Creative Steps Day Camp Says No to Reinstatement Swim Club Offer

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  Created by Karen Hatter | add comment

At a news conference yesterday, July 13, 2009, Creative Steps Day Camp director, Alethea Wright, surrounded by many of the parents of the children of the campers and their children, said the camp will not return to the Valley Swim Club.

Valley Swim Club president John Duesler and club members met in a hurriedly arranged meeting over the weekend, on the advice of an attorney to work things out with the camps whose memberships had been revoked, voting, in a nearly unanimous vote, to invite a total of three camps back to the club.

On June 29, 2009, children from the Creative Swim Day Camp, composed of about 65 Latino and African American children, kindergarten age through seventh grade and members of the camp's staff, including the camp director, arrived at the pool. The camp had paid a $1,950.00 membership fee to use the pool once a week through August 2009.

Shortly after arriving and heading to the pool, the children reported to Ms. Wright of hearing racial remarks made at poolside, with Ms. Wright and others seeing members taking their children out of the pool.

Several days after the day camp left Valley Swim Club, the day camp's membership to the club was revoked without explanation.

After suspending the camp's membership, Valley Swim Club president John Duesler issued a statement saying concerns for changing the "complexion" and "atmosphere" of the club had motivated the Creative Steps Day Camp's suspended membership.

Mr. Duesler has since apologized, stating his statement was badly worded, denying charges of racism being the reason for the day camp membership cancellation.

After the incident, a statement was issued by the Valley Swim Club stating that any remarks that may or may not have been made at the club did not reflect the club's beliefs. 

Creative Steps director Wright has spoken of the damage to the children, with parents saying their children were hurt by the incident, with many of the children saying they didn't want to return to the pool, fearing a repeat of the treatment they had experienced at the club on June 29.

The Pennsylvanian Human Relations Commission is investigating the June 29, 2009 incident. 

There is a discrimination lawsuit planned to be filed by Creative Steps and approximately 45 families against the Valley Swim Club, charging discrimination and breach of contract.  

Click here to read more.

Also at NowPublic :

Creative Steps Campers Share Their Thoughts on Valley Swim Club 

CNN Reports Swim Club Subpeonaed by Human Relations Commission

Amid a Maelstrom, Swim Club Reaches Out to Creative Steps Camp

The 'Race' Card