<p>My son will be attending the Cambridge College Programme this summer July 18th for 3 weeks but I am really concern now since I am realizing that this summer camp is a scam. I have been trying to contact the CCP office and no one is returning my calls or emails. To date, we do not know what college we should be reporting to and the program begins in 4 days. Does anyone know which college is hosting the program this summer (2013). </p>
<p>Needless to say, I have already purchased airline tickets and paid for the program. Any information that can be provided is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>It will be held at Kings College in London. I will be attending as well. I still do not know what classes I will be in. My mother has called and emailed and they have yet to return either.</p>
<p>Hi…I am a parent of student presently in programmer as well. I did have trouble getting in contact via email and phones yet finally did get a response. After receiving Ms Edwards eloquent explanation of why the program was shifted at the last minute there was no further communication. These 3 weeks are indeed proving to be expensive. IF she did know back in Jan she would not be able to take the students to Cambridge then she falsified from the start. Have you tried to reach Cambridge to see-if indeed they had notified her months ago and for what reason? I do NOT want to worry my son while there…the students though are talking to each other about this and the coach driver made the students who arrived early AM wait until Ms Edwards arrived from US about noon. She should have arrived a day early at least to assure everything in order. So am wondering if as parents we should "band together and keep on top of this and determine what actions to take or Not. Your thoughts?</p>
<p>I was in the same situation, no communication ,no other contacts numbers, no answers back whatsoever. I hired a private detective,I found out her home tel.# and I asked her
to talk to her.She never answered her calls, neither.I had cancelled our plane tickets and sent my child in a different camp.I sent my son to international camps before and I am so furious with myself for not going with my first instinct. I am planning to take a legal action just to warn other innocent parents in the future about her unorthodox way
of treating everyone. I would like to ''team up ‘’ with anybody who feels deceived and even mistreated.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention that I paid for the camp and although I cancelled it way ahead of time,
she never returned the call or email to talk about the situation.The only contact with her it
was a conversation on the phone before I paid the full amount.How could you trust someone with your teenage children in a foreign country, when that person doesn’t even have the decency to talk to their parents ? Never have I encountered a organization of any kind to have one person only to run it.There was no other phone #,except for some travel agent who told me she wasn’t working for her anymore and when asked why she said:’‘You should ask her!’’.I surely hope that kids who r already there will be treated according to her statements, which are cleverly stipulated on numerous papers.</p>
<p>I would like very much to connect with other parents on this from previous classes or current as I have very big concerns and my son is currently there in the UK…please let me know who out there is working together. They went to Oxford and it was closed to them and if this is an important trip why was there no preparation ? Has anyone else heard from their children,are they pulling out? I am wondering about the classes now as well</p>
<p>I have sent Ms Edwards an email asking for details…she has minors with her and if she deceased or committed fraud something does need to be done…and the NHS group should also share some accountability on this one…</p>
<p>So I am currently in the UK with the program now and here is my point of view along with two other students. We are 17 and all going into our senior year. The program is VERY disorganized. We never run on time and it has caused us to miss certain planned activities. We walk EVERYWHERE! We have only been on a bus that wasn’t even air conditioned once and that was to Oxford/Warwick Castle/Stratford Upon Avon. The counselors give 100% with the information that they’re given and everything is last minute. Taryn doesn’t do anything with us except sit on the bus. She also takes taxis everywhere when we are forced to walk. Our theory is that she cannot be seen in England because she apparently owes Cambridge money. She works the director Elizabeth WAY too hard. She makes her organize all of our activities and run her personal errands. The other counselors are trying their best to keep us satisfied and busy. They often have no clue where we are going or how to get places when walking through London. </p>
<p>They say that the breakfasts are all provided for except for one we had to pay for. The first day, the only food they gave us was croissants and scones. They gave us these same leftover pastries two days later. Both days they gave us these nasty pastries, we had to go walking for long periods of time. By the time we were done, we were famished and dehydrated. One girl even got sick. Today was the first day we had a hot breakfast and a dinner we didn’t have to pay for.</p>
<p>Half of the classes that we were promised are no longer taking place. For example the marine biology course, history of medicine, abnormal and criminal psychology, community service, and ect. They had us re sign up for classes that were available at 1 in the morning knowing we had to get up only a few hours later. One professor did not even show up today leaving students with no classes to take. Classes were to start at 9 am and run until 10:30, but because of the disorganization they did not start until 10 am. Many students have left the program already because of the lack of organization.</p>
<p>The other students here are amazing and if it were not for them and the counselors the entire program would not be worth it. I suggest that you all call your lawyers…and your kids.</p>
<p>To add: Two students were never notified that the programme was no longer picking up students from Gatwick. This left the two students stranded in the airport and having to find a bus and taxi to get to the college all on their own. When we leave, they are sending the students to the airport in a car (once again, with no counselor).</p>
<p>I am ready to take some action here…I spoke with my son last night and have been told the students are now forbidden to walk around campus! I did NOT pay for him to be under house arrest when not in classes…I will gladly discuss with other parents what we should do at this point…</p>
<p>I would like to say a quick hello and maybe give you as best an explanation as I can about the situation for CCP 2013. The reason that Taryn Edwards is not in Cambridge is that she owes a vast amount of money to the Cambridge Colleges and the staff that worked for her in 2011 (of which I was one). After pursuing Taryn through legal channels the Cambridge Student Union agreed to veto her from using the University colleges for her summer camp until she had paid the students who had worked for her.
