More history on Circle C Ranch can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_C_Ranch. Camps are also required to collect information about the vaccination status of each camper and staff member, and perform health screenings upon arrival. Aarum, whose family has run the camp for decades and who is also listed as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Arcade, denied the allegations in an interview with 7 Eyewitness News. But 7 Eyewitness News spoke with a former employee at the youth camp who said she has spoken with one of the alleged survivors. If you are new to the Web site, be sure to complete the Sign Up information to receive a password to the private and secured portions of the site, as well as be added to our email list. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The accused, Wayne Aarum, is the director of Circle C Ranch camp in Delevan, New York. The camp cited state restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the change. An internal investigation earlier this year by Texas attorney Kimberlee Norris found 21 women who alleged Aarum touched them inappropriately when they were teenagers or young women. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. In late 2019, allegations of abuse against Aarum began picking up momentum when Carolyn McDonald, a former Circle C Ranch staffer who worked there in 2006, shared her story with leadership at The Chapel. Carnahan described Aarums actions as grooming and sexual predation. She also accused Aarum of inflicting what she termed religious trauma on her. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. We've seen nothing, heard nothing, and they're operating from an anonymous standpoint with everybody, and we believe they have an agenda to take over the ranch," Dekalb added. There was documentation of people going to Wayne and saying, Hey listen, like, we love you, but you need to be careful of this.' OPTION 2: Form your OWN GROUP (Adult supervisors will be responsible for the students they bring) TO REGISTER OR ASK QUESTIONS: Click Here! Circle C stands for "Christ Centered" which is the purpose and continues to be the. If you are new to the Web site, be sure to complete the Sign Up information to receive a password to the private and secured portions of the site. I have zero recollection of that. He continues as First Baptist Church of Arcade pastor and Circle C Ranch director. She also attended First Baptist Church of Arcade, where Aarum is pastor, and volunteered at the Circle C Ranch in the winter. Nothing happened. The camp was going to be a western town called Circle C Ranch (Circle C standing for Christ centered) and it would be legally owned by the Lord. My byline has run in the Ithaca Journal, USA Today, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and the New York Times. The lawsuit alleges that leadership of The Chapel have become aware of the growing value of the camp property and that Camardo has sought since 2019 to dig up dirt on Aarum, with the aim of hurting his reputation and creating a more favorable board of directors to control the Circle C Ranch camp and the use and disposition of its land.. But the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team heard from multiple women who said they were not included in the MinistrySafe investigation, which examined claims stretching as far back as the 1990s, and who said their allegations stem from a time at Circle C Ranch between 2000 and 2016. The family camp experience includes activities likechapel services, all-you-can-eat meals, horseback riding, laser tag androck wall climbing, according to the website, andfamilies will stay overnight together in the camp's on-site lodging. I found each of the women to be credible; patterns of predatory behavior emerged and grew more egregious as time passed. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). More: Christian camp Circle C announces changes to summer program after abuse allegations surface. The leadership of New York Christian camp Circle C Ranch defended operations director Wayne Aarum against claims that he engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with multiple girls beginning decades ago, saying an internal investigation showed there was no substantial credible evidence of misconduct. Neither I nor MinistrySafe (or any representative of the law firm) have ever offered information for payment to Circle C or Living Waters Ministries. What else might develop? In a letter to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Norris outlined dozens of alleged incidents connected with the youth group and the camp, including Aarum touching girls intimately, saying intimate things to them, and entering cabins while girls were changing clothes. Aarums lawsuit was filed by Amherst attorneys Steven K. Long and Olivia T. Paulo-Lee on Wednesday, the same day the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle published a detailed account quoting several other women who alleged inappropriate contact. Sarah Taddeo is an enterprisereporter for USA Today Network's New York State Team. The camp was going to be a western town called Circle 'C' Ranch (Circle 'C' standing for Christ centered) and it would be legally owned by the . However, this effort on behalf of Afghan refugees is an initiative launched and overseen by Circle C Ranch's. In its response to Norris' report, the Circle C Ranch board suggests that the volume of complaints against Aarum was related to the work he did, often with troubled teenagers. Chelsea Carnahan, 28, recounted how Aarum would stroke her back and hair, hold her hand and touch her legs during one-on-one counseling sessions and talks when she was a Pioneer High School student from 2006 to 2010. Few of the women who came forward during the investigation knew other; the behavior complained of spanned DECADES. I have been a staff reporter at The Buffalo News since 2002 and currently am part of the