Summer Camp Safety in the Age of Climate Change

Strategic Insights -

As a devastating flash flood in Kerr County, Texas, claimed 27 lives at a summer camp, parents across the United States are left wondering: is my child safe at summer camp? While statistically, camp in the US is very safe, climate change is altering the summer camp experience, making it crucial for parents to understand a camp's risk and preparedness. Understanding the risks and how well a camp is prepared can only become more vital as the world faces more frequent extreme weather events.

Key Takeaways:

  • Statistically, camp in the US is very safe, with the most common injuries being broken bones and cuts from regular camp activities.
  • Recent national statistics are not available, but New York state reported 550 injuries among 900,000 campers last summer, with none being fatal.
  • Climate change is altering the summer camp experience, with camps restricting or canceling sports and outdoor activities during hot parts of the day to avoid heat stroke.
  • Some camps are taking measures to mitigate heat, such as using air filters and distributing N95 masks to reduce wildfire smoke exposure.
  • Camp owners and experts emphasize the importance of preparedness for extreme weather, noting that "risk is a function of hazard and vulnerability."
  • Parents need to research and ask questions about a camp's safety and preparedness, such as their emergency response plan, staff training, and safety protocols.
  • Government agencies and organizations, such as the American Camp Association, offer resources and certification programs to help parents evaluate a camp's safety.

Statistics:

  • Children's academic and health outcomes tend to decline over the summer break, with measurable decreases in cardiovascular fitness and physical activity, according to a 2024 peer-reviewed study in the journal Children.
  • Research suggests that even a few weeks of camp confer striking benefits, including increased fitness, reduced body mass index and waist circumference, and stronger social and emotional skills.
  • Heat is the leading weather-driven cause of death in the US, responsible for more deaths than hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires combined, according to Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications research at First Street Foundation.
  • In 2022, a national survey by Ipsos Public Affairs found that only half of parents were very confident they could determine whether a camp was safe and healthy for their children.
  • The American Camp Association has certified about 4,000 camps, which is about 15% of the total camps in the US.

Sources:

  • "By contrast, research suggests that even a few weeks of camp confer striking benefits: Kids return home fitter, with reduced body mass index and waist circumference, and stronger social and emotional skills (they're even more likely to excel at school and less likely to commit crimes)." (2024 peer-reviewed study in the journal Children)
  • "Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications research at First Street Foundation, a climate-risk nonprofit organization, said, ǣHeat is probably the most dangerous because it occurs the most frequently,ǥ said Jeremy Porter, head of climate implications research at First Street Foundation, a climate-risk nonprofit organization." (Source: First Street Foundation)
  • "The American Camp Association has certified about 4,000 camps - about 15 percent of the total in the United States - that follow the ǣmost up-to-date, research-based standardsǥ for safety, including coordinating with local emergency-response professionals and conducting regular risk assessments for the camps." (Source: American Camp Association)
  • "Ipsos Public Affairs in 2022 national survey found that only half of parents were very confident they could determine whether a camp was safe and healthy for their children." (Source: Ipsos Public Affairs)