Death and destruction in the honorable summer camp in Texas may be wondering whether the risk of sending their children to any camp, even if it is much different environment and less vulnerable to natural disasters.
The stunning flood that killed more than two dozen campers and consultants by the river near the Camp Mystic, Texas Hill in the country, was the result of extraordinary rain and water walls. Nevertheless, experts agree that information on how the camp is planning emergencies is as important as the southern menu and the time when swimming.
Numerous summer camps are, of course, around the forest and water. Children often come in rustic cabins with bunk beds and without electricity.
The American Camp Association, which accredited camps and has thousands of members, said parents may want to ask how the camp is in contact with the local emergency service teams. Two people with a long -term relationship with camps also offered suggestions about what families should think about.
What should parents ask about the security of the camp?
In Michigan, Jim Austin, 69, was around summer camps like a camper, a member of the staff and a grandfather, seeing his grandchildren, leaving for the camp in Hayo-Went-ha on Lake Torch, founded in 1904.
“Do they have a buddy check in the swimming area? Do they have a procedure when something is missing? Do they have their places and harsh weather?” – said Austin. “If you are in Florida, you are looking at hurricanes. In any mid -West, you look at the tornado, even thunderstorms.
“If they have to handle it,” he added, “It’s a big red flag.”
Mike Deen, who owns the Ao-Wa-Kiya camp in Michigan Oceana, collided with a crisis a year ago when some of the wood fell and destroyed a cabin with more than a dozen people, mostly girls, in the middle of the night. The adult was stuck in his bed for 90 minutes. Any injuries were minor.
“Our policy worked. The staff was very, very fast,” Deen said. “Parents should ask the camp: What is your relationship with local emergency services? How long does it take to get here? Parents should be able to go to camps and ask wise questions, but also trust that the camps are doing a good job.”
Austin hopes that a rare event in Texas does not discourage families from sending children to camp.
“Your child will come back with greater independence, with more responsibility, having the opportunity to create conversations all the time, rather than corresponding to the thumb,” he said. “They are going to make friends for life and make relationships.”
Camps seek to reassure any anxiety
The headlines in Texas encouraged some camps to contact their campers’ families, even if the camp was nowhere in danger. Henry Dehart, the interim president of the American Camp Association, said it was a good idea to note that “tragedies can be felt everywhere.”
Adirondack camp in New York expressed sadness about the July Fourth tragedy, Camp Mystic, and stressed that security in its camp at Lake George is “our priority.”
“Our camp is not in the flood area. … We get real-time warnings for storms, strong winds or other threats,” In the letter, Rikki Galusha, vice president of camp operations, said.
Camp Balcones Springs in Texas has more than 100 miles (160.9 kilometers) from Camp Mystic and is on a hill to avoid flood risk. Over the weekend, employees sent at least five email. Letters to families to say that the campers were safe.
Under current conditions, it would be impossible for the nearest water body to be affected by the camp, the staff said. The camp director’s mobile phone number was distributed due to problems with telephone lines.
“We kindly ask you to refrain from the recent tragedies or weather-related challenges to your children. Our goal is to maintain a positive, safe and uplifting environment for everyone,” the camp told the families.
Jim Sibthorp, a professor at the Utah University who studied the life -changing impact on children, said parents could not predict every disaster.
“There are many advantages in nature and nature is unpredictable.
____
Associated Press writer Safiyah Riddle Montgomery, Alabama, contributed to this story.