Emergency and Disaster Readiness for Camps

Emergency and disaster preparedness is critical to the safety and success of camp programs. Preparing staff, campers, and the broader community requires proactive planning, informed decision-making, and real-world insight. This webinar features a panel of ACA business member insurance partners who bring deep expertise in the types of emergencies camps may face and how to prepare for and respond to them effectively.

Through discussion of real scenarios and practical considerations, participants will gain a valuable perspective to strengthen their preparedness efforts and head into the summer season with greater confidence.

Why You Should Attend

Attendees will learn to identify common emergency and disaster scenarios that camps may face and understand their potential impact on staff, campers, and operations.

We will explain the role of preparedness and response planning in reducing risk and supporting effective decision-making during emergencies.

Learn to apply insights from real-world scenarios shared by insurance and risk management experts to strengthen their camp’s emergency preparedness strategies for the upcoming season.

Stay Engaged

We look forward to seeing you at our live event on April 7, 2026! While you wait, check out these ACA resources to dive into key insights, explore the trends shaping today’s camp challenges, and get a head start on the conversation.

• Beyond the Drill: Building and Practicing a Crisis Plan at Camp
• Crisis — It Can Really Happen to You 2025

Meet the Presenters

Jamie Jannusch - Jamie is an Underwriter for Camps, Sports, and Outdoor Recreation with Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. She has over 20 years of experience in youth programming and camp management. She has served as Program Director, Assistant Camp Director and Camp Director in addition to Lifeguard Instructor, ACCT Level 1 Facilitator, and Emergency Medical First Responder prior to a career in insurance. Jamie is also an ACA Lead Standards Visitor.

 

Katie Johnson, M.S. - Katie is a Senior Risk Consultant at Chalmers Camp Insurance. With nearly 30 years in camps and youth-serving organizations—including 8 years with the American Camp Association—she blends risk expertise with a passion for transformative experiences. Driven by her passion for the magic of camp, she empowers leaders to create strong safety foundations, ensuring they can focus on inspiring growth, connection, and adventure in the communities they serve.

 

Mark T. Vermeal - Mark serves as Senior Safety and Risk Management Executive for Fred C. Church, Inc./AssuredPartners and is co-founder of the Outdoor + Adventure Practice, where he supports iconic organizations delivering transformative outdoor, travel, and educational experiences worldwide. A nationally recognized risk management and safety expert, Mark brings 20 years of senior leadership experience, including roles as VP of Safety at Outward Bound USA and National Director of Risk Management and Safety for the Student Conservation Association. His background spans outdoor education, wilderness medicine, experiential learning, and mountain guiding, and he is a certified AMGA Rock Instructor and Single Pitch Instructor Provider.

Mark serves on multiple risk management committees, has been a longtime leader and presenter at the Wilderness Risk Management Conference, and works with clients ranging from luxury adventure travel companies to conservation and experiential education organizations. He currently splits his time between Golden, Colorado, and the Dolomites in northern Italy.

 

Shannon Worlin - Shannon has more than 20 years of commercial insurance experience, with a strong focus on nonprofits and youth-serving organizations.  In her current role at Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, Shannon specializes in helping camps strengthen safety practices, reduce exposures, and support long-term program sustainability. Shannon holds industry‑leading credentials, including the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation and Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification, bringing a well‑rounded technical perspective to camp property, program, and participant safety. Her background blends risk management expertise with hands‑on business development, project management, customer service, and strategic planning.
Throughout her career, Shannon has worked across multiple facets of the insurance and risk landscape—including underwriting surveys, valuations, claims support, national accounts, product development, and TPA risk management services.
Passionate about empowering camp professionals and nonprofit leaders, Shannon is dedicated to helping organizations create safe, enriching environments where campers, staff, and communities can thrive.