MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (August 7, 2025) — In the wake of the tragic July floods that claimed the lives of campers and counselors in Texas, the American Camp Association (ACA) is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with state leaders and camp professionals as they collaborate in taking critical steps to strengthen camp safety protocols.
Yesterday, ACA Board Chair Steve Baskin, owner emeritus of Camp Champions in Marble Falls, testified before the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism in support of enhanced safety measures for camps statewide. Baskin’s remarks underscored ACA’s commitment to working with lawmakers, regulators and its vast network of camp professionals to create site-specific, actionable emergency plans that help to protect children while at camp.
“Like every camp director, my cousin Jane — who we tragically lost in the floods — understood that the lifelong benefits of camp are built on a foundation of health and safety,” Baskin said. “Together, we will continue to do even more to improve the safety of campers and staff in Texas and beyond.”
Baskin outlined a series of best-practice recommendations for camp safety regulations, including:
- Site-specific Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), developed in collaboration with local authorities and first responders, to cover natural disasters, lost campers, fires, transportation emergencies, aquatic safety, and more.
- Redundant communication systems to ensure emergency messaging works even during power or cellular outages.
- Multiple interlocking weather monitoring tools and methods with clear protocols for initiating emergency actions during severe weather events.
- Thorough staff training on extreme weather emergencies, with emergency procedures clearly posted in appropriate locations.
Texas is home to more than 1,100 camp operations, employing over 60,000 staff and generating more than $3 billion in economic impact annually. Approximately 1.5 million campers attend these camps from across Texas and the nation each year.
“After any disaster, it’s essential to reflect, learn and adapt,” Baskin said. “The camp community is deeply committed to supporting Texas and the rest of the country in this important work and to making sure camps are prepared to respond when it matters most.”
The ACA will continue working with Texas camps and officials as new legislation is crafted, providing decades of expertise and the collective insights of thousands of accredited camps nationwide.
About American Camp Association
The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 20,000 year-round and summer camps in the United States that annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp's voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org.
For more information contact: [email protected].
