This Chick-fil-A Controversy Has The Internet Fired Up

Some say the brand's new summer camp has crossed a line.

Chick-fil-A is a childhood favorite for many. Nothing screams classic kid food more than an order of chicken nuggets and waffle fries. Throw in a vanilla ice cream cone for dessert and a stop inside one of their indoor playgrounds, and it's hard for most kids not to become obsessed. But one Chick-fil-A location is taking its popularity with younger generations to another level, and some say the brand has crossed a line.

Chick-fil-A's Summer Camp Controversy

The company's West Hammond, La. location announced last week in a Facebook post that they are offering several sessions of “Chick-fil-A Summer Camp” in July for kids to get a behind the scenes look at how a Chick-fil-A store operates.

The camp is aimed at kids from ages 5-12 and costs $35. For the three hour duration of the program, kids will spend time with the Chick-fil-A cow mascot and restaurant team members. They also will get a "behind-the-scenes view" of what it is like to work at a Chick-fil-A and receive a kids meal, snack, and t-shirt.

The summer camp put the fast food company in some hot water. The camp activities were said to originally include: "learning dining room host and customer service skills, learn how to take a guest order, learn how to bag a guest order, tour the kitchen and box your own nugget and make your own ice dream cone or cup." Critics have said that having kids pay to essentially work at a Chick-fil-A feels exploitative.

Many have taken their thoughts to social media. A Hammond location Facebook post that announced extra dates for the program has over 1,000 comments. One user called the idea “child labor with extra steps,” while others urged people to report the program for violating child labor laws.

Another commenter called it “the stupidest thing I’ve read on the Internet today.” While the original post has been updated to clarify that kids will just be getting a "view" behind the scenes and will not be working in the restaurant, viewers remain confused on what the summer camp actually entails.

But, others have come to the idea’s defense. In a post that received over 270 likes, one user commented that it seems like a way to “teach young children about work ethic and responsibility while having a little fun at the same time.”

Are Fast Food Summer Camps Going to Catch On?

It doesn’t seem likely, as the program doesn't seem to be expanding nationwide anytime soon. But, the camp still brought in interest, and the Louisiana location has announced their sessions are now fully booked.

It is also not the only Chick-fil-A summer camp of its kind. A New Orleans location posted a similar summer camp of its own on Instagram. A restaurant in Houston also offered a camp program that quickly sold out this year.

Whether or not fast food summer camp is a good idea or not remains up to debate. But, Chick-fil-A was right about one thing: there is nothing better than some fried chicken on a summer day. Luckily, we have a Chick-fil-A sandwich copycat ready to go for when the craving strikes (especially if that happens to occur on a Sunday).

Read the original article on All Recipes.