Pros
The camp appears to operate with the children’s best interest in mind. They are kept very busy engaging in multiple activities and seem to enjoy themselves tremendously. Working with the children is rewarding. The setting in the mountains is lovely.
Cons
The health center, where I worked as a nurse, was surprisingly dirty and missing basics such as functioning vertical blinds or curtains for privacy within the bedrooms . Evidence of rodents (via their feces, visualization,and multiple traps ) were evident throughout ( including where I slept). Mold , both black and white, was also discovered within the center and contributed to the toxic environment. The owner’s description of the job responsibilities and the reality of a typical workday were polar opposite . The laid-back, relaxing atmosphere of camp that was described by the owner was found to be 14-15 hour days , six days a week ( not including the night time awakenings) of (barely) controlled chaos. The workload and sheer number of hours lead to exhaustion and contributed toward my becoming ill. Also, I witnessed complaints re : presented vs actual working conditions from multiple counselors and other staff there as well. By far, the working conditions I experienced at Camp Blue Ridge were the worst of my 27 year career.