what I got.

After the interview process and getting in and orientation and everything I thought it was fun, but immediately I realized things were going down hill. There was no indoor break area and these days were easily 100 degrees and higher and they expected staff to sit out in the sun. We don’t get “breaks” either. Our breaks were 15 minuets of lunch that the camp made us pay for. The camp kept running out of water and on days I got told I had to save the water for the kids, which is understandable, but as an employee who was spending time in the sun everyday and walk long distances in the heat, it was kind of cruel.

The kids are basically allowed to verbally abuse their councilors because the directors just don’t care and our only course of action in any situation is to say “hey do you want us to call a director over here?” and if we do call them over they just tell the kid to stop and that’s it. Then it continues. It’s a cycle.

I had a friend fired because another parent left their child in a car to quickly check in their child (which takes less than a minute you literally just walk in and sign your name that’s it) and the parent threatened to call authorities if no one took responsibility.

No one helped me at all. I was always told I wasn’t doing enough, that I had to try harder, that I had to suck it up and take action, that everything I was doing wasn’t enough. I left more than not in tears because I was being yelled at. And I know what you’re thinking “what were you doing? There must have been something you were doing wrong that doesn’t make sense” well I’ll tell you. I played games with my kids charades, pirate ship, down by the banks, dress up games, create a character, spirit costume dress up, and a lot more. Apparently these games weren’t what the camp wanted. I always got pulled aside and yelled at in front of a group of kids. I was constantly stressed and in edge being told I was failing on a daily basis. I showed up hours early and stayed hours late every day to try and improve what and never asked for extra pay, and no matter what it wasn’t enough. When I sent in my email saying I can’t do this anymore I got a response saying that it was okay and that not everyone it cut out to take care of kids. But that was never my problem. The kids were fine most of the time, yes one or two a day get to you, but they’re kids. It’s the directors and the staff higher up on the food chain with their constant pulling me aside and telling me I’m not good enough. I don’t think I ever got any ounce of praise, which as someone who tried hard to impress and put my entire soul into trying to be the best councilor I could, really hurt because all I got was criticism.

Now just overall with what the kid experience most have been like. There was So many kids

The camp is always under staffed and there’s too many kids, so there’s not a lot of people to keep track of all the children. the children don’t get play as much as they want to at areas because the camp makes a big deal of “you have to do every activity every day”.

Not enough food, not enough water, long hikes and walks in 90...

This is our 5 year olds first time at camp. I was a little hesitant about sending him at such a young age but actually he’s not the youngest. There are campers in Junior Camp with him this summer that are 3 years old! My son has completed his first week at camp and loves it. I would without a doubt send my daughter when she’s 3 after the great time I see my son having. I feel my son is very safe. I feel the counselors and directors want to give the kids a safe and great experience just as they likely had themselves as kids. I had every concern a parent would have about sending a 5 year old to camp without anyone he knows, but I’ll tell you what changed my mind.

My husband and I decided late in the summer to send our son to camp before he starts kindergarten to give him some more social experience considering covid has kept his preschool experience quite limiting this last year and a half. The owner kindly met us at the camp one day even though tours had already happened on previous days we missed. He talked to us and gave us a tour of the grounds. After leaving we felt extremely confident this was the camp for our child. I looked into other camps but Camp Keystone had beautiful grounds, an owner that is extremely competent and passionate about his camp. He wants the kids to just be kids, especially after such a difficult year.

I made a call to Cali Camp prior to making a final decision about where to send my son. They told me I would not be able to come for a tour unless I signed up for camp first. I felt very rushed on the phone as well. They did not make me feel valued. When I called Camp Keystone to inquire about a tour, the woman I spoke to took her time to talk to me. She didn’t rush to end the conversation. She told me about her personal experience sending her child to camp at a young age and how much the camp meant to her family leading to her eventual employment at the camp. I’m glad I signed up my son for 2 weeks. Summer camp was a big part of my husband’s childhood and he is happy we found a place for our son to start his camp experience. I wish my parents had sent me to a camp as awesome as this one! I expect my son and eventually my daughter will have great summer memories at...

Today, Camp Keystone asked Yelp to remove my PSA. I am reposting as a courtesy to parents looking at summer camps: A few years back, my son broke his arm at Camp Keystone and did not receive any medical assistance there. Camp Keystone does not dispute this. Please make sure to look out for your child's safety.

Previous post: I don't normally write negative reviews. Not worth the time. However, in this case, I feel obligated to write because I don't want other kids to go through what my now 11 year old son had to go through. I totally get it. Camp Keystone hires a bunch of random kids to look after younger kids. It's a great business model. Accidents do happen and my son's been hurt a few times at other places but always received immediate help or medical attention. At Camp Keystone, he broke his arm in the morning but was not attended to or treated at all until he came home and I took him to the doctor. He was in a cast for the entire summer. By the way, my son literally just asked me what I was doing and I told him I was writing a review of Camp Keystone (which he attended over a year and half ago) and he just blurted out, "That place sucks! Why did the counselor have to kick the ball so hard at me?" My 11 year old son has no agenda, no ill will. He's just telling it the way...