By Jennifer Potash
The Princeton Packet
Friday, July 13, 2001

   The Princeton-Blairstown Center has hired the third-largest law firm in the state to conduct an independent investigation of allegations that camp counselors physically abused several campers from Princeton.
   Stephen Nislick, vice president of the Princeton-Blairstown Center Board of Trustees, said Thursday that the trustees had hired Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti, based in Morristown.
   The time needed to complete the investigation will depend on the availability of the parents and their children, Mr. Nislick said.
   Investigations by the New Jersey State Police and the state's Division of Youth and Family Services are also under way, as reported in Monday's edition of The Packet.
   The allegations reported to The Packet by several parents and children include counselors restraining an 8-year-old girl on the ground and a male counselor slapping an 8-year-old boy across the face.
   Also, they allege, some female campers were subjected to unwanted sexual comments by male counselors.
   Some of the parents said case workers from DYFS came by to take a report from the children this week.
   Mr. Nislick has said the center reported the complaints to DYFS. Several parents called the State Police barracks in Warren County on July 6.
   Sgt. Al Della Fave of the New Jersey State Police has said officers are attempting to schedule interviews with the parents and children.
   About 15 children from Princeton spent six days at the camp from June 25 to July 1, according to the State Police. They ranged in age from 8 to 13, according to the parents.
   The stay at the camp was sponsored by the Princeton Young Achievers, which also provides an after-school tutoring and enrichment program for low- and moderate-income students attending the Princeton Regional School District.
   The Princeton-Blairstown Center was founded in 1908 as the Princeton Summer Camp by a group of Princeton University students and alumni seeking to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged inner-city children through outdoor and camping experiences.
   Hendricks Davis, executive director of the Princeton-Blairstown Center, said the center has a very supportive and good relationship with the university but is an independent nonprofit organization.

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