How Climate Change is Changing Summer for Kids

Climate change is reshaping summer camps across the United States as youth programs grapple with severe weather, hazardous wildfire smoke, and extreme heat waves. According to camp directors and industry associations, organizations are being forced to alter schedules, shift activities indoors, and, in some cases, execute emergency evacuations to protect children from worsening environmental conditions.

Summer Camps Adapt to Extreme Weather and Wildfire Smoke

Summer camps nationwide are confronting what leaders describe as a new reality. According to Henry DeHart, CEO of the American Camp Association, the frequency of extreme weather events has noticeably increased. While accredited camps maintain thorough safety plans, DeHart notes that heat indices exceeding 105 degrees Fahrenheit have become far more common, shifting from a handful of days in past decades to eight or ten days per season.

At Beauvoir Summer Camp in Washington, D.C., high temperatures forced staff to cut down outdoor play time earlier in the summer, according to Drew Mackay, director of auxiliary and summer programs. Later in the season, hazardous air quality from Canadian and northern Minnesota wildfires emptied swimming pools and kept campers indoors. Similar disruptions hit Miakonda Day Camp in Ohio, where director Ellen Watkins moved activities inside and supplied masks when wildfire smoke blanketed the 160-acre Scouting property.

Historic Evacuations and Submerged Canoes at Camp Widjiwagan

While many programs successfully pivot to indoor games and crafts, other camps face severe disruptions that halt operations entirely. In Ely, Minn., Camp Widjiwagan evacuated in July due to encroaching wildfires. Executive Director Ben Hoffman made the decision to submerge 19 historic canoes in lake waters because the fragile vessels could not be moved safely.

“This is a pivotal moment,” Hoffman said, noting that the camp had never previously sunk canoes. For 17-year-old camper Eleanor Pitts, who attended a 26-day backpacking trip in Alberta’s Willmore Wilderness Park, the climate impacts struck close to home. Pitts’ group wept when wildfire smoke forced the cancellation of their traditional homecoming celebration at the Ely base camp, bringing the realities of climate change directly into view.

Parental Perspectives on Housebound Summers

Parents are also navigating the strain of keeping children active when outdoor conditions turn dangerous. Lauren Smith, a parent in Pennsylvania, experienced a summer disrupted first by extreme heat touching almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit at a soccer camp, and later by thick wildfire smoke that trapped her family indoors. To cope, families have turned to baking, painting acorns, and indoor decluttering projects while waiting out days of unplayable weather.

Children are noticing the shifts firsthand. Seven-year-old Penelope, a camper at Beauvoir Summer Camp, described climate change simply as the surrounding environment constantly altering. Experts emphasize that this generation, which already endured pandemic-related isolation during COVID-19, must now build resilience against frequent environmental disruptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are summer camps handling hazardous wildfire smoke?

According to camp administrators, facilities are moving activities indoors, modifying daily schedules, distributing protective masks, and utilizing alternative indoor programming such as dry-land swim exercises and indoor archery.

Why did Camp Widjiwagan submerge its canoes?

Executive Director Ben Hoffman stated that historic canoes too fragile to transport safely were submerged in lake waters to protect them from approaching wildfires during the July evacuations.

Are extreme heat waves becoming more frequent at U.S. camps?

Yes. American Camp Association CEO Henry DeHart reports that days with a heat index exceeding 105 degrees Fahrenheit have increased from three or four or five days in the past few decades to eight or 10.