A Louisiana-based franchise of popular fast food chain Chick-fil-A is coming under fire for their new kid's summer program. The location is charging $35 for a summer "camp" aimed toward kids between 5 and 12. Created with the intention of teaching kids the inner workings of their favorite chain, many are calling some of the activities child labor and questioning the legality of the whole operation.
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Last week, a Chick-fil-A in Hammond, Louisiana, announced its summer program in a Facebook post. The $35 fee is for one, three-hour session (with six possible session options) with team leaders. Each child receives a kids' meal, T-shirt, name tag, and snack. In addition to time with team leaders, kids will also get to hang with the Chick-fil-A cow.
The flyer doesn't describe what the average day at camp looks like, but they do mention a "behind the scenes look at Hospitality and Service" as well as a "view of what's it's like to work at America's favorite quick-service restaurant."
Many people think these words are code for making kids work at the restaurant while their parents pay for it.
"Making kids learning fast food instead of reading, crafting, playing music, discovering nature, sports and so many wonderful things a kid can learn is disgusting ," one person commented on the Facebook post. "Corporations taking over the education of children is very, very dystopian. It reminds me the movie Idiocracy."
"Yay!! Child labor!!" another person wrote.
“I don’t like the stage of capitalism we are in right now for so many of yall to think this is a great idea," another person added.
All Chick-fil-A locations are independently owned franchises, the national chain told Today.com in a statement. There is another location in Texas that has been conducting a similar program for several years.
Child labor law violations in the fast food industry have become a growing concern in recent years. In 2023, more than 300 children across four states, including two 10-year-olds, were found to be working at McDonald's.
