A large company has taken over and they are tearing all the old buildings down, but at least one original campsite remains and it’s being used to house AmeriCorps volunteers. The fire pit surrounded by split logs is still there along with the old basketball court. The bath house where Poetter used to watch some of the boys is now being used by the volunteers. One still gets a creepy feeling like they’re being watched in there. The rock-lined paths through the woods are still there too. There is an eerie “something bad happened here” feeling at the campsite. Nothing really grows out of the ground and everything looks sad. Some of us joked that the campsite felt like it was close to the upside-down. You can still feel the pain from all the evil those boys endured.

This would be good if not for the sloppy scripting and the obvious typos that the narrator repeats verbatim

I’ve listened to quite a few true crime podcasts, and this one ranks near the top. It’s very informative and goes in depth into the history of this evil place. I have no idea why people are paying attention to the ads. Just fast-forward through them, who cares? Bottom line this is a good podcast and worthy of your attention.

This show is pushing a ridiculous antiLGBTQ+ agenda. Do better producers

Wow!! I listened to this podcast and was hooked right away to this sad story about a man who opened a business for behavioral boys at the beginning and later opened a separate girls program to only use it as free access to rape and physically abuse these young boys for years and years while charging all the parents to have the kids come there. He ruined so many lives. Many men and women were able to tell their story and though they survived, they will always be haunted by what happened to them for years. As they brought in more camp counselors, or as some of the boys grew up, they decided to remain as camp counselors. Not only did the new camp counselors turn a blind eye to what was going on there, but eventually they themselves became the abusers along with the ones that grew up there and then continued as counselors. Both the boys and girls were brainwashed. One man did try to report it to the nurse on-site, and by the time he tried to leave, he was beat savagely. He ended up quitting. At the girl camp, women led these kids. But just as with the boys’ camp, the girls were also raped. It is awful what these inhumane people did to these kids. There is a place for all of the guilty when they die. And I think it might be very hot there.

Heartbreaking to hear what evil went on at the camps. Very informative and sad to know that other institutions are out there and like that. Some are closed and some not. Little towns can sometimes harbor big evil.

I’m on episode 3 and throwing in the towel. I don’t know that I’ve listened to a pod with more ads. I’ve never quit one bc of them until now. It’s impossible to get into the story. . Avoid.

This is a very slow podcast. Interesting topic, but I finally had to turn it off after the condom ads and then the ads for Parlor social media.

Way too long! A lot of unnecessary content.

I wish the authorities interviewed and quoted would not have referred to the child sexual abuse as “relations.” Call it what it was/is. The interview with Chris Newell was really good about educating people on abuse. As a mom, it broke my heart for these children. The fact that so many people in power turned a blind eye, it angers me. Very well written and put together.

The podcast is well put-together. But having condom ads in every ad break during a podcast that centers around sexual abuse & pedophilia is just gross. I can’t think that Trojan would think this is good placement either. The content is hard enough to listen to without them cutting to happy sounding people talking about pleasure with bare skin condoms right after a man is talking about the abuse he went through as a child. Yikes.

Good podcast but hearing about sex abuse on animals and minors then cutting to an ad about bare skin condoms and going into detail how great they feel seems a little off putting.

The show is really well done. However, the inclusion of ads for Trojan products/condoms that include joking about sex is extremely distasteful and disturbing when listening to a podcast that centers on the graphic rape and repeated abuse of children.

A podcast about horrible sex crimes against children with Trojan ads thrown in constantly.

Not only inappropriate for the content of this show, but long and interrupting. Had to stop after the second episode.

I understand the need for ads, but condom ads in podcast about sexually abused children?!?! A more inappropriate sponsor couldn’t be found.

The podcast is investigative journalism at its best. But given the number of sexual assault victims that are likely listening to the podcast, the explicit ads are absolutely irresponsible. Another example of greed trumping basic decency and common sense.

I get the need for advertising, but this simply goes overboard with too many commercial breaks, and most of them from Trojan condoms. Kept fast forwarding through them, but that was annoying while listening while working out or running. BTW, does anyone see the irony in a podcast exposing sexual abuse having incessant breaks from a condom company? The show moves very slowly on top of all this, didn’t even finish the podcast.

The commercials are AWFUL. The story is way too slow.

Every negative comment here were about things I hadn’t even noticed while listening. I went back and can hear a couple the items BUT it wasn’t easy. You’ll focus on what your brain will allow. Didn’t even notice clicking in the background. (Like one review stated). Clearly that person can’t listen to the story, the information and focus on what’s important. Read the reviews after you form your opinion. So you’re not distracted. Also, I hate to say I loved this podcast because of the horrible damage it has caused for so many. It’s terrible to enjoy hearing a story where people looked the other way while the abuse to these kids continued. That there were many that also participated and then allowed animal abuse as well. More heads should have rolled. More accountability is due. The kids should have all been notified of the court cases, the settlement money, and been paid much much more. They should have been offered as much quality free therapy as they felt they wanted or needed. For their lifetimes. To any of the victims who might happen to read this: I’m sorry I’m sorry you were failed protection. I’m so sorry you weren’t listened to and I hope you all can set this in your way way back corner. Let it stay there as a part of you but not who you are. It happened, you survived and you’re better than all the trash that did this. They can’t take another day from you and all of them will have to answer and suffer for what they have done. Peace be with you.❤️

About half of every episode is an ad for another podcast that plays huge clips of it. It makes listening to the actual story almost impossible, and you’re forced to listen to another podcast that is not the podcast I would choose. Bummer that it has come to this point. Shame on you iheart.

