Camp Safety Statistics (2026)

Essential data on summer camp participation, incidents, staffing, background checks, and safety standards for nonprofit leaders and parent decision-makers.

Each summer, over 26 million children and adults participate in the camp experience across roughly 20,175 camps nationwide . Yet despite the widespread reach and demonstrated benefits of camping, safety remains top-of-mind for parents, nonprofit leaders, and regulators. This report synthesizes the most current data on camp participation, incident rates, staff screening practices, and protective standards—all critical for organizations managing youth safety. Part of our child safety statistics hub.

Methodology & Transparency: Every statistic below comes from government agencies (New York State Department of Health, Florida DCF), peer-reviewed research, the American Camp Association, Gallup national surveys, and established nonprofit benchmarks. We prioritize primary sources and cite all URLs inline. No estimates or averages are fabricated.

Key takeaways

26M annual camp participants (children & adults)

2,408 licensed camps in NY State alone

50% of adult-youth incidents involve policy violations

23 states with no camp background check requirements

A Massive and Growing Industry

In 2024, more than 30 million students attended private or school-sponsored summer camps in the U.S., up from 1 million in 2016 , marking explosive growth. The industry has transformed dramatically: revenue from the summer camp industry is estimated at $4.7 billion and is projected to reach $6.5 billion by 2031 .

But participation remains stratified by income. Slightly more than half of U.S. parents, 55%, say their child participated in at least one structured activity—specifically, a day camp, an overnight camp, summer school, a weekly enrichment program, a day care program, or a job or internship—during the 2023 summer months . This masks a troubling gap: lower-income children are nearly half as likely to participate in summer programs compared to higher-income children (38% vs 67%) .

55%

45%

38%

67%

Participation tracked by American Camp Association, National Summer Learning Association, and Gallup (May 2024)

Camp Format: Day vs. Overnight

About 55% of campers attend overnight summer camps, while 45% attend day camps . Among specific activities, local day camps (22%) and weekly enrichment courses (20%) are the activities parents were most likely to enroll their children in . Day camps dominate younger age groups: day camps were the most common activity for elementary children at 29% and middle school children at 24% .

Overnight camps 55%

Day camps 45%

Format distribution by Gitnux (2026)

Safety Record: Incident Rates and Fatalities

When examining actual injury and fatality data, the New York state health department recorded no fatalities at the 2,408 camps it regulates that care for an estimated 900,000 children in 2024. New York's 2025 data is more granular: a total of 1,113 incidents (1,751 affected individuals) meeting the criteria for reportable incidents in section 7-2.8(d) of Subpart 7-2 of the New York State Sanitary Code were reported statewide in 2025, indicating that less than 2 out of 1,000 campers experienced a reportable incident .

Aquatic incidents remain the most serious risk. There were three camper nonfatal drownings reported in 2025, all involving young campers who were designated as non-swimmers . There were four reported fires at children's camps in 2025, three of which occurred when no campers were on-site, and no injuries were reported for any of the fires .

Camps in NY regulated by state 2,408

Campers protected (NY estimate) ~900K

NY fatalities (2024) 0

Data from New York State Department of Health (2025 Incident Report)

Adult-to-Youth Incidents and Policy Violations

A critical insight comes from organizations tracking misconduct patterns. Summer 2024 data from Praesidium's Helpline revealed that 50% of adult-to-youth incidents involved a policy violation . This statistic underscores that many preventable incidents stem not from evil intent but from inadequate procedures, insufficient supervision, or lax enforcement of screening.

This makes background checking and staff training non-negotiable. Camps with strong policies, regular staff audits, and robust screening reduce risk substantially. According to the American Camp Association's Healthy Camp Study, the first to examine the epidemiology of injury rates in a large sample of resident camps located throughout the United States and Canada, the risk of serious injury at resident summer camps is relatively low compared to other popular youth activities. Research from the University of Michigan confirms that serious injuries are uncommon at well-managed resident summer camps .

50%

Incident analysis by Praesidium Inc. (2024)

Background Check Requirements: A Patchwork of State Laws

Despite the critical importance of staff screening, the U.S. regulatory landscape is fragmented. Less than half of our states require criminal background checks for anyone who works in a day camp, with 23 states having no requirements for camps to conduct background checks . Additionally, 29 states prohibit summer camps from having access to the FBI crime database that can help provide a thorough background check of any camp counselor or other staff member .

However, leading states have stepped forward. Laws in certain states, including California, New York, and New Jersey, mandate that all camp counselors, staff (paid or volunteer), and operators undergo a criminal history record check and/or a check of the state sex offender registry . More recently, New York's Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to increase background check requirements for counselors at youth camps, requiring them to check the national sex offender registry regardless of how they are classified .

For organizations operating camps, best practice goes beyond minimum law. The American Camp Association is direct about the background check piece: a criminal background check is mandatory for every one of the 2,500-plus ACA-accredited camps in the country . In Florida, personnel must complete a Level 2 Background Screening upon arriving , and background clearances are required to work or volunteer at a camp with children, with camp organizations required by statute to complete a criminal history background clearance before conditional offer of employment in Michigan.

