Police Investigating After Man "Put His Hands On" Young Camper In State Forest

Nantucket Police are investigating an incident in the State Forest last week when an unknown man "put his hands" on a young camper that was there participating in the Boys & Girls Club summer camp program.

"A man came up behind a camper and put his hands on the camper's shoulders/neck," Boys and Girls Club executive director Jamie Foster said in a statement shared with the Current. "The camp counselor immediately secured the camper, alerted the other counselor, and brought all of the campers to a safe area."

The unsettling event has prompted the Boys and Girls Club to cancel all future camp trips to the State Forest for the remainder of the summer.

"NBGC alerted parents and the police once the campers returned to the Club," Foster said. "Following the incident the police informed the Club that they now believe that there are people living in the State Forest. This is the first time the NBGC has been alerted to any security concerns at that location."

Nantucket Current has requested additional information about the incident from the Nantucket Police Department as well as an update on the investigation, and we are awaiting the department's response.

Little more is known about the incident at this point, and it is unclear if police have a description of the person who is alleged to have put his hands on the camper.

We will post additional updates here as we continue to seek more information.

Below is the full statement from Foster at the Boys and Girls Club:

"Last week, Boys & Girls Club camp counselors took campers to the State Forest, as the Club has been doing for years. Our counselors, required to work in teams, followed their training and all protocols in place to protect the safety and well being of our campers. A man came up behind a camper and put his hands on the camper's shoulders/neck. The camp counselor immediately secured the camper, alerted the other counselor, and brought all of the campers to a safe area.

After the counselors determined all the children were safe, they got into the NBGC van and left the Forest. NBGC alerted parents and the police once the campers returned to the Club.

Following the incident the police informed the Club that they now believe that there are people living in the State Forest. This is the first time the NBGC has been alerted to any security concerns at that location. As a result, the Club has canceled all future trips to the State Forest this summer.

While this was a traumatic situation for our campers and tested the training and quick thinking of our counselors., we are heartened to see our systems and personnel were well equipped to protect the children in our care. We are proud of the resilience of our campers and the bravery of our counselors."