In 2012 Taryn returned to Cambridge using a fake name (Joan Baldwin), but remaining in significant debt has been completely refused access to the colleges this year. Until the week before this camp started she had not confirmed accommodation.</p>
<p>Taryn has never been actively involved with the organising or running of the camps, and until last year they were staffed by hardworking and dedicated UK students and teachers. However, due to her absolute disregard for her staff she is now relying on inexperienced US students who have no experience of the country or the city. </p>
<p>Kings College is a great university and your children will be safe there, however there is absolutely no doubt that you have been defrauded by Taryn, I have been trying to get in contact with her for two years and have only been able to illicit a response from her by creating fake emails and indicating an interest to attend the course. </p>
<p>I will be visiting the site tonight to try and meet Taryn - please do contact me if you wish.</p>
<p>Ms Cantagurl are you the person who gave my son your contact information? I am ready to help deal with this…not one who appreciates being defrauded. How did she get away with fake name last year…was that only to arrange accommodations?</p>
<p>Hello - Yes I spoke to some students yesterday evening. They are safe and I don’t think unhappy but obviously disgruntled. They have been put in a very unfair situation and regardless of the money that has been taken, their expectations of a summer in Cambridge have not been met. I work 10 minutes from the campus so am happy to make regular check ups and will field any concerns or questions that they have. Please let your son know that he is welcome to contact me with any concerns that he has. I would also be happy to speak to any parents who have questions. Jeremy is also someone with a lot of experience of working with Taryn and now runs a fantastic program of his own so is very qualified to deal with any issues that might arise. </p>
<p>Our main concern is that your children are safe and happy in a strange city - obviously I am eager to claim back the wages I am owed by Taryn but I realise that she is in significant financial difficulties and that this will be most likely impossible. In the meantime let me know how I can help you and I will do my best.</p>
<p>Thank you for responding…Matthew will be in touch. Financial dire stratus or not she has our children. She lives 25 mins away from me and it does not look that dire…Jeremy, Cynthia, I am contacting someone in London and someone here who are experienced in Legal process. The NSHSS is also part of the issue…awful responses via phone and email thus far.</p>
<p>I am the parent of a son who attended the Programme, along with 2 of his friends. One of his friends went on for the Paris leg of the Programme. They all had a wonderful time and a fabulous experience. I am also a licensed teacher with a degree in education, so I do know the difference. Taryn Edwards ran a meticulous and caring program and was totally involved and responsible. My son feels it was the experience of a lifetime, and it impacted his course of study in college. In addition, it impacted his getting INTO college, because my son included comments from his Programme instructors, and the college admissions director of his 1st (and only) choice, which happened to be the #1 private college in the U.S., took notice and commented on it. Reading these threads, I can’t help but notice that at least some of these negative comments seem to come from someone who has a competitive program-- and is only too happy to critique and invite parents to respond to him. Whatever the business issues, I have researched and in fact most of the negativity is fueled by social media and NOT Cambridge University which, in fact, even declines to make a legal charge or even issue a legal statement against Ms. Edwards. I would take that as the basis of forming an opinion, not a blog post or a competitor’s remarks. As for the student criticisms this year-- some say there is too little supervision, others too much. Some complain about walking , while Ms. Edwards, a woman who is age 60+, takes taxis. I seem to recall in high school and college that students always walked, while teachers had assigned parking spaces. This is a ridiculous complaint. I also recall many times in college having a last-minute curriculum or dorm change. Although there seem to have been some legitimate logistical issues, the questions seem to be: Is the Programme delivering a variety of quality classes? Are the students in safe and clean accommodations? Communication is important, it is true, but overall, all students seem to feel they are with a fantastic peer group-- a result of Ms. Edwards’ high standards and concern for the children. How sad that these students- -who are not babies, they are 16 and 17-- find cause for complaint because they are forced to walk in London and eat scones twice.</p>
<p>Dear parent…had you received a letter at the very last minute that the program was no longer going to go to Cambridge you would sing a different story as would anyone else…and if the competition was the issue then she would display professionalism thru and thru to allow those of us concerned to be convinced other wise. I could care less that she Takes a taxi…I care about what we were told the program would be and what we are finding it is not. She is the one we are trying to receive answers from and it appears she did know in jan2013 that Cambridge, not a competitor business, was no longer allowing her and students on campus via the program. Again, the lack of professional behavior toward the parents who did pay for their children to attend the program at Cambridge as she provides no further program changes information is THE Issue. Thank you again for your thoughts about our current experience.</p>
<p>Parent94e -I read many testimonies like yours. Without doubt,the program has been a success,that’s why we have chosen it. Nowadays, it is a shame…Mrs. Edwards is not capable of doing things according to her reputation anymore. I lost $6,500 (camp’cost) and $1,500(airfare) because I could not get in contact with her after one time talk on the phone.
