Camp took kids swimming with Red Flag conditions

[bgirl29]

Thiscould get long, sorry. So last Friday night my DH and I go to pick up my DD12 from summer camp. She seems to have had a great time, had apparently made a bunch of friends. Well on the way home she mentions that the camp had bussed everyone over to lake Michigan that day for some swimming. She goes on to tell me that it was a red flag day, meaning that there was an undertow and 3 and 4 ft waves. She thought it was great fun how you could feel the water trying to pull you into the lake. Am I the only one that thinks this is VERY wrong on the part of the camp? Personally I would never let my children get more than their feet wet when there is a red flag. I sent her to this camp knowing they have a zip line into a different lake and climbing tower, etc., so it is not like I am trying to protect her from everything, I just think this was not acceptable. Also when we were picking her up some other friends son was there and he had a splint on one of his fingers. His mom asked if he had just hurt it that day, since she hadn't heard anything about it and no, he thought he broke his finger the first day so they just put a splint on it for him. Couldn't they have at least e-mailed his mom in case she wanted him to see a Dr?

 

[tadamom]

I would have been upset too. My kids aren't old enough for camp yet (5 & 2) but I would be very upset to find out that they had went swimming with red flag conditions. The red flag is up for a reason -- VERY DANGEROUS!!! What would the camp have done if someone had been hurt or killed? That sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. JMO. The splint thing would have hacked me off too. If this were me, I would be talking to someone at the camp about this.

 

[bgirl29]

Thank you, I am glad I am not the only one to think this is wrong. I have been debating all weekend about writing a letter or not.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I would be furious! We live at the beach and my kids are 8 and 4. They already know that red flag days mean playing in the sand and the occasional getting their feet wet (we generally don't even go on red flag days). The counselors should have known better. It's possible they didn't know it was a red flag day when they got on the bus and didn't want to disappoint the kids once they got there, but it is irresponsible. There must have been an adult driving the bus who should have been in charge. Totally unacceptable IMO.

 

[bcvprincesses]

I also would be very upset. A 14 year old girl drowned here last week because of a strong undertow. A 17 year old boy tried to save her and had to be rescued himself. A red flag is there for a reason and no one should be swimming because of the extreme danger. I think I would have a long talk with the camp to make sure this never happens again.

 

[LadyShea]

I would be furious! We live at the beach and my kids are 8 and 4. They already know that red flag days mean playing in the sand and the occasional getting their feet wet (we generally don't even go on red flag days). The counselors should have known better. It's possible they didn't know it was a red flag day when they got on the bus and didn't want to disappoint the kids once they got there, but it is irresponsible. There must have been an adult driving the bus who should have been in charge. Totally unacceptable IMO.

I agree 100%. We also live at the beach, and though DS is too young to really understand, we want to set a good example and teach him to be responsible for his own safety as he gets older. We also have a niece who is 9, and we don't want her to think these things are okay.

A red flag means no swimming. Period, end of story. It's no different than boating means wearing a life jacket. You don't want to wear it, you don't get on the boat.

I don't care how much the kids begged, the camp never should have allowed them to enter the water,

 

[annie1995]

I would definately be upset . They are really lucky that someone didn't get pulled out and drown. I would definately be writing them a letter, and possibly looking for a place to file a formal complaint. Good Luck

 

[bgirl29]

Thank you to everyone that replied. I have decided to write a letter, but everytime I try to write it I get mad all over again. I am not sure what I want the letter to say. I am trying to make sure I do not sound like an overprotective mom that they just brush off. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks again!

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

We also live in a resort town on Lake Michigan and there are several deaths each year because of dangerous conditions. The camp needs to be responsible with other people's children and held accountable when they are not. I would involve other parents as well. It is a serious risk for anyone to go out on red flag days.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I can't stand stupidty when it involves children.

How's this:

Dear Camp Director,

My daughter, Suzy Q has just returned from what she describes as a wonderful camp experience (feel free to insert her description). While she enjoyed all the activities there was one event she mentioned that disturbed me. I understand from Suzy Q that her group went swimming to XYZ Lake while the lake was under "Red Flag" conditions. As I'm sure you know, Red Flag conditions are defined as high hazard conditions with dangerous rip currents. Almost every beach facility strongly urges people to remain out of the water while these conditions are in effect. Even the strongest of swimmers can easily succumb to the force of a rip tides.

