As the school year winds down, summer camp prep ramps up. Camp is a universally good thing: it gets kids out into nature and provides parents and caregivers with necessary childcare, especially for those of us juggling work. That’s why there are such a wide range of camps available across the country, from free and low-cost programs with generous financial aid available to pricier private options.
It’s sweet, as you put your kid’s name on everything from shorts to water shoes to flashlights, to imagine gaggles of screen-free children running joyfully and maybe even making s’mores. But modern summer camp, be it day camp, town rec, or sleepaway, is far more complicated and less halcyon than that. Sending a kid to camp today comes with considerable climate anxiety, including fears about extreme heat, flooding, ticks, and air pollution.
Tell Congress: Support Mental Wellness for Communities Facing Weather Disasters
To find out just how much summer camps in general are doing to address possible extreme weather and more, we spoke with Henry DeHart, CEO of the American Camp Association (ACA). He had much to say about summer camps and climate chaos and also offered a critical reminder that, as he says, “Children and nature go hand-in-hand, and together, they have a profound impact on the health and development on the road to adulthood.”
How are summer camps reacting to the changing climate? What kinds of new precautions are they taking?
With climate change and drought conditions increasing in many states, there is a significant concern for wildfires. Camps have been developing fire mitigation plans that include brush clearance, safety plans, hardening of buildings, working with local fire officials and their insurance companies to ensure that they are employing measures to reduce risk. We watch the fire report and provide resources to camps as needed.
Do camps look to the ACA for advice in creating these sorts of plans?
While ACA does not have standards specifically related to air quality, we provide educational resources related to wildfires, air quality monitoring, and similar issues. Broadly speaking, monitoring air quality would typically be a part of a camp’s risk management assessment and planning if there is a risk of wildfires or if the area is prone to air quality challenges. We also recommend that camps refer to state and local guidance around these areas.
What are the best ways for camps to get ahead of possible climate concerns, including flooding from extreme rain, in a changing climate?
Camps are utilizing education, air quality assessment tools, and weather monitoring tools to inform their decision making. They develop relationships with local fire departments and emergency services to ensure that they have the most up-to-date information and modify programs as needed. For example, moving outdoor programs inside when air quality is poor or when the temperature is too hot.
It can feel uncomfortable to not be with our kids when they’re experiencing climate-fueled weather. What can caregivers do to help children when at a distance?
Ask if the camp is ACA accredited. Additionally, parents should research the camp online and speak with camp directors about any potential concerns they may have, asking specifically about the camp’s emergency plans and safety training.
How can families support kids directly to be climate smart, especially when they’re at camp?
When parents talk with their kids, we recommend sticking to facts and focusing on things a camper can control. Examples include practicing sun safety by using sunscreen, good hydration, eating well, and getting enough sleep.
Some parents and caregivers report their climate-related concerns are not well received by camp administration. Do you have tips that parents could share to work collaboratively with summer camps?
These are ACA’s Top Tips for Camps
- Provide for frequent hydration: When weather is especially hot, increasing fluid intake is essential, regardless of activity level. In addition to plenty of water, consider offering foods with high water content such as melons and other fruits.
- Ensure campers and staff wear appropriate clothing and use sunscreen properly: Lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing is ideal, according to the CDC. When outdoors, the CDC recommends SPF 15 or higher, applied 30 minutes prior to going out. Set up procedures so that all staff and campers use and reapply sunscreen regularly and properly.
- Schedule outdoor activities carefully: Consider opportunities for shade and midday activities with heat safety in mind.
- Train frontline staff to be observant for signs of heat-related illnesses: All staff, especially staff who are outside with campers, should be trained to see the warning signs, both in themselves and the campers in their care. Ensure that healthcare staff are fully trained.
How can families calm climate anxiety so everyone can relax and enjoy summer camp?
It’s important to keep in mind the benefits of being outside. Camp is an excellent expanded learning environment that provides fun designed around intentional programming and a connection with nature. These opportunities help children develop confidence, independence, discipline, understanding, and control.
Contact with nature reduces existing stress, protects against future success, and aids concentration and clear thinking. Play—especially outside—is a powerful form of learning that contributes mightily to the child’s healthy physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development. It allows kids to just be kids.
Learn more in our What to Do When Air Quality Is Bad flier. (Leer en español.)
Tell Congress: Support Mental Wellness for Communities Facing Weather Disasters