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TOMS RIVER – Three program counselors were suspended after they allegedly had children sit on blacktop so hot that it burned their skin. Township officials are telling parents that their children are safe at the summer recreation programs while the investigation continues.
A parent, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of her child, said that the class was punished for “messing up the art room.” According to a social media post, the entire class was made to sit on the blacktop and watch the counselors play basketball. They were told that if they complained, they had to sit another 10 minutes. Sitting on the blacktop caused, according to the mother, second degree burns on the child’s rear end, and his hands when he sat on them when the heat got to be too much.
A spokeswoman for the township reported that the three program counselors responsible for this incident were “immediately and indefinitely suspended.”
“This isolated and unfortunate incident, however, should in no way deter participation in Toms River’s exceptional youth programs. Providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all children involved is the township’s highest priority,” the statement read. The statement also said that there would be no further public comment about this until the investigation into the matter is completed.
The township is conducting its own investigation. A spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said that the issue is being investigated by the State Division of Child Protection and Permanency (formerly known as DYFS). The prosecutor’s office is not involved at this time.
Jason Allentoff contributed to this report.
They need to stop having teenagers running all these programs. YMCA does it it’s always a bunch of others even the daycare some day cares do it
Diana Lipman-Malko i agree.. Its fine for younger to help but a adult needs to be there also to over look everything and use the minors as a helper… My daughter goes to the one at west dover aprently and from my understanding there not affiliated.. But i also think it considerd “recreation” department so they all linked maybe im wrong… Wanted to put my daughter into lacey for 3/4 of the price vut mother dearest dident let me ? now i got this shit going around and no one can give me a answer on if all the day camps are linked
Try calling the ocean county recreation department maybe they have that answer.
Pay is probably low and all they get is teenagers.
Kara Ann My granddaughter was in the morning care for the YMCA when I came in to check on her one day she sitting on the bleachers by herself while the other kids are playing and that and charged kids are on their cell phone not appropriate
Why was there NO adult supervision watching over these teenagers?? I’m sure any adult would have known that the road surface would be much hotter than the air temp. Well, at least I hope they would?
??????????? well let’s check it out and see how hot it is let’s let’s put them out there I say let’s check it out by then
Tara Assunta
Yeah right.
Disgusting.
So while these kids were just sitting there on the blacktop where were the actual adults?
Allison Peters playing basketball.
Alissa Gapinski omg the ones playing basketball were actually adults? Holy shit I thought it was like the 15 year olds they hire, that makes it so much worse
Allison Peters usually the kid counselors are the ones who do a lot of the physical activity. They are often 15/16 yrs old. I haven’t read anywhere that they were adults
Suspended ?? they should be fired and charged with Child endangerment!
This generation played on xboxes and not outside in the summer time to know this could happen. Clueless!!!!
Probably low pay I bet and all they get is teenagers or unqualified workers.
Suspended?? Those counselors should be ARRESTED for child abuse! WTH is wrong with them?! I hope the kids heal quickly, both mentally & physically
Why aren’t the police involved??
Cindy Wetherell-carter ocean prosecutor office is investigating
Gina Theresa
Is these burns were caused by complete negligence, then why are the camp counselors not being charged with child negligence. Also where were the “adults” overseeing these counselors.
Where the heck were the ADULTS? I can see a place for teen counselors to HELP the program, but where are the adults that are overseeing these children???
This is criminal and someone needs to be charged, period
Stacey Humbert Soden plating basketball
Kelly Harris no, they were teen counselors, not adults
This place has been poorly run for years. I signed my son up for camp there when he was in first grade. It was awful, I pulled him out after the first week because of lack of supervision among issues. Kids were able to run in and out of the gate, the counselors would hang out on the picnic tables and the kids would run wild. I picked my son up and left….went back 45 minutes later and told them he was gone. They had no clue. It’s the same.horrible director that was there six years ago when I had issues with my child. It’s a shame that kids got hurt, but I hope that it will bring better staff or shut it down.
Town reassures children are safe???????? NO THEY ARE NOT!!!! THIS WOULD BE A FALSE STATEMENT