She cashed the check in March and in May, when after so many tries to get in touch with her
to find out details, I wrote her an email to let her know I am cancelling.A lawyer wrote her a letter, two emails have been sent to cancel and I got no answer.
So, as far as I am concerned I lost over $8,000 and I had to pay for another camp for my son-all because of so called IMPOSSIBILITY OF PERFORMANCE.
I think she is overwhelmed and in denial.
But where are her leadership,responsibility towards the clients( parents and children) and
her conscience?
That’s how I got to wonder about her character and decided I wouldn’t trust her.
Is this Mrs.Edwards you know?</p>
<p>I think that there are two points to be made absolutely clear here.
Yes, the Cambridge College Programme, has - for the last 25 odd years been an absolutely fantastic programme full of wonderful activities and life affirming experiences for students from across the world. It was a camp that was enjoyed by everyone who attended and was for many, a life changing time. However - this was due absolutely to the staff that ran the camp. The teachers and students who organised the activities, the excursions and the day trips, who cared for the children and ensured their safety and happiness.</p>
<p>Taryn failed to pay her staff, and the colleges she was using - and therefore lost the people who ran CCP. She is, effectively incapable of the day-to-day running of the programme. On a number of occasions prior to 2011 (when no payments were made) Taryn was VERY late in paying her staff. Legal actions were made in 2008, 2009 and 2010. However - as the staff were committed to the programme and the kids they returned - after waiting 4 months for payment.
After failing to pay her staff completely it is perhaps unsurprising that Taryn has lost the support of those who actually ran her camp.</p>
<p>The second point is that no one wishes Taryn any harm or is in any way out to ‘get her.’ Simply I would like to recoup the costs of attending the camp as staff (let alone my actual wages). This amounts to about £250 over the course of a three week camp paying for my food, mobile phone bills and travel whilst looking after the children. The parents on this camp want recognition from Taryn that she has not produced what was offered from the camp and for her to return emails and phone calls. As she is the woman who is in loco parentis for these minors it is absolutely essential that she adopts a policy of openness and transparency. </p>
<p>I don’t think this is much to ask - of course I have personal issues with Taryn. She has ignored all emails, phonecalls and letters from me and my colleagues for over two years. She has stolen from me and treated me and my university in a frankly insulting way. However I am willing to engage in a dialogue that resolves the issues that have come up.</p>
<p>And there is still no response from Ms Edwards or any Programme personnel even upon sending repeated emails requesting a response or a call to obtain details of the current plans since what was to be the Programme hanged before students left for the UK. The students are indeed not babies, they are minors and outside of the country clearly not in hands that give me confidence…again, do not care if she takes a taxi anywhere and everywhere… I am the parent if a very bright trustworthy teen who went on a trip which should not be fraught with issues due to the adult leader…he and every other student there deserved and deserves better…quite lesson don’t you think? Trust no one? Adults will lie when it comes to money and control? That was not why I wet ahead and st him apply to the Programme…and probably not why you signed yours up a couple of years ago either…there sees to be no choice but to pursue this on legal grounds which I do not need to do if Ms Edwards responds so we and review the plans for the next 2 weeks. Now I do not want to speak to someone else…only her.</p>