Elizabeth Phillips - Camp Kanakuk: Exposing One of the World’s Largest Summer Camps | SRS #272

In this podcast episode, Elizabeth Phillips shares her deeply personal and harrowing journey uncovering widespread child sexual abuse at Camp Kanakuk, one of the largest summer camps in the United States. She discusses the tragic abuse and suicide of her brother Trey, the systemic cover-ups enabled by the camp's leadership, the complicity of legal and insurance systems, and the legislative reform efforts she has spearheaded. Elizabeth also explores the broader issues within the summer camp industry, the intersections of faith and institutional sin, and ongoing challenges with law enforcement and advocacy. Throughout, she offers candid insights into healing, faith, and the urgent need for change.

Elizabeth Phillips and Trey's Story

Elizabeth Phillips introduces herself as a Christian mother and advocate who has dedicated her life to reforming how the legal system treats survivors of child sexual abuse, a mission born from the abuse and suicide of her younger brother Trey. Trey was sexually abused and likely trafficked by a senior leader at Camp Kanakuk, Pete Newman, whose criminal conviction left hundreds, possibly thousands, of victims. Elizabeth details the devastating impact of her brother's abuse and eventual suicide in 2019 at age 28, highlighting how a restrictive nondisclosure agreement (NDA) after his civil settlement enforced silence around the abuse. Labeling her journey as "Operation Millstone," she explains her evolution from grieving sister to advocate fighting systemic failures that allow such abuse to persist, emphasizing the necessity of law reform to make real progress.

What is Camp Kanakuk?

Elizabeth paints Camp Kanakuk as a sprawling evangelical sports camp located in Southwest Missouri's Ozarks, boasting over 500,000 alumni and thousands of staff. Founded in 1926, the camp operates under the longstanding leadership of the White family, in particular Joe White, CEO and public face of the organization. The camp is deeply enmeshed in evangelical culture, attracting privileged families across the country and boasting expensive, multi-tiered programming for children from young ages through adulthood. Elizabeth describes its complex structure, including segregation by race and age in separate camps, and its expansive reach that includes international mission trips and parallel ministries like "Kids Across America" and basketball academies. Despite its reputation, Kanakuk has long harbored a culture of abuse, which was systematically ignored and covered up by its leadership.

The Abuse and Cover-Up

Detailed accounts reveal years of abuse by key perpetrators such as Pete Newman, who was arrested and sentenced to three life terms but was protected for years by the camp's leadership despite multiple reports of inappropriate behavior. Elizabeth shares harrowing information about Newman's systemic abuse, including filming children in exploitative scenarios overseas, and Joe White's dismissive attitude characterizing the abuse as mere "boys being boys." She exposes how leadership disciplined Newman with trivial measures and continually failed to report or stop his behavior. The camp's "Kanakut Child Protection Plan," designed post-exposure, was criticized as inadequate and, disturbingly, distributes material from pedophiles' own manuals as "training." Elizabeth highlights the complicity of camp counselors, networked therapists who betrayed confidential information, and the broader institutional failure that facilitated ongoing abuse.

Legal System and NDA Crisis

Elizabeth delves into the legal intricacies that further victimize survivors, focusing heavily on the widespread use of nondisclosure agreements in settlements to silence victims. Her brother's settlement included a restrictive NDA that prevented him from speaking publicly, and she outlines the coercive tactics survivors face to sign these agreements — sometimes under threat of case dismissal or legal sanctions. She critiques defense attorneys who enforce these silencing contracts, revealing them as standard practice despite the harm it inflicts on healing and public awareness. Elizabeth discusses ongoing fraud litigation involving Kanakuk and their attempts to federally sanction families resisting such NDAs, showcasing the tangled and adversarial landscape survivors must navigate. She also notes legislative victories to make these NDAs void or unenforceable, especially in Texas with "Trey's Law."

Advocacy and Legislative Reform

From grief to activism, Elizabeth has mobilized parents, survivors, and lawmakers to pass laws reforming civil statute of limitations and banning NDAs in child sexual abuse cases. She discusses her engagement with state legislatures in Texas, Missouri, and other states, facilitated by pro bono lobbyists and allies, to champion "Trey's Law," which strengthens survivors' rights to seek justice without forced silence. Elizabeth underscores the blocking efforts by powerful interests including insurance companies, the camp's influence, and church organizations resisting change. Despite opposition, she celebrates key successes and ongoing campaigns, including "The Campaign for Camp Safety" following the tragedy at Camp Mystic in Texas where 27 young girls died in preventable flash floods. She describes her coalition-building with grieving families to push for regulations mandating camp safety protocols and transparency.

Financial Motives and Institutional Complicity

The episode exposes the financial underpinnings feeding this systemic abuse. Kanak's transformation from a for-profit to a nonprofit and ultimately a church status entity served as tools to shield assets and evade accountability. The White family profited millions through complex LLCs and privileged arrangements while abuse proliferated. Elizabeth traces the flow of money into international ministries, including Haiti, where allegations of trafficking and organ harvesting are linked to partner organizations funded by Kanak and its affiliates. She calls out the role of insurance companies in perpetuating the problem by prioritizing cost over safety and aiding the cover-up through collusion. Highlighting the way institutions like churches, camps, and nonprofits prioritize reputation and revenue over children's welfare, Elizabeth critiques what she calls the "idols that demand sacrifice," the institutional sins that serve money and power at the expense of innocent lives.

