Markham day camp allowed kids to perform inappropriate games: report
Posted November 4, 2011 8:44 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A summer day camp in Markham is facing some disturbing allegations that staff allowed kids to take part in inappropriate “challenges”, which included pantless pole dancing, licking the wall of a port-a-potty and sucking a counsellor’s toe, according to a published report.
One mother told the Toronto Star her daughter and other campers were instructed by counsellors not to tell their parents about the game in which kids allegedly completed inappropriate stunts for ice cream bars.
The alleged incidents happened last summer at the Voyageur Program at Camp Chimo, which is run by the town of Markham, The Star reported. The camp, which was held at Milne Dam Conservation Park, is for 12 to 14 year olds. The counsellors were reportedly between the ages of 17 and 21. They were assigned to other positions after the incident, the report states.
The parent also said her daughter told her she’d rubbed ash from a campfire pit in her face as part of the game and was then told to wash it off with muddy water from a nearby river.
The kids allegedly also did “body shots” with spit, the parent claims, and pole danced without any pants on and one kid reportedly sucked a male counsellor’s toe.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti told The Star the matter had been addressed and an independent review was conducted, but parents were reportedly unhappy with the official response and explanation as to how this incident was allowed to happen.
Did your child attend this camp? Email us at torontoweb@citynews.ca.