watchdog team. as part of a USA TODAY Network New York investigation, These women say a Western NY pastor, Christian camp president abused them as teenagers, Pastor accused of abusing teens sues Buffalo megachurch The Chapel for $2.5M, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Keeping his hands on their bodies way too long when it wasnt necessary at all.. I still dont know, although they have accused me and pretty much condemned me, I dont know what Im accused of, Aarum said. Mr. Petereson was willing to sell the land for the price of the mortgage - $14,800. At this age, he began to take care of his health. Delaware North scores with billboard with Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka, well, you know Police release names of victims in Millersport Highway crash in Amherst, Man accused of fatally shooting co-worker arraigned on second-degree murder charge, Buffalo Police with search warrant seize drugs, guns, arrest four, 5 years after Buffalo Diocese sex abuse scandal erupted, victims still waiting for compensation, Two men arrested in the Southtowns after chase and search, More than 300 words have been added to the English dictionary, Citizens travel to Peru's capitol Lima to protest against Boluarte, Senators react to the end of emergency SNAP benefits, Russia accuses U.S. of intent to use chemical weapons in Ukraine. Percy, as he wanted to be called, was considered by many as the founder of the Christian Camping Ministry. The allegations also were referred to the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating, according to Sgt. Prior to 2020, when COVID-19 preventedthe camp from operating in the summer, Circle C Ranch would host grade and high school-agedchildren without their parents, according to former camp staff. It would have board-walks, hitching rails, a Sheriffs office with two cells, an old country store, a dining hall, a chapel, cabins that could accommodate 192 campers plus 32 counselors, a swimming hole (pond) and a corral that contained a herd of horses. The longtime director of a Christian youth camp in Delevan is refusing to step down despite complaints that he inappropriately touched young women and girls. To reach young people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that they may know that they are born again. Aarum has repeatedly denied any allegations of inappropriate conduct. As a result of her abuse, Snell experienced mental and psychological effects, including fear and anxiety that have required professional treatment, the lawsuit alleges. Click here to read a copy of the MinistrySafe report submitted to state officials. To make a donation,click here. $10- ages 10+ $5- ages under 10 Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Its all lightweight stuff theyre bringing up anyway, Dekalb said. Click here to read the statement from Circle C Ranch. 7 Eyewitness News has also heard from more than a dozen people who have reached out to defend Aarum. "So much so, we are changing our traditional schedule to give your family the chance to experience everything we are offering this year.". It was those subtle touches that made me scared and uncomfortable., Another woman who is now 29 said that when she and her friend were waiting for a ride home from the camp in 2007 or 2008, Aarum came up behind the girl and said [he] hugged me from behind. Besides doing the cooking, she became the office manager, the accountant, head of the medical dept, and a mother to their 2 sons, Wes & Wayne. Chelsea Carnahan told The News that Aarum stroked her back, hair and legs during one-on-one counseling sessions when she was a Pioneer High School student from 2006 to 2010. It was 50 miles south of Buffalo, NY on a 315 acre piece of land that had been a farm. The former employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she feared retribution from Aarums family, said the woman came forward because Aarum still has access to kids through his work at Circle C Ranch. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. In early 2021, The Chapel held a members-only meeting to share some of the findings and to announce the church was suspending all activities and financial ties to Circle C Ranch. Just after the story published, the camp announced a change for how it will operate this summer, emphasizing the presence of families there and not individual teens. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. It matters in cities. Especially about potency and trying to defeat erectile dysfunction. Litigator Kimberlee Norris, the co-founder of Ministry Safe, a Christian sexual misconduct investigative and prevention service, said 21 women told her in interviews Aarum had touched them inappropriately, with incidents dating back to when he was a youth minister at The Chapel at Crosspoint, a megachurch in the Buffalo area. He has consistently denied all of the allegations against him. Does public speaking or speaking in a group make you nervous? She also said Aarum on occasion grabbed her from behind and pulled his pelvis tight to her body. Aarum and the Circle C board members did not respond when asked how thisinvestigation was conducted and who conducted it. He was not available Wednesday to speak to The News, said Dekalb. Its a thrill to see what God has done over the years. Toll free: (866) 364-9980, Sex Abuse Survivors Call for System-Wide Audit of Southern Baptist Convention, Church Hires GRACE to Investigate Allegations of Sexual Abuse by Musician Chris Rice, Facing Trial, Brian Houston Steps Aside as Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong, Mercy Corps Rocked by Sexual Abuse Claims Against Founder, Alabama Church Leader Charged with Sexually Abusing Member of Her Youth Group. She termed religious trauma on her News spoke with a former employee the! And continues to be called, was considered by many as the founder of the following steps speak the! 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