Dangerous Heat Waves Force US Summer Camps to Adapt

One of America’s great childhood pastimes is changing, as increasing temperatures and extreme weather events change how children must interact with the environment. 

The Great US Summer Camp

Summer camps have been an iconic fixture of American childhoods for generations, teaching children the value of community, tradition, and outdoor play. But as the environment changes rapidly around us, summer camps have had to change with it.

States Adapt to Rising Temperatures

In states like Ohio, Maryland, Maine, Philadelphia, and more, summer camp organizers have had to change their traditional activities to adapt to more frequent summer heatwaves. 

Change for Many Camps

As temperatures climb toward 100 degrees during summer and heatwaves and heat domes spur on states of emergency in some parts of the country, summer camps have had to shift timetables and remove some events from their schedules.

No More Bonfires

This year one summer camp in Oregonia, Ohio, had to cease lighting bonfires at night due to the heat. No more roasting smores and telling stories over the campfire for YMCA’s Camp Kern, according to the Associated Press.

More Cooling Needed

What’s more, camps across the country have had to provide more water and more cooling equipment to ensure that kids are as safe as possible during the hottest days of summer.

Costs Increasing

While this might seem like a given, it’s also driving up the costs of running camps, which are not typically highly profitable endeavors in the first place. 

Misting Stations and More AC

Some camps, like the Kingsley Pines Camp in Maine, have had to install extra fans and air conditioners to ensure constant air circulation indoors. Others have even added expensive misting stations.

Flooding and Storms Also a Problem

Excess heat isn’t the only climate-related problem some camps have had to consider. Others are reinforcing lake dams in the case of flash and severe flooding during storms. 

Emergency Training Changing

Summer camps across the country are also reassessing and modifying their emergency training procedures to make sure both staff and attendees know how to stay as safe as possible during extreme weather events. 

New Procedures in Place

Kingsley Pines has changed staff training, implemented storm radios, and has begun closely monitoring federal and state agencies’ alerts to keep an eye on heat indexes, lightning strikes, and other weather-related phenomena.

Extreme Heat in Delaware

Summer camps in Delaware are currently dealing with temperatures above 90 degrees, with weather predictions for the coming days climbing to 100 and higher. Camp organizers have had to compensate.

Covered Areas and More Swimming

This includes carrying out most daytime camp activities under covered or shady areas, using misting tents, and spending as much time in the water with the kids as they feasibly can. 

Nationwide Lifeguard Shortage

Most summer camps are maximizing time spent in the water, but this almost means hiring extra staff and lifeguards to ensure adequate safety, during a time when the US is experiencing a nationwide lifeguard shortage.

Children More Vulnerable to Heat

Still, these are essential tasks. Children are significantly more vulnerable to extreme heat than adults because their bodies heat up more quickly, according to Grace Robiou, director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Children’s Health Protection. 

A Serious Problem

“Extreme heat is serious,” said Tom Rosenberg, the president and CEO of the American Camp Association. The ACA is the “leading authority for camp and youth programs in the U.S.” according to its official website.

Careful and Thoughtful Planning Needed

“We have to really focus on carefully and thoughtfully planning the program to adapt to these situations,” he continued. 

Years in the Making

The ACA has been focusing on the impact of climate change on American summer camp programming for years now, but that impact has become increasingly obvious in recent years.

Attendance Dropping

They aren’t the only ones. Parents are also taking note of the climbing temperatures, which seem to break new records every year. More parents are keeping their kids at home, which has impacted attendance levels in the hottest regions. 

ACA Remains Positive

Despite the ramifications of climate change and extreme weather events on summer camps, from major expenses and complicated schedules to flagging attendance, the ACA remains positive that the treasured childhood tradition will continue long into the future. 

“Ready for Anything”

“We’re survivors,” said Michele Rowcliffe, executive director of the New England branch. “And we know how to train our camps to be ready for anything.”

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