• During an overnight campout, staff interrupt a group of 11-year-olds engaged in a “kissing game.”
• A mom calls and shares that her son did not care for his shower buddy while at camp.
• A camper tells her counselor that her tent mate gets in bed with her at night.

Each summer at camp, reports such as these often make their way to the camp director. Without additional details, at the very least, they can be alarming. After learning more, some can be resolved with reminders and discussions regarding boundaries and code of conduct expectations at camp, while others are more serious. All require time, attention, listening, and understanding.

Is It Peer-to-Peer Abuse?

Any questionable or concerning behavior between campers needs to be thoroughly addressed. This is especially true when dealing with sexual behavior between minors, as it requires the immediate attention of camp leadership to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. Peer-to-peer sexual abuse has become one of the most pressing and challenging risks for camps and youth programs to navigate. Insurance carriers continue to report an increase in both the frequency (how often these incidents occur) and the severity (including the financial costs of legal disputes and damage to reputation) of allegations involving sexual behaviors between minors.

The complexity of this issue is underscored by recent research, which estimates that 70 to 77 percent of sexual abuse involving minors is perpetrated by other minors (Gewirtz-Meydan & Finkelhor, 2020). To complicate matters even more, it sometimes feels like an advanced psychology degree is required to truly understand the issues around peer-to-peer behavior. Is it bullying? Is it inappropriate sexual behavior? Has it crossed the line to abusive behavior? Or is it developmentally appropriate sexual behavior that shouldn’t be occurring at camp?

Camp leadership also faces difficult decisions about how to respond. For instance, when does an incident warrant reporting to child protective services or other authorities? What is the appropriate way to communicate with parents and guardians while maintaining confidentiality and trust? These are critical questions that often have no clear-cut answers.

A Shift in Language: From P2P to PSB

Many organizations that lead research and prevention efforts on sexual abuse use a broader spectrum of terms when discussing sexual behavior between minors, shifting away from bucketing every behavior as peer-to-peer (P2P) abuse. Not all sexual behavior between minors is abusive, nor should such a label be placed on a child. While the behavior may not be appropriate for the time or place, it is important to remember that a natural part of youth development is sexual development. This is often referred to as normative sexual behavior or age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate sexual behavior.

Several frameworks have been developed, including one from the National Center on Sexual Behavior of Youth (NCSBY), indicating that “sexual behavior in youth falls on a continuum, from normative, to cautionary, to harmful or problematic. According to NCSBY, sexual behavior in minors becomes problematic, and potentially abusive to another child, when the behavior causes harm (physical or emotional), involves force, coercion, or aggression, or continues to occur despite intervention by caregivers (n.d.).

Certainly not all sexual behavior between minors at camp is normative or developmentally appropriate; it may very well be problematic sexual behavior (PSB). Recognizing these distinctions is crucial for appropriate responses and interventions instead of categorizing everything as peer-to-peer sexual abuse.

(NCSBY, n.d.)

Sex Is Not in Your Camp Brochure

Navigating the complexities of sexual behavior among minors is challenging, but one thing is clear: sexual activity at camp is inappropriate. Camps vary in how they address or discuss this topic depending on their type, purpose, and the age of their campers. However, it must be emphasized that camp is not the place for any sexual behavior, even if it is developmentally appropriate. Simply put, sex is not in the camp brochure.

This includes exploring sexual feelings or engaging in consensual camp romances. While sneaking a kiss (or more) has a long history at camps, this is not what parents expect from the camp experience today. In recent years, a notable shift has occurred in cultural attitudes toward the supervision and safety of children, particularly in environments like camps. Parents and guardians today are more informed and vigilant about the potential risks their children might face. They expect camps to provide a safe, structured environment where their children can learn, grow, and have fun — not a place where they may encounter sexual experiences.

Most campers are under the age of consent (16 in most states), making any sexual activity at camp inappropriate. As a camp, you are responsible for the care of other people’s children. When allegations of sexual behavior arise, the focus often shifts quickly from the behavior to supervision, potentially leading to claims of negligent supervision. Such claims can expose gaps in staff training, policy adherence, or enforcement. Therefore, to ensure the safety and protection of campers, proactive strategies must be prioritized.

So What Now?

Regardless of what the interaction is, directors should be clear with their staff about one thing — any sexual behavior between campers should be raised up to leadership. While it is not frontline staff’s responsibility to identify whether the behavior is developmentally appropriate for the camper’s age or problematic sexual behavior, it is their job to interrupt, intervene, redirect, and report.

