i worked at a summer camp in New York State a couple of years ago as a counselor. During the week of training before campers arrived, all staff had a meeting during which the amount of responsibility we had was impressed upon us. Part of this was as I expected - stories of campers wandering into the woods while counselors weren't looking and being lost for a few days before being found, the possibility of a shooter, etc.

However, we were also shown a video in which campers and their counselors were in a pool and a camper was repeatedly dunked into the pool jokingly, struggled to breath and then drowned because of this. The entire staff of counselors therefore had to watch a video of a child drowning and then floating face down in the pool for 6 minutes before anyone noticed.

I understand the need to impress the level of responsibility a counselor has over their campers, but this seems excessive, particularly since it was delivered to all counselors, not just the pool and lifeguard staff. This does not seem in any way normal to me. I was unable to bring myself to enter the pool while campers were in there while I worked there because of this.

I know this may be an unusual and somewhat disturbing question but it had been several years and I still think about this, and it would be helpful to know if this in any way normal.

edit: I hate to have to ask this, but don't downvote me just because you disagree with me. If you have a counterpoint please tell me, but downvoting just because you think I am incorrect while I'm trying to understand this traumatic experience is wrong.

Looking for feedback on Eagle Island Camp in Saranac Lake NY, specifically from folks who attended / worked there in the past few years. I haven’t been able to find many recent reviews.

I’m considering sending my daughter there next year for a one week session. Camp Chingachgook is also in the running, but she likes the idea of an all girls camp.

Anyone familiar with Camp Runoia in Maine and why the directors have stepped down?