I enrolled my daughter in the Scripps Performing Arts camp with high hopes of a positive and enriching experience, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a massive disappointment. I am appalled by the unprofessional and hurtful behavior displayed by the staff and organizers.Firstly, the camp's communication was utterly vague and inconsistent. When I inquired about the camp, they informed me it would run for five full days. However, the last day was nothing more than a 30-minute performance and then camp was over. I also wanted to clarify the appropriate attire for camp so I could prepare in advance. The lady I spoke with said streetwear or dance wear was perfectly acceptable. With my daughter being a dancer, she had a dance wardrobe of two piece outfits and leotards. When I had mentioned this on the phone, the response was “that would be adorable.” On the first day of camp, my three year old daughter was beyond excited, confident, and rocking an adorable two piece outfit. When I picked her up, she was wearing a very oversized t-shirt to cover her body. I was then told, that midriff was not allowed at the studio and to cover her legs. I was taken aback, as I had specifically clarified this prior to the start of camp. As we were leaving, my daughter (again, she’s three), said “mommy, I didn’t want that t-shirt put on me!” I feel the camp staff body shamed my daughter, which is absolutely unacceptable and offensive. I had confirmed her attire with them before the camp started, and they had given no indication of any issues. This incident left her feeling hurt and self-conscious. As a parent, I cannot fathom why anyone would think it's acceptable to treat young children this way.I originally signed up for 5 weeks of camp, in hopes of an extremely positive experience. Midway through, we were given the opportunity to attend a very special family vacation that coincided with her last 2 camp sessions. I politely requested a refund (partial would have been totally fine), and they gave me options that were impossible for me to fulfill.They showed no flexibility and outright denied my request, demonstrating a complete lack of empathy and customer service.I am deeply disappointed by this dance studio camp's conduct and handling of the situations. They failed to deliver on their promises, body shamed a young child, and showed no understanding or consideration for genuine personal circumstances. I sincerely hope that no other child or parent has to go through such an upsetting experience.Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this dance studio camp to anyone. As a parent, my primary concern is the well-being and happiness of my child, and this camp utterly failed to provide a safe, respectful, and enjoyable environment. I strongly advise parents to seek alternative options where their children will be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
