Summer camps nationwide are contending with increasingly frequent and intense weather disruptions, altering traditional outdoor recreational activities that have long defined the season for school-aged children.
Extreme weather events have affected camps from coast to coast this summer. In northern Minnesota, Camp Widjiwagan evacuated due to wildfire smoke and took the unprecedented step of submerging historic canoes to protect them from fire damage. In Washington, D.C., Beauvoir Summer Camp kept children indoors during periods of hazardous air quality from wildfire smoke and reduced outdoor activities due to dangerous heat. Meanwhile, families in Pennsylvania experienced a succession of weather challenges, including near-100-degree temperatures, wildfire smoke, and flooding that confined children to indoor activities. Officials note that camps are experiencing more days with extreme heat indices than in previous decades—potentially doubling from historical averages of three to five days to eight or ten days annually.
Camp operators and administrators emphasize the importance of adaptations and contingency planning. The American Camp Association reports that accredited camps are required to maintain thorough safety plans, and many have demonstrated flexibility in modifying programming. Some camps successfully pivoted to indoor alternatives, including dry-land exercises, inflatable games, and creative activities. However, not all facilities could accommodate such adjustments, and some programs were canceled or significantly altered.
For participants, the experience of climate-related disruptions is becoming personal and immediate. Campers have witnessed environmental changes firsthand, from flooded rivers caused by snow melt to canceled celebrations due to hazardous conditions. Child psychologists and camp leaders suggest that while these adaptations present challenges, outdoor programming remains valuable for developing independence, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. As extreme weather becomes more commonplace, both camps and families are learning to navigate summers that increasingly require flexibility and creative solutions.
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