While Suzy Q enjoyed her experience I am unsure if she will be in attendance next year. This blatant disregard for the Lake warnings has me greatly concerned. Please contact me should you wish to discuss this matter further.
Sincerely,
PO'd Mom!!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I can't stand stupidty when it involves children.

How's this:

Dear Camp Director,

My daughter, Suzy Q has just returned from what she describes as a wonderful camp experience (feel free to insert her description). While she enjoyed all the activities there was one event she mentioned that disturbed me. I understand from Suzy Q that her group went swimming to XYZ Lake while the lake was under "Red Flag" conditions. As I'm sure you know, Red Flag conditions are defined as high hazard conditions with dangerous rip currents. Almost every beach facility strongly urges people to remain out of the water while these conditions are in effect. Even the strongest of swimmers can easily succumb to the force of a rip tides.

While Suzy Q enjoyed her experience I am unsure if she will be in attendance next year. This blatant disregard for the Lake warnings has me greatly concerned. Please contact me should you wish to discuss this matter further.
Sincerely,
PO'd Mom!!

Love it! I'd consider cc'ing any authority that might have camp oversight (YMCA if it's a Y camp, any regulatory agency if there is one). Just stick to the facts - the camp, which had respnsibility for your child during the activity in question, made a decision to allow swimming during red flag conditions.

Here is the definition for red flag conditions (from usla.org - International Lifesaving Federation):

Red – High hazard. Rough conditions such as strong surf and/or currents are present. All swimmers are discouraged from entering the water. Those entering the water should take great care.

While the beach as not closed to the public, I find it hard to believe that a group of kids were informed of the risk and told to take "great care" by the counselors.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Wow! i would be way more than upset! This is totally unsafe! My children would NOT be returning to this camp, no matter how much fun they have. It's obvious they do NOT have the safety of these children in mind. You need to write a letter for sure and you should be getting your money back too!

 

[bgirl29]

Thank you Eeyore, I will be using your suggestions. Disneymommymichelle, I know I am having a hard time thinking about next year. This is a christian camp that tons of children from our church attend every year. My youngest is 7yrs old and she has been so looking forward to her chance to start attending this camp. Now I dont think I can ever trust them enough to send her there. Wow I still dont know what they were thinking. My DD told me right away that it was a red flag day so I know the conselors were aware when they let them swim. Just stupid!!

 

[Minnie824]

I wouldn't want my kids swimming in Lake Michigan at all, let alone on a red flag day. I'd be upset as well.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Disneymommymichelle, I know I am having a hard time thinking about next year. This is a christian camp that tons of children from our church attend every year. My youngest is 7yrs old and she has been so looking forward to her chance to start attending this camp. Now I dont think I can ever trust them enough to send her there. Wow I still dont know what they were thinking. My DD told me right away that it was a red flag day so I know the conselors were aware when they let them swim. Just stupid!!

Stupid is exactly the word! please make sure you take this to the higher ups involved. They may not even know what happened. There are also probably many parents that don't know what happened! It's just scary when you begin to think about the What-ifs. It's so easy to let it go, since everyone is safe, but what if they do that again? Once again I will say you are sooo right to be upset.

 

[NotUrsula]

Sadly, church-run camps are often the biggest offenders where safety practices are concerned, mostly because they so often choose their staffs based on their enthusiasm and committment to faith, but seldom require formal training, and in most states church-run camps do not need to be state-certified. We tend to trust our churches too easily when it comes to programs like this.

This story from my area last year is a terrible example: http://www.kmov.com/localnews/stories/kmov_localnews_060710_riverdeath.432d0955.html

 

[Schmeck]

Before you send the letter, can you check with any other parents that you know who also had a child at the camp, at the same time, and at the same trip to the beach? Just to make sure that you have the facts straight from your child, as kids sometimes miss important points while telling about a situation. See if another child has the same facts?

For example, they may have gone to the beach to play, and were told only to go up to their knees in the water. Your child could still feel the pull of the water, and get hit by the waves, but wouldn't have been at as much risk as going up to the waist or shoulders. Of course it's still a risk I wouldn't want to take with a bus load of kids!

I think Eeyore'sthebest letter was very well written, and very appropriate to send!