8/11/25
RE: CHILD HEAD INJURY AND BULLYING
Be wary of signing your young children up for camp, at this facility, under the supervision of Howard County Parks and Recs' camp leaders.
I signed my 5 year old daughter up for The Gateway to China camp, held at the Roger Carter Community Center.The camp description provided is as follows: "Learn about the Chinese culture and language! This popular all-day camp is back for its 18th year! WeeStar Corp and Howard County Chinese School staff provide a full immersion program that includes fabulous classes that focus on math and the Chinese abacus, geography, history, science, Chinese music, arts & crafts, and games. Campers visit the center's pool twice a week." The camp took place from 8/4/2025 - 8/8/2025. The hours were 8:30am to 5:30pm. A participant form must be filled out before your child(ren) can participate, which gives the camp facilitators your contact information, emergency contacts, medical concerns, etc. It also includes a disclaimer that injury can occur and you waive your rights to hold Howard County responsible. I never expected a program that was described to me to emulate a classroom setting to be dangerous for a 5 year old. I also expressed on the Participant Form that my child was to not participate with swimming at the pool or change clothing, without parental supervision. My parental instincts would not allow it. In hindsight, I believe I made the right decision.
Throughout the week, there were some minor issues--such as my child getting wet at the pool and the camp leaders changing my child's clothes without explicit consent from us or notification. I wasn't aware until I picked them up from the camp and my adult daughter inquiring about the outfit change. Also, the camp leaders made us aware that my child was asking for extra snacks. Typical of children but I did address my child about it.
On Friday, 8/8, I assumed the camp day went well. My adult daughter went into the facility to pick my daughter up, and there was no mention of any issues. She looked tired but I assumed it was from a long day. Upon returning home, my child complained of having a headache. While discussing what could have been causing her headache, she revealed an incident that had occurred at the camp earlier that day. According to her, a few of the campers were bullying her by saying they were going to make her day "bad". They chanted something at her that she didn't understand. Later, one of the other campers pushed her out of her chair, and she LANDED ON HER HEAD! She began crying, but no one came to console her. She went to the main leader of the camp, and she was instructed to go to another camp leader. Apparently, the camp leaders were busy on their laptop, so my child put two chairs together and lay down because she was feeling "tired". Something she is accustomed to doing because she has been instructed to do so by the camp leader before. When it was time for the campers to go outside, the main camp leader instructed my child to stay with her, and they were lying down beside each other. I believe the main camp leader was trying to protect my child from any further conflict with the other campers.
I was never contacted about any conflicts with other campers or that my child sustained injuries. If not for my child telling me, I would have never known. Thank goodness my child was able to clearly explain to me and the medical staff, that evaluated her, what occurred. While preparing my child for medical intervention, I contacted Roger Carter Community Center immediately what I had learned and initiated an incident report with Justin Smith. Mr. Smith was very attentive and diligent. He swiftly escalated and submitted the report to Patrick Hughes (Recreation Supervisor). In about a half hour later, I received a call from Mr. Hughes. At that time, we were with the doctor so I missed his call--but he did leave a lengthy voicemail, that seemed to show his concern. I appreciated it. I drafted an email to send on Monday, during business hours. It outlined the details of the incident and my concerns, as a parent.
On Monday, 8/11, Mr. Hughes followed up to my email by calling me. He initially seemed apologetic and worried about my child. I question the genuine nature of his call now. He asked how my child was doing. He also mentioned how he read my email and confronted the camp leaders about the incident. OF COURSE they have a different version of events. They claim they didn't witness any incident of my child injuring herself or any crying. I guess they're implying my child AND medical staff is lying. No accountability whatsoever. This isn't the first incident in which staff did not alert me of issues, at an appropriate time. If you don't inquire as a parent, you will not know! Mr. Hughes proceeds by saying he don't know why there seems to be miscommunication but he doesn't believe they'd lie. How convenient...
*Full review in photos due to CHARACTER LIMIT* read more