The Kanakuk Kamps Scandal and the Fight Against NDAs in Child Abuse Cases

For decades, Kanakuk Kamps was considered one of the premier Christian summer camps in the United States. Parents trusted the camp to provide a faith-based environment where their children could grow spiritually and socially. Instead, for many, it became a place of trauma.

The Kanakuk Kamps child sexual abuse scandal is not just about a single predator. It is about a systemic failure to protect children, an institutional cover-up, and the misuse of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence victims. This case has had a profound impact on child abuse advocacy and legal reforms surrounding NDAs, shaping legislative changes that aim to prevent similar injustices in the future.

Kanakuk Kamps and the Hidden Truth

The full scope of what happened at Kanakuk Kamps did not come to light until Peter Newman, a former camp director, was sentenced to two life terms in prison in 2010 for sexually abusing multiple children. Newman had used his position at the camp to groom and assault boys for years, and many victims later revealed that leadership at the camp had been aware of allegations against him long before he was finally removed.

Even after Newman's conviction, reports of additional abuse continued to emerge. Survivors and their families alleged that Kanakuk Kamps had offered financial settlements in exchange for signing NDAs, preventing them from speaking publicly about what had happened. These agreements protected the camp’s reputation while keeping the truth hidden, allowing Kanakuk to continue operating without public accountability.

The Role of NDAs in Covering Up Abuse

NDAs were originally designed for business confidentiality, trade secrets, and proprietary information. Over time, they became a tool used by powerful institutions to protect abusers and suppress survivor voices. The Kanakuk case exposed how NDAs were being used not to safeguard victims, but to shield those responsible for their suffering.

When families accepted settlements that required them to remain silent, it meant other parents continued sending their children to Kanakuk Kamps without knowing the full extent of the risks. This cycle of secrecy enabled further abuse and made it nearly impossible for survivors to warn others or seek the justice they deserved.

The Push for Change

The public outrage over Kanakuk’s use of NDAs has fueled a larger movement to reform the laws surrounding their use in child sexual abuse cases. One of the leading voices in this fight is Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, whose brother, Trey, was a survivor of child sexual abuse.

Trey, like many others, was bound by an NDA that prevented him from openly discussing his experience. He later died by suicide, a tragedy that his family believes was worsened by the silence imposed upon him. In the years since his death, Elizabeth has become a national advocate for banning NDAs in child abuse cases, working alongside lawmakers and survivors to ensure that no one else is forced into legal silence about their own trauma.

Her efforts have contributed to the introduction of legislation across multiple states, including Missouri House Bill 709.

Missouri House Bill 709 and the Fight Against NDAs

In direct response to the Kanakuk Kamps scandal, Missouri Representative Brian Seitz introduced House Bill 709 in 2025. The bill seeks to make NDAs unenforceable in civil settlements related to child sexual abuse, ensuring that survivors are not legally barred from sharing their experiences.

If passed, this law would protect future victims by increasing transparency and preventing institutions from using NDAs to hide abuse. It would also empower survivors to tell their stories, seek accountability, and participate in public conversations about how to prevent abuse in the future.

A Call to Action

The movement to end NDAs in child sexual abuse cases is gaining momentum, but it requires public support to ensure that these bills become law. There are several ways to help:

• Contact legislators and encourage them to support bills like Missouri’s HB 709. The more public pressure there is, the more likely lawmakers will take action.

• Support advocacy organizations working to end the use of NDAs in abuse cases. Groups led by survivors and legal experts are on the front lines of this fight, and they need resources to continue their work.

• Raise awareness about the issue. Many people still do not realize how NDAs are used to silence survivors. Sharing their stories and discussing the legal implications of these agreements can help bring about change.

• Push for accountability from organizations that have used NDAs in this way. If a school, church, or business refuses to commit to transparency, demand answers.

No More Silence

The Kanakuk Kamps scandal should have been a wake-up call long ago. The abuse, the cover-ups, and the silencing of survivors have caused immeasurable harm. While nothing can undo the suffering that has already occurred, legislative efforts like HB 709 and the advocacy of individuals like Elizabeth Carlock Phillips are creating real change.

There is still work to be done. Survivors deserve to be heard, institutions must be held accountable, and laws must be changed to ensure that NDAs can never again be used to protect abusers at the expense of victims.

The fight is far from over, but the silence is breaking. Now is the time to stand with survivors, demand justice, and ensure that no child is ever forced into legal silence again.