thrown out of camp for first time (after years of going to camp)- what happens, do we get reimbursed

[Anonymous]

What is your kid's SN and was the camp aware of it? What was the behavior that got him kicked out? Did they promise to make accommodations and fail to follow through?

[Anonymous]

Please don’t pawn your kid off on an innocent sitter.

OP to 1257 who sent the above

You have no idea what you are talking about. One is a sitter who just finished working with us for 6 months and is going on to a professional career. He adores her and behaves for her. The sitter before her (who stayed 12 months before leaving for a professional career) has a break in a few weeks and is willing to come back and do a few weeks as well because she cares about him and us.

You do not know the context - I was asking for advice re the camp as I know there are lots of people on this board who regrettably have been through this hell. I was not asking for advice re sitters because we have former sitters who love my son and vice versa. He loves camp and has never in 4 years had an issue at all thus why we tried it. He went last week to a different camp because this one was not available. He did great at the camp last week. The camp for this week and next that he got kicked out of was one where he was very successful last year.

[Anonymous]

My ADHD child was almost kicked out of camp once and wasn't...camp offered to refund the money as we were in discussions about behavior modification.

Regardless of circumstances, you are in a tough place. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Eh, I don’t see why they shouldn’t give you a refund. When I have to ask guests to leave (read: boot problem people) from my hotel I give them their money back to make them go away. This doesn’t seem much different, especially for a kid with documented special needs.

[Anonymous]

OP I am so sorry you’re goimg through this. You must be so stressed and upset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry. I would sue them if they don't give you your money back.

Really? Without knowing any context, you jump to "sue the bastards!"?

This is why people hate lawyers.

what? there's a contract that was very likely breached. do you think people should just give away money to corporations?

NP. The county camps that my kids go to have a form that specifies when refunds are given for medical emergencies. It also states that children can be dismissed. IOW, no refunds when a child is dismissed.

In OP's shoes, I would ask for a refund but not expect one. Or sue for one.

How much do you think suing is going to cost vs the cost of the camp? OP already said she need the money. People do not sue because it cause money and time.

[Anonymous]

Almost all camps have policies that say they can kick you out and they don't refund your money.

That said, the one time I had it happen, the camp offered to give the money back for the upcoming weeks. I think they do this to maintain goodwill and avoid bad reviews, etc.

If the camp is kicking your kid out for a non-behavioral issue, you may have grounds to complain. Most camps are covered as a public accommodation under the equal opportunity laws, so if they are kicking him out just because of the existence of a disability, it may be discrimination and you can point out to them that they are violating the public accommodations provisions of the ADA. That said, the ADA does not require them to change the nature of the program or to tolerate dangerous/bad behavior, so if there's actually been an issue, you probably don''t have an ADA claim.

[Anonymous]

I think if you made them aware of his SNs, and/or he attended the camp in previous years, you have a case for politely requesting a refund. Phrase it as you need the money to find replacement care, and you have always recommended their camp to your friends, and you hope he can return next year after working on Problem X.

[Anonymous]

For goodness sakes! Just call, ask to speak to the director and explain that the refund it necessary to pay for childcare that you didn't expect to have to pay for since he was enrolled at their camp. Find some language from their website where they talk about how the camp is kid-focused, etc. and throw that at them when they try to resist.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry, OP - I’ve been in your shoes twice now. One Camp refunded the money, one did not, so I would definitely ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For goodness sakes! Just call, ask to speak to the director and explain that the refund it necessary to pay for childcare that you didn't expect to have to pay for since he was enrolled at their camp. Find some language from their website where they talk about how the camp is kid-focused, etc. and throw that at them when they try to resist.

Oh right because now it's the camp's fault that OP's kid either can't or won't behave? They could have used that space for a child that would behave and wouldn't be dealing with this issue at all. But your advice is to threaten and or bully them for your kid's mistakes? Parents like you are the WORST.

[Anonymous]

Wow PP you are jumping to a lot of conclusions

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm sorry for everything that is going on and for all the obnoxious posters on this thread.
To answer your original question you are perfectly within your rights to ask. I do think a decent, moral camp would refund you but it depends on the greed of the provider. I have a friend who was in your situation last year. She got refunded for future weeks but not the current week. FWIW, her child is a great kid and does great with sitters but the camp counselors were intolerant and not very understanding of the child's quirks.

[Anonymous]

Can you give us an idea of the camp? I heard some terrible things about one D.C. based camp we were considering, and I'm wondering if it's the same one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm sorry for everything that is going on and for all the obnoxious posters on this thread.
To answer your original question you are perfectly within your rights to ask. I do think a decent, moral camp would refund you but it depends on the greed of the provider. I have a friend who was in your situation last year. She got refunded for future weeks but not the current week. FWIW, her child is a great kid and does great with sitters but the camp counselors were intolerant and not very understanding of the child's quirks.

Oh my lord, the "greed of the provider"? They're running a business. They could just as well have enrolled a different kid who wouldn't have had these issues and not been out the money and time it will take to find a replacement. The "intolerant counselors"? So now all of the counselors are expected to revolve their routines, policies and procedures around the one kid that acts out when they are dealing with multiple children who know how to listen? The selfishness of parents is unreal. Yes, it's unfortunate that camp didn't work out for your kid, but this is not the camp's fault nor should it be their burden to bear. And presumably OP knows what the policies are because she signed some sort of waiver or contract stating all of this.