At least 27 people have died in one of the worst disasters ever for a camper. When you go to camp, and what you can do to protect your children, is safe.
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I’m going to camp. American summer classic. Children sleep in the cabins and learn to canoe. And parents get the opportunity to rest and expect their loved ones to be safe in a simple environment.
But tragedy is unpredictable and can happen any time. The flood, which struck Camp Mystic in Texas Hill Country and killed 27 children and counselors, shining a national spotlight on camp safety and what parents should do before sending their children to camps all over the United States.
From Florida to Alaska, more than 26 million children attend summer camps in the US each year. USA Today reviews of summer camp deaths in many states show that drows, accidents and illnesses at camps are permanent issues that have led to lawsuits accusing the camp owner of negligence.
The website dedicated to the memory of a four-year-old kid who drowned at a California summer camp in 2005 states, “parents couldn’t assume that their child would be the last time they would leave their child at a day camp.
The family was awarded $16.2 million in a civil trial on the death of a child in 2009, the lawyer said.
In Texas, tragedy on the banks of the Guadalupe River involves many people in terms of how to prevent the unthinkable.
“Our hearts are broken with our family who endure this unimaginable tragedy,” reads a statement from Camp Mystic, a private, non-denominational Christian camp, at 99. “We pray constantly for them.”
How common is camp catastrophe?
Usually camping is a summer idiot that parents want for their kids. In addition to independent accredited organizations, many states have developed strict regulations and camp safety councils to keep children safe. And many states across the country report that camps have overwhelmingly clean safety records.
For example, in 2024, the New York State Department of Health recorded no deaths in 2,408 camps that regulated the care of an estimated 900,000 children, according to the state’s case report.
The last reported death in 2023 was medical reasons, said Erin Clary, a spokesman for the health department.
The New York Camp Safety Council took natural disasters into safety considerations, as they did in October 2024, as they had recently. According to the conference agenda, the main concern was extreme heat.
A number of websites provide parental guidance on which camp to choose and how to prepare your child for the summer camp experience. Others highlight camper van precautions and provide questions to camp operators to parents.
Summer fun has become a nightmare
However, experts say some summer camp experiences remain hidden in tragedy.
“They’re dying and dying,” said Tucker Merrigan, a catastrophic injury lawyer representing the family whose son died in a New England summer camp. “It’s an incredible moment for independence as a child, but there’s a reason we’re so protective of them: they’re pictures of human vulnerability.”
Sweeney Merrigan’s founding partner, Merrigan represents the family of 11-year-old Koeni Hubbard, who was killed in 2023 in a motorboat accident in a New Hampshire camp run by Scout America, known as Boy Scouts.
According to a pending lawsuit, the 18-year-old boat pilot only had an hour at the helm.
“That environment that ignores safety and human life is why they are ultimately pursuing this case,” Merrigan said, referring to the Hubbards. “They need to warn their parents that the camp needs to be accountable.”
Scouting America declined to comment.
Large-scale victim event at camp
The Texas Tragedy is one of the most widely held stories in the country. As of July 7th, 10 children and a camp counselor remained missing.
“It was horrifying to see what those young children went through,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told reporters after visiting the Carr County camp. “We will remain 100% committed to finding any of our missing children and someone else.” Sen. Ted Cruz of R-Texas described the disaster as “a nightmare for all parents.”
Some experts say more precautions are needed.
Natalie Simpson, a university disaster response expert at the Buffalo School of Management, recommends adopting more aggressive measures in flood-prone areas, such as broken pieces around necessary fires in California, where fires tend to be polished.
“If you have a higher duty of care, just like you are caring for people’s children, then even if it’s a very nice place, you may not allow it,” Simpson said.
The outbreak of infection is more common in summer camps, but may not be fatal.
Common summer camp illnesses include Lyme disease, norovirus and hooping cough, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services fact sheet for camp operators.
The 2024 Camp Incident Report in New York State shows that Covid-19, Pink Eye, Coxsackie Virus, and gastroenteritis are common diseases of cAMP.
And sometimes fate overtakes precautions. “That’s not a matter of responsibility. … When everyone is asleep the night before the holiday, there’s a flash flood at 3am,” Simpson said.
What should camp do?
Camps across the country are regulated in several ways to prevent tragedy.
The Texas Hill Country Camp, at the heart of flood calculations, was the latest in the state’s licensing standards, said Lara Anton, a spokesman for the state’s Department of Health.
Regulations checked by state inspectors during their annual inspections include flood emergency plans posted on all buildings, Anton said. The agency does not keep a copy of the camp’s plans, Anton said.
According to the state code, emergency plans will be implemented in the event of a disaster. In an emergency, staff are required to have “specific challenges” and evacuate campers and others from “each building and facility.”
However, the Texas code does not give any explicit regulations regarding flood warnings or clocks.
The act of nature
Many in the camp community said they can’t invent what happened at Camp Mystic.
“This tragic event is one of the most severe flood disasters in recent camp history, and its scale has deeply shaken the camp community. Camps across the country are working tirelessly to provide a safe and rich experience, focusing on supporting those affected during this incredibly difficult time. “But there was no plan to anticipate this disaster. This tragedy is a calm reminder of the unpredictable forces of nature.”
Camping organizations have already begun raising funds on their websites to support future natural disasters involving campers. “Unfortunately, camps are not immune to the effects of natural disasters. From the inland hurricanes this fall to the California fires this winter, tornadoes in Missouri and now flooding in Texas Hills.
Over 20,000 camps adhere to the Camp Association’s accreditation standards. This certification standard is inspected to ensure that there are protective measures such as smoke, carbon monoxide detectors and qualified lifeguards.
The association recommends methods to review the reliability of camps. This ensures that over 40% of staff return each year, and that there is an appropriate proportion of counselor counselors for each age group.
However, organizational standards do not explicitly address natural disasters.
Protecting your child is the most important thing
For 20 years, the family of four-year-old Yonigotsman, who drowned in a California summer camp in 2005, is trying to raise awareness about the safety of the camp.
Gottsman passed away saying that his counselor and lifeguard “didn’t do anything” to “force” the child to swim restrictions.
After a 5½ week trial, the ju apprentices returned the verdict against the camp, seeking compensation and punitive damages totaling more than $16.2 million. The ju judge not only granted damages for negligence, but also found that the main defendant committed intentional misconduct and acted with malicious intention, suppression and fraud.
Capello and Noel, the law firm representing Yoni’s family, said, “We have created the Yoni website as a monument and to pay attention to serious safety issues that exist in camps and childcare facilities.” “All parents need to require law enforcement to protect their children, not businesses that benefit them safely.”
