"Hug Club" draws scrutiny at church camp Copyright by WCMH - All rights reserved Video

GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS (WCMH) -- An activity at a popular central Ohio summer camp is under scrutiny by both parents and the leaders of an area church.

Camp Akita is operated by the First Community Church, in Grandview Heights.

Last Wednesday, church and camp leaders notified parents that a group of 9- and 10-year-old boys were introduced to what is being called "Hug Club."

Loosely related to the movie Fight Club, church leaders state the children were instructed not to discuss the "Hug Club."

As one letter to parents indicates, the "Hug Club" was initiated after regular camp hours and not sanctioned by the church or the camp.

In a letter from Scot Nicoll, the Executive Director of Camp Akita, the children were told the club's purpose, "...was to end fighting in the world by being kind and showing compassion to each other."

Nicolls' letter goes on to outline the six types of hugs the counselors demonstrated by stating, "The most concerning of which, was demonstrated as putting your hands on the other persons waist and rocking your hips back and forth."

The parent of one child, who asked to remain anonymous, wrote to NBC4 in part, "Our reaction was shock about what happened...We would like a thorough investigation. We will not send our kids back."

According to church leaders, a retired police captain is leading an internal investigation in to how the "Hug Club" originated and how it can be prevented, in the future.

"Right now, I can tell you that this is the most important thing that this church is doing today, tomorrow and as long as it takes, to make sure we have gotten to the bottom of this, that we know every detail and we have done everything we need to do," said Cindy Harsany, Executive Director of the First Community Church. "We have seen the hurt and pain of some of this and we want to make sure that that doesn't occur again."

Camp Akita is located in Hocking County, where the local sheriff's office investigated the circumstances surrounding the "Hug Club." According to Chief Deputy David Valkinburg, no criminal wrongdoing was discovered.