The Role of Faith and Institutional Sin

Elizabeth reflects deeply on the spiritual ramifications of the abuse occurring within a Christian evangelical context, including the betrayal of faith she and her brother experienced. She grapples with how leaders used religious rituals—such as Joe White's emotional cross reenactments—as tools for control and grooming, and how theological justifications minimized abuse under the guise of purity teachings. The betrayal by faith institutions magnified the trauma and hindered accountability. She shares perspectives of theologians framing this as institutional sin, whereby idols of ministry power replace true faith and demand "sacrifice" in the form of children's suffering. Elizabeth underscores her personal spiritual journey through grief and doubt, and explains why she sees advocacy as part of Christ's call to bring healing and justice on earth.

FBI and Law Enforcement Failures

Elizabeth offers a critical view of law enforcement's handling of the broader Kanak scandal. She recounts multiple interactions with the FBI, IRS, local sheriffs, and inspector generals, expressing frustration at the slow pace, limited scope, and jurisdictional entanglements that keep perpetrators protected. Despite solid evidence and hundreds of victims identified, the FBI has only engaged with a fraction of survivors, and the investigation appears stalled. Elizabeth suspects systemic ignorance and political inertia, calling attention to how victims repeatedly bear the burden of educating investigators and pushing for action. She describes ongoing efforts to elevate evidence and pressure agencies but acknowledges the lack of meaningful prosecutions beyond a few high-profile cases.

Summer Camp Industry-Wide Issues

Beyond Kanakuk, Elizabeth draws attention to alarming cracks across the summer camp industry nationally, an approximately $70 billion enterprise involving millions of youth. She reveals regulatory gaps affecting 15 states that do not require criminal background checks for camp staff, exempt faith-based camps from licensing, and permit dangerous operational lapses such as lack of evacuation plans or adequate communication systems. The episode highlights the preventable tragedies like Camp Mystic's 2025 deaths during flash flooding and a related drowning incident at a California day camp linked to fraudulent lifeguard certifications. Elizabeth stresses the camp culture's prioritization of profit and cost-cutting over child safety and the need for parents to be vigilant and demand accountability. She contrasts this with select camps that have implemented advanced abuse prevention protocols and advocates for better industry standards and transparency.

The 2025 Camp Mystic Tragedy and Legislative Response

The flooding and deaths at Camp Mystic, where 27 young girls drowned during a flash flood while the camp refused to evacuate them, mark an inflection point in Elizabeth's broader fight for camp safety reform. She recounts the courageous advocacy of grieving families, who inspired legislators in Texas and beyond to fast-track laws mandating licensed camps, evacuation protocols, better communication at camps, and elimination of waivers and exemptions. She discusses the "Heavens 27 Camp Safety Act" and the creation of awareness campaigns and tools enabling parents to vet camps effectively. Despite camp Mystic's reopening plans with one camper still missing, the tragedy galvanizes bipartisan reform efforts, fueling hope that these changes will protect future generations.

Healing, Signs, and Personal Reflections

Amid the darkness of institutional abuse and loss, Elizabeth shares touching stories of spiritual signs, personal resilience, and sources of hope that sustain her work. She expresses the belief that the spirits of lost loved ones communicate through meaningful coincidences and encourages maintaining joy alongside sorrow. Elizabeth recounts examples from her own family and friends about receiving symbolic messages from those passed away, underscoring her faith that the work she does honors her brother's legacy. She emphasizes the sacredness of survivors' stories and the healing found in community, while also acknowledging the ongoing struggle to find peace amid trauma. Her expressions of love, grief, and determination offer a profound glimpse into the human spirit confronting unimaginable darkness.

Broader Context: Sexual Abuse in Other Settings and Prevention Innovations

Elizabeth connects the Kanakuk revelations to a wider cultural and systemic crisis involving child sexual abuse, trafficking, and institutional cover-ups across churches, schools, sports, and behavioral programs for troubled teens. She highlights ongoing reforms like the "Stop Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act" championed by survivors including Paris Hilton, and progressive moves in Texas removing sovereign immunity protections for public schools in abuse cases. Elizabeth speaks of promising preventive innovations, including medical treatments under trial to reduce pedophilic urges, and pushes for much greater investment in child sexual abuse prevention research and philanthropy. Her foundation focuses on impact investing guided by safeguarding principles, aiming to influence industries involved with children to adopt rigorous screening and safety standards.

Media and Public Awareness

Elizabeth discusses her strategic engagement with media, including overcoming initial reluctance from large outlets, and the importance of investigative journalism to expose facts that institutions wish to hide. She credits independent platforms like The Dispatch for paving the way before major newspapers stepped in. She also recounts the challenges of spreading awareness given the stigma and silence surrounding child sexual abuse. Elizabeth emphasizes the vital role of survivors, advocates, and public pressure in breaking the culture of silence and pushing legislative change. She calls on parents and communities to amplify messages and demand accountability for the protection of all children.

Personal Safety and Preparedness

Reflecting the risks she faces as a high-profile advocate confronting powerful and dangerous entities, Elizabeth mentions her acquisition of firearm training and everyday carry weapons for self-defense. This pragmatic approach underscores the often-hidden dangers whistleblowers and survivors confront in seeking justice. It also speaks to the broader necessity for vigilance and protection in combating entrenched systems of abuse and corruption.

Upcoming Efforts and National Expansion

Finally, Elizabeth shares exciting news of expanding the legislative victories with efforts to introduce "Trey's Law" federally and in multiple states including Alabama and Oklahoma. She notes the growing alliances with senators such as Ted Cruz and Jill Brand, and the establishment of coalitions to spread camp safety reforms nationwide. With robust lobbying, survivor-led advocacy, and legal innovation, Elizabeth envisions a future where children's safety is prioritized above institutional protectionism and silence.