This podcast tackles some extremely difficult content (definitely listener discretion advised), but it is a story that needs to be heard and discussed. I can’t recommend it enough. All my best to the survivors, whose bravery is spectacular. Thank you all for sharing about this horrifically difficult time of your lives.

I grew up next to this camp.. less than a mile away. I passed it almost every day while going around town. The people of the town would talk of the horrible things that happened here. I had no idea the extent of the things that happened here. I knew people that had attended this “camp” but never knew this was this bad.

Such an interesting story but good lord get rid of the clicking in the background. I’m unable to finish because it hurts my ears. At first I thought it was my head phones and tried other devices but no- it’s the podcast. Get better equipment or don’t podcast. Other reviews mentioned the commercials, which I didn’t really have a problem with. I get it, you need commercials to get paid but a few less would only make the story better. Overall, I would not recommend because of the quality.

It was very hard to listen to, if only because I cannot fathom working somewhere that allows this type of abuse. I have so much empathy for the survivors of this “Camp,” and appreciate their willingness and bravery to come forward.

It would be better told by a more seasoned journalist, and ultimately it was the terrible voice acting that lead me to stop listening to it further.

This is an interesting Podcast with really good content; I would be completely locked in and on the hook but, good god Iheart has so many commercials and they don’t even flow. Completely disruptive and distracting. I love Wondery productions because they flow. The commercials are unbearable on this production.

This podcasts is amazing. I hadn’t head of this camp before. It was great to her testimony from those who attend.

Great podcast. Only downside from a hear impaired listener… very hard to understand what Pat the lawyer is saying. Other than that it right up there with Dr Death.

The Ad drives me crazy, over all feels drawn out

I want so bad to continue because I believe the story is important, but the background music is awful! It sounds like static in the mic or an annoying clicking sound through each episode. It’s so distracting I had to stop listening. I hope someone will remove it because it isn’t even necessary!

There are many things wrong with this podcast. The narration of the court transcripts was awful. I can’t believe that someone would approve that. The amount of ads in this is way over the top. It was upwards of 2-3 minutes per break and would break up the telling of the story in the middle of something. This is not professional journalism. The reporter doesn’t use proper terminology in regards to sexual assault. Same on him. Like others have said, much of this seems to be just over the top all around. The subject matter of this podcast is very sensitive and could done well. This is not.

This was a great podcast. I appreciated hearing from the survivors- it gave them a real voice to get this story out.

that voice actor deserves a bonus lol

Things were a little drawn out. Instead of 12 episodes you could’ve gotten the point across in about 9. At times I found myself zoning out but overall a good podcast. I worked at a long term care facility for children for 6 years and if you think these issues only happened “back then” you’re wrong. I ended up quitting after 6 years because I went to legal authorities over witnessed abuse but the cops were getting kick backs. I ended up going to the newspaper about my facility and couldn’t take it any longer. Sadly this exact thing continues to happen…just google the largest residential treatment company for youth and America and you’ll read articles that make you sick.

This podcast is very well presented and researched. But there’s 2-3 episodes with phone calls that have inaudible dialogue. He should’ve just read the he quotes.

Lots of first person voices, tales told, and I’m sure mountains of information they were privy to. But the thread of the story is really hard to follow and not well told. It cuts from narrator spouting very vague sentences to stitched in interviews and horrible voice acting. Where is the exposition? The story needs an outline, a structure. It’s the job of the producers and creators to dig through all their research and assets and give it structure. If I wanted to listen to hours of tape and try to sort it out I’d research and create my own podcast.

The strength of the survivors is mind boggling. Thank goodness they have each other to relate to all these years later. May this help for the other facilities that exploit and abuse children (and parents) alike.

As GA native, I’d heard vague stories about Aneewakee all my life, but never knew the story. Thank you.

Why are there no pictures of these men on the internet. I couldn’t find any. What happen to the counselors? None of them held accountable? Shame Shame Shame. They should have closed all three locations and financially stripped of their finances!!! Shame. Shame. Shame.

This has been a very eye opening podcast, I can simply pray for the survivors. After a search and rescue mission in 2020 for a young boy that ran away from a boys school very very similar to the story told in the podcast, it was almost like I was hearing stories told in those 8 days of that search.

The absolute guts of the survivors who participated in the podcast, trials, and various journalistic endeavors in this case is beyond belief. Love and power to you all.

This podcast is incredible. Very professional and respectful of the victims but unflinching and honest. Everyone who shared their story in this podcast is to be applauded. You all are brave warriors and I salute you all. Thank you for speaking out, your truth may well save other kids from abuse.

For all those who agreed to speak on this podcast. Incredibly important and impactful

Well researched and produced, important story that needed to be told to those who didn’t know about it. Also, the reviewer suggesting this abuse happened everywhere and this reporting is slandering deceased people who can’t defend themselves -there is SO much documentation of the wrongs committed by these people that your comments are gross and disrespectful to the victims.

I found this to be very well put together. These folks gave a voice to those who were destroyed by a monster and his nightmare construct. All of those responsible for the torture they imposed on children should be exposed and dragged through the mud for eternity.

Harrowing, heartbreaking and yet such a well told and amazing story. Some of these events are just impossible to fathom. Well done to the producers on this show. Helluva lot of research here. Brilliant interviews and very honourable to the survivors.

Wow. This was very hard to listen to, but it was so good. Unfortunately, I know of others that had similar experiences when they were sent to “sleep away” camps. 8 years wasn’t long enough…

What about the parents? They just sent their children away for a number of year with no contact and were chill with that? Then when they see their child they are haggard and uneducated? Also, a few times it’s mentioned that the price point was pretty high for the school, were these exclusively affluent people? I need more information on these parents.

Absolutely a horrid story of known and uninterrupted child abuse. Very important story to tell. Top notch podcasting !