Maine Golf & Tennis Academy
Ripoff CAMP NIGHTMARE Beware of this camp!
- 07-27-2004
- 10
An introduction about the owner of Maine Golf & Tennis Academy, Joel and Christa Lavensen. Joel works as a marriage counselor in Mass. And currently holds down three girlfriends and a clueless wife. He also has a number of law suits pending from campers and former employees.
I worked for this camp for part of the season and discovered things there that would terrify most parents. I was so horrified I left 3 weeks in without pay just to get away!
The childrens cabins are bugged and video taped and there were hidden video cameras all over the camp, including the girls showers houses (police arrested the maintainance man for this one). There wasn't enough food for the staff before the camp started and once the children arrived we were left hungery almost everyday. The buildings around the camp are not up to code. Many of them are near collapse with broken windows, missing screens, or worse.
Children and parents were denied contact for days and the phones are tapped as well! They were promised outings that never happened, swimming that, for all but one hour per day was closed. And the weather can get over 90 in the summer there. This camp was named CAMP NIGHTMARE by the campers when I left. And if you go and check it out for yourself you'll soon agree.
Joel hires counselors come from countries around the world only to pay them minimum wage or fire them without paying them. Many times, I've heard, he has dropped them on side of the road with no money and told them find your own way home. This is the TRUTH!
This camp claims to be affiliated with American Camping Association, Maine Youth Camping Association, and Maine State Golf Association.
Frank Manitua, a main draw for this camp has decided to no longer endorce this camp for all of the above reasons.
Parents BEWARE of this camp!!! It's bad for the kids and even worse for employees! You can't always trust people that speak elequently! I learned the hard way.
Company: Maine Golf & Tennis Academy
Country: USA
State: Maine
City: Belgrade
Address: 35 Academy Dr Belgrade ME 04917