Summer camp sexual abuse occurs every year. Yet, it largely remains a dark secret. This must change.
The Need to Know
No states track sexual abuse cases specifically tied to summer camps. The only means to obtain such information is through media reports, court documents and public records act requests where applicable. These searches take an extraordinary amount of time. They are also far from sufficient to obtain accurate information.
We are working with a variety of stakeholders to pass state and federal legislation that would finally track such incidents. For now, all we can do is provide what we have discovered through initial research efforts.
Identifying Abuse
An anonymous source tied to CrimeStoppers had previously identified more than 1,000 victims of sexual molestation, assault and rape at camps. Click the button to review or download that case list.
Examples of camp sex abuse
NEW YORK — BRANT LAKE CAMP
Accredited by the American Camp Association
All boys
Private, overnight
Family-owned
Male abuser
Multiple molestations of young boys
$500K settlement in 2021
4.5 years jail time
Camp staffers warned camp officials who failed to act
The camp said the victim “failed to take reasonable precautions for his own safety.”
https://nypost.com/2021/06/04/family-of-alleged-brant-lake-camp-molestation-victim-gets-500k/
WISCONSIN — CAMP NAPOWAN (BOY SCOUT CAMP)
Accredited by the American Camp Association
Boys only
Boy Scouts
Religion-based
Privately owned and operated
Male abuser
At least three molestations of teen boys
$? settlement
21 months jail time
Boy Scouts Officials: “This behavior is abhorrent and runs counter to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America stand.”
VERMONT — ALOHA CAMPS
Accredited by the American Camp Association
Boys and girls camps
Privately operated
Male camp counselors were abusers
At least 12 molestations
Counselors informed camp officials and local authorities who chose not to act
Board of Trustees: “We hope some solace will come from our fervent commitment to ensuring the past is never repeated.”
NEW YORK — TEN MILE RIVER SCOUT CAMP
Boys only
Boy Scout camp
Privately operated
Religion-based
One alleged molestation of a youth male
Male camp director (former congressman) charged
Victim’s attorney: “Our allegation is that the Boy Scouts either knew or should have known that Ackerman would do this.”
Boy Scouts: “Had the National Organization been made aware of credible allegations against Mr. Ackerman, we would have acted to remove him from Scouting."
https://theislandnow.com/news-98/suit-alleges-ackerman-committed-sex-abuse-as-camp-director/
ARIZONA — CENTRI-KID CAMP (LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN RESOURCES)
Co-ed
Religious camp for 8-12 year-olds
Privately operated
Southern Baptist religion-based
Male camp counselors were abusers
Multiple molestations (gender unknown)
CEO: “Our primary concern is the safety and well being of all our camp participants.”
GEORGIA — WEST END SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH CAMP
Co-ed
Seventh Day Adventist religion-based
Privately operated
At least one, possibly three male administrator abusers
Multiple molestations of girls 8-12
Church officials: “We are saddened to hear that such actions may have occurred in our facility, and we are praying for the victim and his/her family during this difficult time.”
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/548863-man-charged-for-allegedly-molesting-multiple-children-at
NEW MEXICO — WESTGATE COMMUNITY CENTER
Co-ed
Public day camp
City-owned and operated
$? tuition
Multiple molestations of young girls
$? settlement
Male teens and male supervisor charged
Supervisor allegedly knew of abuse
CALIFORNIA — SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Co-ed
Public science camp
City-owned and operated
Multiple molestations of two boys and one girl
$? settlement
Male supervisor charged
County never checked references
County falsely claimed abuser had no contact with kids, alleged cover-up
MINNESOTA — CIRCLE R CAMP
Co-ed
Privately operated
Male camp counselor was abuser
Numerous rapes and molestations
Abuser serving 25 years in prison
Victim: “The managers at this camp turned a blind eye to the peril, and a blind eye to the safety of the kids at its camp.”
NEW YORK — CIRCLE C CAMP
Co-ed
Privately operated
Religious-based Christian camp
Male director-pastor was abuser
At least 21 cases of alleged sexual abuse
Abuser still runs operation
The Church: “A campaign to destroy Wayne Aarum’s (abuser) reputation.”
Victims’ spokesperson: “The notion that the allegations were ‘planted’ or suggested by counselors or ‘social workers’ is patently absurd.”
Boy Scouts camp… https://www.observertoday.com/news/page-one/2021/06/13-file-child-victims-act-suit-against-boy-scout-council/
Boy Scouts camp… https://www.nj.com/salem/2021/06/man-who-says-he-was-sexually-abused-as-a-boy-scout-in-nj-50-years-ago-sues.html
Jewish camp… https://forward.com/fast-forward/428540/ramah-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-child-victims-act/
Christian music camp… https://www.twincities.com/2021/04/08/st-kates-bans-composer-from-campus-strengthens-policies-in-wake-of-sex-abuse-claims/
YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) camp… https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/public-safety/2021/03/04/ny-child-victims-act-lawsuit-broome-ymca-sex-abuse-tyrell-sinclair-endicott/6901585002/
YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) camp… https://www.abc27.com/news/york-ymca-sued-after-alleged-sexual-abuse-at-summer-camp/
Camp for chronically ill children… https://indyweek.com/news/longform/exclusive-duke-university-camp-kaleidoscope-lawsuit-child-sexual-assault/
Accredited by the American Camp Association… https://www.masslive.com/news/2021/02/olympian-conrad-mainwaring-charged-with-sexually-assaulting-boys-while-a-counselor-at-camp-greylock-in-the-1970s.html
Accredited by the American Camp Association… https://www.khq.com/news/exclusive-there-could-be-more-victims-admitted-spokane-pedophile-has-ties-to-nbc-camps-camp/article_e15dd68e-c4b3-11eb-ac8c-a33a4f3780ac.html
Stop repeat offenders
This is but one of myriad cases where camps continue to employ sex offenders or other criminals despite previous transgressions at the camp. Camps ordinarily isolate the offender or cover up/deflect issues without assuming any blame.
Detailed reports of the world-renowned and beloved Camp Kanakuk in Missouri iterate a story of deeply disturbing sexual abuse, molestation, rape and more by a coterie of predators that the camp employed over a number of years. Incidentally, Kanakuk also had a COVID outbreak of roughly 300 children and staffers. Despite all of this Kanakuk is operating right now. Click the button to learn more about the crimes.
This Texas camp was the site of multiple rapes and other abuse.
An astonishing lack of oversight has already resulted in multiple lawsuits. Counselors posted these photos of each other on social media during camp season (children nearby). Counselors were drunk while handling firearms, sharing sexually explicit acts, abusing animals, feeding alcohol to minors and more.
