Anonymous
Post 08/01/2017 15:22     Subject: Re:DPR Camp "mean" counselors
Anonymous wrote:Not DPR, but I was at the V Street splash park and overheard a YMCA camp counselor make a verbal threat to a hit a kid no older than 5/6 because he threatened her first. I was appalled and found it tremendously unprofessional.


At one of the county programs, I overhead two counselors talking about how they would smack a child if it was their own child and the reason the child was talking back was because the parents weren't doing that. I could see there was a culture clash in terms of discipline and it did not sit well with me.
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2017 15:16     Subject: DPR Camp "mean" counselors
Anonymous wrote:We have had very good experiences at DPR Verano, Little Engineers, and Little Explorers camps. I'm honestly amazed at what a bargain the programs are for what my kids have gotten out of them, and I say this as someone who also uses the camps at Beauvoir and Sidwell. The Verano management can be strict about certain things that don't seem important to me, but not mean. Almost across the board, I've sensed that the DPR counselors knew and were fond of my kids and vice versa.

As for a counselor using the word "stupid," I can totally envision this happening. Many of the counselors are college students and some might still be rough around the edges in terms of working with young kids. As someone who worked at camps and recreational programs throughout high school and college, I have encountered occasional counselors like that at most programs, private and public.


It's not the college students that are the problem. The ones we've met at camps are enthusiastic and eager to be there. In our experience, it's the "grown ups" who do things like call kids stupid and yell.

They are generally not that educated and may be daycare workers who have lost their jobs or are on break for the summer, aides at schools, people who were hired because of a family or friend connection. They are at the camps for the money. Period. Not because they like kids.
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2017 14:52     Subject: DPR Camp "mean" counselors
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are having a good DPR little explorers experience. We're at a location with staff whom I've only observed behaving appropriately in terms of language and tone, including the summer job teenagers who run around the playground with the kids every morning. They have crafts every day, hold special events for the kids, take trips to the pool/museums, and use the great playground (including splash park). I could do without the movies but only BC my kid doesn't really like movies, and I totally get it for insanely hot or rainy afternoons. We're paying $500 for a whole summer. I appreciate that this option is available for a family like ours that's not high income. Signing up is stressful but if you stalk the site spots do open.

Do you mind saying which location you're at? My DC just started Little Explorers camp today, and I am feeling somewhat uncomfortable about returning. There were just a bunch of little things that my DH and I both noticed and were bothered by.


Chevy Chase - Livingston
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2017 11:17     Subject: DPR Camp "mean" counselors
My son has been doing Fairfax County Parks camps for 4 years now, and the programs and counselors are excellent. I can't imagine that kind of abuse being tolerated. The counselors are all college kids, and the program directors are professional adults.

However, they are more expensive, ranging from about $250-$500 per week for a full day camp (7 hours). Before and after care is extra. You get what you pay for.
Anonymous
Post 08/01/2017 10:28     Subject: Re:DPR Camp "mean" counselors
Not DPR, but I was at the V Street splash park and overheard a YMCA camp counselor make a verbal threat to a hit a kid no older than 5/6 because he threatened her first. I was appalled and found it tremendously unprofessional.