Summer camps are an American mainstay, as prevalent a seasonal marker as hot dogs, ice cream and public swimming pools. When Texas all-girls overnight camp, Camp Mystic,
was struck with catastrophic flooding on July 4, 2025, resulting in the tragic deaths of 25 campers, two counselors and the camp director, parents around the country reeled.
Camp Mystic has announced its controversial decision to reopen in May, amid an ongoing lawsuit brought by some of the victims’ families, who allege that camp ownership ignored longstanding warnings about flood risk and cabin locations as well as the severity of the storm.
Following the devastating coverage of the tragedy, families may be understandably nervous to send their children to any camp this summer. To learn more about overnight camp safety in 2026, we spoke with Jennifer Coe, executive director at Camp Soles in Rockwood, Pennsylvania.
Overnight Camps vs. Day Camps
During the school year, children may partake in fire and tornado drills. At summer day camps, counselors may monitor allergies and rowdy behavior. Overnight camps, however, require an entirely more extensive set of safety precautions.
First off, there’s 24/7 supervision. “Overnight camps require structured nighttime protocols, including specific cabin supervision ratios and regular “cabin checks” to ensure campers are safe and accounted for throughout the night,” explains Coe. Medical coverage is also more stringent: “While day camps have medical staff for the duration of the program, overnight camps feature 24-hour on-site medical coverage, such as a resident nurse or EMT, to handle health needs at any hour,” she adds. And, of course, there is the physical environment to consider. “Safety in overnight camps extends to housing, requiring specific emergency egress routes from cabins and strict “rule of three” policies for sleeping areas to prevent one-on-one interactions between adults and children,” Coe notes.
Safety Precautions in Practice
Camp Soles has operated as a children’s camp for 70 years and is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), which, Coe explains, is “a voluntary process that involves an annual review to ensure that we are following the most up-to-date safety guidance for the camp industry.” The ACA is the only national accrediting body for camps of all types in the United States. (Editor’s Note: Camp Mystic was not accredited by the ACA.)
In practice, this looks like “rigorous staff screening, criminal background checks and comprehensive training in child abuse prevention and emergency procedures,” Coe says.
Camp Soles also conducts an annual review for emergency prevention and preparation.
Developments Since Camp Mystic
Coe reports that the national tragedy led to nationwide reflection in the industry — particularly in regards to extreme weather. Some of this has been codified into law.
“In response to the tragedy, new standards like the ‘Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act’ have been introduced to mandate comprehensive emergency plans for natural disasters and prohibit youth cabins in high-risk floodplains,” she explains.
Industry standards “increasingly emphasize conducting evacuation drills” at the start of camp sessions and make emergency plans available to parents on request, Coe adds. There is also “a growing trend toward ‘redundant communication systems,’ ensuring camps can receive and broadcast emergency alerts even during power or cellular outages,” she relays.
What To Look for in Your Child’s Camp
The gold standard for camp safety, Coe says, is an ACA accreditation. This ensures the camp meets “over 300 nationally-recognized standards for health, safety and emergency preparedness.”
There are also certain questions Coe recommends parents ask a prospective camp in their research, including inquiring into staff-to-camper ratios and staff screening, specific emergency action plans and how often they’re practiced, as well as the protocol for contacting parents in the case of an emergency. “A camp director should be available and willing to discuss their safety philosophy,” Coe stresses.
Families who have attended the camp in the two years prior are also a good resource for “real-world” insight into the camp’s culture and safety record, she adds.
Overnight Camp Benefits
“Despite the concerns tragedies can raise, the benefits of overnight camp remain transformative,” Coe emphasizes. “Camp is a place for connection and resilience.”
Children attending overnight camps gain independence and confidence, she notes, as being away from home allows them to step outside their comfort zones and build self-
efficacy. Homesickness and other such challenges build emotional strength. There’s also social and emotional growth, as, “in a 24/7 community, campers learn conflict resolution, empathy and how to build authentic friendships away from the pressures of social media,” Coe says. Camp Soles remains “screen-free,” meaning children are immersed in the outdoors and face-to-face conversations.
Coe is familiar with such benefits of overnight camps intimately: “I too was a camper as a child and truly believe that had it not been for my positive camp experiences in the outdoors, I would not be where I am today,” she affirms. “Because of camp, I learned about solving real-world problems, communicating with others and appreciating the differences in others. Our goal at Camp Soles is to provide that same safe and fun experience to as many youth as possible. While they may not all grow up to be camp directors, I can only hope that they will learn to be future leaders and make the world a better place.”
