campyavapines.comWe Will Not Be Returning to Camp Yavapines
I sent my two sons (ages 10 and 8) to Camp Yavapines for the first time this summer, and sadly, it will be our last. My 10-year-old came home completely distraught, hugging us and in tears. After hours of silence on the drive home (we are military and live in Tucson), he finally broke down and told us he had been bullied throughout the week—verbally and physically—by another child in his cabin. He described having his feet stomped on, having his clothes/hair pulled on, elbowed in the head and side, tripped, and made to feel completely unsafe by this child.
The most disappointing part? His counselor, Samisoni, brushed it off. When my son bravely spoke up about his discomfort, Samisoni told him he had a "squeaky voice" and to “talk amongst themselves” to resolve it. There was zero communication to us from the camp staff—no calls, no emails, not a single word about any issues—until we found out through our son.
We trusted this camp with our children’s safety and emotional well-being, and they failed miserably. My ex-husband, who grew up attending Camp Yavapines himself and has been urging me for years to send our kids, was devastated by what happened. This is not the experience any child should have to endure.
Our younger son (8) had a slightly better time but told us he witnessed his big brother upset and crying more than once. He said he wouldn’t want to go back either due to this.
This was our first experience with Camp Yavapines—and it will absolutely be our last.
