3 days ago
Michigan summer camps want parents to know 'we are prepared'
After a flash flood killed dozens of children attending summer camp in Texas, Michigan camp leaders want to remind worried parents that safety is always their priority.
The flood happened early morning on July 4, when heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise at a deadly speed. The death toll for Kerr County, Texas, is 120 people and counting, according to USA TODAY. Of those deaths, 27 are children and counselors from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian sleepaway camp located on the banks of the river.
Summer camp is a beloved tradition for many families, and a sacred coming of age ritual for children and young adults. To continue that legacy, camp leaders in Michigan say that safety must be a priority.
Jill Laidlaw worked for Camp Cavell in Lexington for 37 years. Laidlaw often played out emergency scenarios in her head when she was a camp director. When she heard about the tragedy at Camp Mystic, she said she immediately thought about what the young camp counselors tried to do to keep the kids safe.
"(They were) probably trying to put the kids up on the top bunks, thinking it was going to just be a small flood, and somebody would come and help them, and then realized that they were going to have to try and get those kids out," said Laidlaw.
Laidlaw said that thinking about it keeps her up at night.
"I'm having a hard time dealing with it," she said, " I don't think we'll ever know the stories."
Laidlaw said any emergencies she experienced as a camp director were nowhere near as devastating as what happened at Camp Mystic. But there were instances that challenged the staff. One time, Laidlaw said, the camp lost power for three days while hosting 200 children living with muscular dystrophy.
"We had to deal with electric (wheel)chairs, trying to charge them," Laidlaw said. "It was quite the challenge to keep them there when that would happen."
She said fire trucks would come to the campsite and hook up extension cords to their generators. The trucks would charge five electric wheelchairs at a time, and keep the kids entertained while they charged.
Laidlaw said Camp Cavell was accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and practiced safety protocols at the start of each one-week session; they were most prepared for fires and storms. ACA accreditation is optional, she said.
But all camps in Michigan are required to meet Michigan Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) safety regulations to obtain a license from the state. According to Michigan law, some of those regulations include providing written procedures for emergencies with disasters (weather, fire, lost camper), posting evacuation routes visibly in every "camper-occupied" building, in more than one room, and performing fire safety orientation within 48 hours of a new session.
Latitia McCree-Thomas, senior vice president of communications and marketing for the YMCA of Metro Detroit, said the camp is well prepared to know what to do and where to go in case of emergency. YMCA of Metro Detroit is also ACA-accredited.
"We actually do drills every week with the staff and the campers so they know exactly where to go during any severe weather or emergencies," McCree-Thomas said. "We have staff that are constantly monitoring the weather as well, and all employees know the evacuation plan and proper routes."
McCree-Thomas said there are alternate evacuation locations to go to, in case the original spots are destroyed or blocked-off. She also said children are accompanied by adults at all times during camp, highlighting that safety is the No. 1 priority for YCMA.
In a written response to the floods in Texas, the president and CEO of the American Youth Foundation — an organization that owns summer camps — Liz Marshall said that safety is also at the forefront of what all of their camps do.
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"This tragedy hits hard for those of us who dedicate our lives to creating safe, joyful summer experiences for young people," Marshall wrote.
She also wrote that their Michigan camp, Miniwanca, collaborates with local emergency responders to create and practice safety protocols — in addition to having staff trained in CPR, first aid and crisis communication. The camp also monitors the weather closely and ensures that evacuation routes are "clearly identified" for campers and staff. For programs at Miniwanca that travel, leaders always have a trackable device like a cellphone, satellite phone or GPS locator.
McCree said the YMCA of Metro Detroit has received phone calls from worried parents after the deadly flood in Texas. And asking questions is exactly what parents should do, she said.
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"When you sign your children up for any program, ask what their safety protocols are," she said. "Make sure you're comfortable with the processes and then also make sure your child is aware of what they are."
McCree suggests parents ask whether their camp is accredited by the ACA — something that isn't required but adds extra levels of safety.
Henry DeHart, interim president and CEO for the ACA, wrote in an email to the Free Press that ACA accreditation acts as an "educational framework" for the health and safety standards for summer camps — often going "beyond what state laws require."
Some of those requirements require specific health and safety training for camp staff members, and thorough documented plans and frequent rehearsal for emergency situations for staff and campers. DeHart wrote that Camp Mystic in Texas is not accredited by the ACA.
Laidlaw said that even with the added regulations from the ACA, there's no way to plan for every possible situation.
"No matter what kind of protocols they had there, I can't imagine they had anything that could have dealt with something so quick," said Laidlaw.
DeHart wrote that the ACA is providing financial support to the cause and mental health services are available to neighboring camps in Texas.
"We recognize that tragedies anywhere can heighten anxieties everywhere. We encourage open, ongoing dialogue between camps and families, and we stand ready to support camp professionals as they navigate these difficult conversations with compassion and clarity," DeHart wrote.
Contact Emma George-Griffin: EGeoreGriffin@
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Camps continue to prioritize safety after Texas flash floods
