A summer adventure turned heart-wrenchingly tragic when six-year-old Michael Jeffrey Stewart drowned on the very first day of Liberty Lake Day Camp in Burlington County, New Jersey. Imagine sending your child off for a fun-filled day only to end up with a nightmare. Michael’s mother, Enjoli Stewart, voiced her devastation, lamenting, “Liberty Lakes messed up. Big time. And now I don’t have a son anymore.” Heartbreaking words that no parent should ever have to utter.
The incident occurred during the afternoon swim period. Despite the heroic efforts of a lifeguard who administered CPR, Michael was tragically pronounced dead at a local hospital. Enjoli, who had invested significantly in the camp, raised serious concerns about the camp’s safety protocols. Michael, being a beginner swimmer, was supposed to be in an instructional swim class. Alas, that crucial class did not happen that day.
In a somber statement, Liberty Lake Day Camp founder Andy Pritikin expressed profound sorrow, saying, “All of us at Liberty Lake Day Camp are devastated and grieving over the tragic passing of our young camper.” The camp has promised to beef up safety measures and continues to offer counseling through their clinical social worker. While it’s a good step, one can’t help but feel it’s a bit like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.
The community has rallied around the Stewart family. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $32,000 to cover funeral and memorial expenses. Enjoli Stewart has vowed to ensure that her son’s memory will be honored. “We’re going to do right by my son,” she said resolutely. It’s clear that for Enjoli, this is a battle cry for justice and change.
This tragic event should be a wake-up call for all summer camps to reassess and fortify their safety measures. It’s not just about offering fun activities; it’s about ensuring those activities are safe for all campers, especially the younger ones who might not yet have the confidence or skill in certain areas, like swimming. Perhaps the legacy of young Michael Jeffrey Stewart will be a nationwide overhaul of camp safety protocols. One can hope.
In the end, while no measures can bring Michael back, the lessons learned and changes made could prevent another family from enduring such an unimaginable loss. And maybe, just maybe, there’s some small solace in that. To all parents considering summer camps for their children, it’s a reminder to thoroughly vet these programs not just for their activities but for their safety and emergency procedures. Because truly, when it comes to our children, no amount of precaution is too great.
