BOCANEWSNOW.COM OBTAINS COCONUT CREEK INSPECTION REPORT.
CAMP OWNER POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
CAMP PARENTS THREATEN BOCANEWSNOW.COM
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
COCONUT CREEK, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — The City of Coconut Creek found multiple, serious COVID-19 violations during a massive inspection of “Eagles Landing and the Night Owls” and declared the day and overnight camp “high risk.” Eagles Landing operates out of North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek.
The camp’s owner and director, Matt Cannold, tested positive for COVID-19.
The inspection, conducted on July 7th, came as parents of campers took to social media to attack BocaNewsNow.com’s reporting about COVID-19 compliance issues at the camp as being “fake news.” Some parents threatened the news organization.
From the report, obtained by BocaNewsNow.com: “Overall, Eagles Landing is a High Risk. Broward County Administrator’s 20-15, Attachment 16, defines High Risk as a summer camp where campers mix between groups and do not remain spaced apart”
From the report, obtained by BocaNewsNow.com: “Overall, Eagles Landing is a High Risk. Broward County Administrator’s 20-15, Attachment 16, defines High Risk as a summer camp where campers mix between groups and do not remain spaced apart.
Coconut Creek City Manager Karen Brooks said the City conducted the inspection after Broward County logged at least 15 complaints on its public violation tracking system.
“The City of Coconut Creek is obviously very concerned about the complaints that were entered into the Broward County COVID-19 Business Complaint system,” said Brooks to BocaNewsNow.com. “In the case of the Eagles Landing Camp, some of the complaints we received were observed upon inspection while others could not be substantiated. Nevertheless, we issued warnings on all of the complaints so that they were aware of the information we were receiving.”
The inspection, according to City officials, included code enforcement officials as well as a Coconut Creek police officer.
Here is the official narrative obtained by BocaNewsNow.com:
Official Summary of City Investigation of Eagles Landing Camp at North Broward Preparatory School. THIS IS WRITTEN BY CITY OF COCONUT CREEK OFFICIALS:
On July 7th, Code Compliance Officer Erick Jean-Baptist, Lt. Dan Noordeloos, and I conducted an investigation at the Eagles Landing Camp. Eagles Landing Camp is located on the campus of North Broward Preparatory School. The Camp uses many of the school facilities, including but not limited to, gyms, pools, dorms, classrooms, and the cafeteria. According to Camp staff, daily attendance is around 400 campers. The dormitories houseapproximately 85 of those campers. The camp is scheduled to be open thru August 7th.
To date Code Compliance has received 12 complaints alleging the existence of Emergency Order violations at Eagles Landing summer camp. The City began receiving these complaints on June 26. The Code Compliance Division issued Warnings for the violations and copies of Broward County Administrator’s Emergency Order 20-12, 20-13, 20-15, 20-18, and 20-20 to School and Camp Management. Broward County Administrator’s 20-15, Attachment 16, outlines the operation requirements for youth activities and summer camps.
At 11:00 AM City staff met with Stuart Kopels the Director of Operations for North Broward Preparatory School and Bobby Seqonia, Eagles Landing Camp Administrator. I provided with the Mr. Kopels the list of complaints. Mr. Koples arranged a guided tour of the Campus. Mr. Seqonia led City staff on a tour of the facility.
The investigation was primarily focused on Broward County Administrator’s 20-15, Attachment 16. The investigation examined many of the school facilities, the gym, pools, dorms, classrooms, and the cafeteria. At each location, City staff identified multiple Emergency Order Violations. I have listed them below. I also made these violations known to Camp administrators. It is important to note that many of the complaints received from 311 Broward were unfounded.
Pools• Staff not wearing masks (estimated 90% in compliance)• Campers not wearing masks (estimated 90% in compliance)• No Social Distancing- Groups larger than 10• Minimal signage regarding hand washing and mask requirements• Inadequate disinfectant dispensers• No Directional Signage
Cafeteria• No Social Distancing- too many campers and staff in cafeteria. (Camp needs additional location or staggered schedules)• Inadequate disinfectant dispensers• No Directional Signage • Minimal signage regarding hand washing and mask requirements
Gymnasium• Inadequate disinfectant dispensers• No Directional Signage • Minimal signage regarding hand washing and mask requirements• No entrance or exit identification.
Dormitories• No Physical barriers between bathroom sinks• Bathrooms are cleaned once a day. Bathrooms are required to be cleaned in morning and evening and aftertimes of heavy use.• Toothbrushes left directly on counters.• Staff stated that they have a procedure for staff and campers experiencing COVID symptoms, but a procedure policy was never provided.• Staff quarters are not meeting social distancing requirements.
Classrooms• Shared items not limited or cleaned between uses. • No physical barrier at reception desk.• Courtyard gatherings occur daily. This is a group event (Pep Rally each day) where social distancing cannot be maintained.• Minimal signage regarding hand washing and mask requirements
Overall, Eagles Landings is a High Risk. Broward County Administrator’s 20-15, Attachment 16, defines High Risk as a summer camp where campers mix between groups and do not remain spaced apart. This risk is increased by the abundance of observed emergency order violations. Many of these violations can be quickly corrected and I have already provided Camp staff direction. City staff recommends that the camp be brought in to compliance no later than Friday July 10th.”
City Officials told BocaNewsNow.com that a follow-up inspection on July 13th showed the camp was in “compliance,” but inspections — possibly unannounced — will continue on a regular basis.
I’ve never used the term fake news because it has always sounded so absurd.. until it has hit home. Whomever is JEALOUS of the camp’s success at navigating and managing the children’s safety needs to go cry himself a river. I have one middle school girl and one high school boy. My kids report every detail of their camp experience to me. I can refute every claim made in this article, Twice!
The camp shut down today because at least one more staffer tested positive, so…