Beyond Risk Management: Legal Guidance for the Realities of Camp
Running a summer camp is one of the most rewarding — and complex — jobs out there. You’re not just managing logistics, hiring and training staff and coordinating the facility. You’re safeguarding the emotional and physical safety of young people, stewarding families’ trust and managing a team of emerging adults in their first real leadership roles.
When safety concerns arise — whether it’s a camper disclosing harm, a staff member crossing a boundary, or a bunk dynamic that raises red flags — the decisions you make in those moments matter. For the kids. For the staff. For your camp’s future.
That’s why legal guidance shouldn’t be an afterthought or a panic move. It should be part of your team from the start.
When Safety Is on the Line, So Are Ethics, Law, and Leadership
When a camper discloses harm...
When staff make a mistake that crosses a line...
When something surfaces that doesn’t rise to abuse — but doesn’t sit right...
The question isn’t just “What’s legal?”
It’s also:
What’s ethical?
What do we need to report — and to whom?
What happens if we get this wrong?
How do we communicate clearly, calmly, and within our obligations?
What do we owe this child, this family, this staff member — and the community watching?
These moments sit at the intersection of law, ethics, communication, crisis response and trauma-informed care.
Camps Face Legal Questions All the Time — But They Don’t Always Look Legal
Most camps have the basics in place: mandated reporting policies, hiring protocols, emergency response plans. But the trickiest situations don’t come with a clear label. You might be facing:
A camper who says they were touched in a way that made them uncomfortable — but insists you “don’t make it a thing”
A bunk culture where “jokes” start to sound more like harassment
A staff member who’s overstepping in ways that feel off, but not obviously illegal
A parent demanding more information than you’re allowed to give
A well-meaning decision that, in hindsight, creates risk — legal, reputational, or emotional
These are mixed questions of law, ethics, and culture. And they require someone who can respond quickly, with judgment, clarity, and context — not just compliance.
Trauma-Informed Doesn’t Mean Legally Covered
Many camps are becoming more trauma-aware — and that’s a good thing. But trauma-informed instincts sometimes come into tension with legal mandates. A good lawyer can help you hold both — the legal obligations and the trauma-informed values — and chart a response that’s responsible, respectful. and real.
The Right Legal Partner Is Part of Your Safety Team
Legal support should not only arrive when there’s a problem. It should be built into the structure of your camp’s risk management and leadership. That includes:
Reviewing your safety protocols and handbooks with a litigation-informed lens
Training your senior staff on how to respond to disclosures or boundary violations
Supporting internal investigations — and knowing when outside help is needed
Advising on communication with families and the board
Helping you plan for the hard moments, so you’re not figuring it out live
