thirteen children went to summer camp thursday morning expecting a normal day of activities. by early afternoon, several were being described by their own parents as looking like “little baby zombies.”
What Happened at the East Orange YMCA
the incident occurred at a YMCA summer camp on north arlington avenue in east orange, new jersey. shortly after 11am on thursday, a camp counselor noticed one child a camper between the ages of 10 and 13 handing out what appeared to be ordinary candy to fellow campers. sharing food between children is explicitly against YMCA camp policy, according to a statement from the organization.
shortly after, one child began complaining of feeling unwell. within a short window, twelve more campers reported similar symptoms.
police and paramedics responded to the scene. all thirteen affected children, ranging in age from 10 to 13, were evaluated by emergency medical personnel on site.
What the Kids Actually Ate
authorities determined the “candy” the children consumed was chocolate laced with psilocybin the active compound in what’s commonly known as magic mushrooms. the edibles had been shared by one camper with the others without staff knowledge or consent, according to YMCA spokesperson richard k. gorab.
What Parents Described Seeing
the accounts from parents who arrived on scene paint the clearest picture of how serious the reactions were.
one mother, destany yasmina, told reporters her 11-year-old son who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and anxiety had consumed one of the edibles. she said she arrived to find him in a near “psychosis,” repeating “i don’t wanna die, i don’t wanna die.” his blood pressure spiked, and he was transported to university hospital as a precaution given his preexisting conditions.
another parent, cynthia cunningham, described racing her 12-year-old to the hospital while her younger daughter recorded video from the back seat. cunningham said when she arrived at the scene, “there were 13 children, they looked like zombies. it was sad, really sad. this shouldn’t happen. we send our kids to summer camps so that they can have something productive to do during the summer.”
a third mother said her 12-year-old daughter had taken only one bite before spitting it out but still appeared “very lethargic.” she was hospitalized and released the same day.
officials confirmed all thirteen children were in stable condition at the scene. one was hospitalized as a precaution due to a preexisting medical condition. all affected children are expected to make a full recovery.
What Investigators Are Looking Into
east orange police chief phyllis l. bindi called the incident “deeply concerning, particularly because it involves the safety and well-being of children.” police say a suspect identified only as a juvenile camper has been identified, though no charges have been filed as investigators work to determine exactly how the child obtained psilocybin edibles and whether any criminal offenses occurred.
both the east orange police department and the essex county prosecutor’s office are involved in the ongoing investigation.
What the YMCA Has Said
in a statement, the YMCA said the “safety of every child in our care is our highest priority” and confirmed staff immediately activated emergency protocols once campers began showing adverse reactions contacting emergency services, parents, and police.
YMCA Summer Camp Mushroom Edibles What Happens Next
police are urging parents broadly to talk to their children about the risks of consuming unknown food or candy from other kids, regardless of the setting. the investigation into how a minor obtained psilocybin-laced edibles and whether any adults were involved in providing them remains active.
all thirteen children are expected to fully recover. no charges have been filed as of this report.
follow this blog for updates as the investigation into how the edibles reached the camp continues.
