YMCA

Upon picking up our daughter Sabrina from Session 9 of Camp Foster YMCA in August 2021, she informed us that counselor Ellen was criticizing, shaming, and blaming the girls in the Navajo cabin.
Specifically:
• Swear words that Ellen used: [censored], [censored], Hell
• They were calling the girls up for Happy Club, etc. Sabrina was called for Unique Club. Ellen said to Sabrina when she came back from the stage "Technically you weren't supposed to be up there." Sabrina felt like Ellen ruined her moment.
• Ellen told the girls not to talk at quiet time, but then she would talk at quiet time with Jelly (the other counselor). Inconsistent with Ellen telling the girls not to do something but then she does it.
• Ellen told the girls that another counselor "felt bad for Ellen that her girls were so loud / poorly behaved."
• Ellen blamed Jada for falling off the log at campfire but it wasn't Jayda.
• Ellen claimed that the girls weren't listening and badly behaved, when actually she never told them to do anything.
• Ellen was often grumpy.
It is with great sadness and disappointment that we are writing a second complaint letter to you. This is in addition to the complaint letter written in August 2021, regarding the criticizing, shaming, and blaming of our daughter Sabrina and other girls by Counselor Ellen.
Our daughter Sabrina received a Christmas postcard from Counselor Ellen. Sabrina is concerned that:
• Ellen now has her home address. Ellen could come seek revenge for Sabrina's bravery in speaking out against Ellen's behavior.
• Ellen's card said "Hope to see you next year." This means Counselor Ellen will return to camp in 2022 and could hurt other girls.
• Sabrina feels like speaking out has only put her own security at risk and has not helped anybody. Ellen still has power over Sabrina, she feels.
I had a conversation with Director Josh Carr about this incident on December 15th, 2021 over lunch break, 12:42pm. Josh's attitude and comments were quite disturbing:
• Josh defended the postcard. He said Ellen does not have our home address. He said the card was written in the summer. I pointed out that the card talked about snow in Colorado. I pointed out that the card has Ellen's handwriting on it and our home address. I pointed out that we have no point of reference to understand if Josh is lying or if the postcard is lying. Or both!
• Josh thought it was perfectly OK for Ellen to send Sabrina a postcard. He didn't see a problem with it.
• Josh implied that he trusts people and is honest, and I am not.
• Josh did not apologize or seem sincerely interested in the emotional health of our child.
• Josh said he would email me his boss's phone number "if he had time." So far no email or phone number for any boss has been received.
• Josh said that there is no licensing agency for Camp Foster YMCA. There is no higher up for parents to complain to, according to Josh. This means they can abuse all the children they want and there is no recourse for parents or kids.
After a Counselor has abused a child emotionally, it is unclear to us that having that Counselor send the child a personal postcard is appropriate. Period.
Furthermore, we believe Josh's attitude of defending emotional abuse and shaming is not in the best interest of children attending Camp Foster YMCA.
We are incredibly disappointed that you have not taken our complaints seriously and have not shown any respect for our daughter Sabrina.