Directors and camp leadership may be able to discern where on the spectrum the behavior falls, however, all directors should be cautioned not to dismiss interactions as “just being curious” or “kids being kids.” Even normative behavior requires attention and communication with parents — while concerning or harmful behavior demands immediate intervention. This also includes reporting to local child protective services, as required by local state mandated reporter laws.

Prevention Strategies

Preventing PSB requires continuous effort from camp leadership and staff. It should not be limited to initial camp training. Regular reinforcement of rules and review of expectations is critical. Effective prevention strategies include:

• Educate and train. Educate and train staff on the risks as well as the high-risk areas where abuse may occur (bathrooms, changing spaces, sleeping spaces). High-risk areas often include less-structured times (such as rest hour) or when staff are more spread out (such as during transitions between activity periods).
• Establish clear boundaries. Set rules for privacy and personal space. For example, limit bathroom stall access to one camper at a time, or prohibit campers from entering cabins during free time. This also may include such things as following the “rule of three” or asking for consent when greeting one another with a high five.
• Explain appropriate touch. Define acceptable greetings and boundaries regarding physical touch. Prohibit activities like lap sitting and piggyback rides, which can blur physical boundaries. Educate all campers that no one should touch them in a way that feels uncomfortable or unsafe. Be explicit that no one at camp should touch another person in areas typically covered by a swimsuit. Regularly reinforce to whom and how campers can speak up if someone has blurred a physical touch boundary.
• Provide a code of conduct. Develop a clear code of conduct for campers, inclusive of behavior expectations, boundaries, and appropriate touch guidelines. Share it with campers and families prior to the start of camp.
• Train staff on supervision expectations. Effective camper supervision is going to look and feel different at every camp based on a wide variety of variables — everything from a camp’s mission and goals to the offered activities. During staff training, the word “supervision” is said so often that it can lose its meaning. The more directors can break down their definition of supervision, the better staff are at understanding expectations:
  • What are the keys to successful supervision at your camp? Can staff articulate what it looks like and sounds like?
  • When do staff need to have direct supervision of an assigned group of campers? When can supervision be more indirect?
  • Are staff empowered to intervene at any point in time, even if it’s not their direct responsibility?
• Apply equitable accountability. Policies and boundaries should apply equitably to all individuals in the camp community. No one should receive special treatment when it comes to the rules.

Taking the Lead on Culture

Prevention strategies, training, and written policies are vital steps toward creating a safe camp environment. However, if leadership fails to model the behaviors outlined in the code of conduct or allows staff to blur boundaries around appropriate touch or camp rules, it creates a culture in which misbehavior, harmful actions, or even abusive behavior can take root. Leadership must embody the standards they set, fostering an atmosphere of accountability and trust.

If an allegation of problematic sexual behavior is reported at your camp, your response must reflect a culture of adherence to policies and procedures — not one that tolerates looking the other way. Such a response demonstrates your unwavering commitment to camper safety and reinforces the trust parents and guardians place in your program.

Building a camp environment where campers feel safe, respected, and empowered to form meaningful, positive relationships is no easy task. It requires diligence, open communication, and a steadfast commitment to proactive policies and prevention strategies. By training staff to recognize and address concerns, encouraging swift and transparent reporting to camp leadership, maintaining clear behavioral expectations, and actively engaging with parents, camp leaders can effectively navigate these challenging situations. More importantly, they can lay the foundation for a culture where every camper feels secure, valued, and able to thrive.

Additional Resources

• Stop It Now!: “Tip Sheet: Age-Specific Appropriate Sexual Behavior” — stopitnow.org/ohc-content/age-appropriate-sexual-behavior
• Praesidium: Youth to Youth Sexual Abuse — praesidiuminc.com/youth-to-youth
• National Center on Sexual Behavior of Youth: ncsby.org
• Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse: publichealth.jhu.edu/moore-center-for-the-prevention-of-child-sexual-abuse

References

• Gewirtz-Meydan, A. & Finkelhor, D. (2020). Sexual abuse and assault in a large national sample of children and adolescents. Child Maltreatment, 25(2), 203-214. https://doi. org/10.1177/1077559519873975
• National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth. (n.d.). Overview and definitions: Sexual development and behavior. ncsby.org/professionals

Katie Johnson, MS, is a senior risk consultant at Chalmers Camp Insurance, where she merges her experience as a camp director with her expertise in risk management. With nearly 30 years dedicated to camps and youth-serving organizations — including an impactful eight-year tenure with the American Camp Association — Katie has become a trusted voice in fostering safe and transformative camp 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. [email protected] | 207-595-6013