States with background check requirements for day camp staff ~27

States with no background check requirements 23

States prohibiting FBI database access for camp screening 29

Regulatory analysis compiled from Active Screening (2015) and ACA Criminal Background Check Guidance

The Role of ACA Accreditation and Industry Standards

The American Camp Association has become the de facto gold standard for voluntary safety compliance. Since 1948, the ACA has offered the only nationwide external professional peer-review accreditation program for camps. According to ACA, to become accredited, camps must meet up to 300 health and safety standards, which are considered best practices throughout the industry, and ACA currently accredits more than 2,500 camps nationwide .

The ACA has developed more than 260 standards that cover the various aspects of camp operations in eight specific areas . Mandatory standards include requirements for staff screening, emergency exits, first aid, aquatic-certified personnel, storage and use of flammables and firearms, emergency transportation, obtaining appropriate health information . Importantly, accreditation is the best evidence for parents that a camp is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for their children .

On aquatic safety specifically, most drownings are preventable, making aquatic safety essential in all camp programs that are on or near water , and aquatic safety is intentionally addressed throughout ACA's voluntary national accreditation program .

2500+

260+

ACA accreditation data from American Camp Association (2026)

Parent Confidence and Safety Information Seeking

Parent awareness of camp safety varies significantly. Most parents believe that if a camp is accredited, it has been inspected in the last 1-2 years (86%) and staff have received safety training (90%) . However, confidence is tempered: only half of parents feel very confident they can tell if a summer camp is safe and healthy for their child .

When choosing camps, parents say they look for information on the ratio of staff to children (74%), whether staff have first aid training (64%), camp inspections or safety ratings (64%), and emergency preparedness plans (57%) . Cost remains a barrier to access: 32% of U.S. K-12 parents say their child did not participate in desired summer activities specifically because of cost considerations .

Parents seeking staff-to-child ratios 74%

Parents seeking first aid training info 64%

Parents seeking safety inspections/ratings 64%

Parents seeking emergency plans 57%

Parent survey data from National Poll on Children's Health / University of Michigan (2022)

What This Means for Your Volunteer Program

Camp safety is not an accident—it's a system. The data is clear: camps with strong screening, ongoing staff training, clear policies, and emergency preparedness dramatically reduce incidents. Fifty percent of the adult-to-youth incidents reported come from policy violations, meaning they were preventable through rigorous systems and accountability.

For nonprofits, churches, and schools running summer camps, the path forward is straightforward: invest in screening from day one. Don't rely on what your state minimally requires. Adopt ACA standards, conduct thorough background checks on all staff and volunteers, and document your screening decisions. This is where identity verification and comprehensive background check workflows protect both your children and your organization.

Start your compliant camp screening with VolunteerBadge — $5 per FCRA-compliant background check with identity verification, no monthly fees. Nonprofits managing camps, day programs, or youth volunteers deserve simple, affordable screening that meets or exceeds regulatory standards. Our bulk import tools and transparent pricing make it easy to screen your entire team before summer begins.

For more guidance, explore our related resources: background check requirements for youth sports leagues, strategies for screening parent volunteers, and our guide to FCRA compliance and permissible purpose. We also recommend reading field trip chaperone screening requirements, which cover many of the same aquatic and supervision risks camps face.

Download the data

⬇ Download the data (.xlsx)

Frequently asked questions

Q: What is the actual injury rate at summer camps?
A: New York data shows less than 2 out of 1,000 campers experience a reportable incident annually. Research from the American Camp Association's Healthy Camp Study and University of Michigan confirms serious injuries are uncommon at well-managed resident camps compared to other youth activities.

Q: Do all states require background checks for camp staff?
A: No. Only 27 states mandate background checks for day camp staff, leaving 23 states with no requirement. Additionally, 29 states prohibit camps from accessing the FBI crime database. Leading states like California, New York, and New Jersey have stricter laws; ACA-accredited camps require checks for all staff regardless of state law.

Q: What are ACA standards, and why do they matter?
A: The American Camp Association has published 260+ standards covering health, safety, risk management, transportation, and emergency preparedness. ACA-accredited camps (2,500+ nationwide) undergo independent peer review and meet up to 300 standards—going far beyond state minimums. ACA accreditation is the strongest voluntary safety signal available to parents and regulators.

Q: What percentage of campers attend overnight vs. day camps?
A: Approximately 55% attend overnight camps and 45% attend day camps. Day camps are most common for elementary-age children (29%) and middle schoolers (24%).

Q: Why do 45% of children lack summer learning opportunities?
A: Cost is the primary barrier: 32% of parents say their child did not participate in summer programs due to cost. Lower-income children participate at 38% vs. 67% for higher-income children, a 29-point gap.

Q: What should I look for when choosing a camp?
A: Parents prioritize staff-to-child ratios (74% seek this), first aid training (64%), safety inspections/ratings (64%), and emergency preparedness plans (57%). Verify ACA accreditation, ask about background check policies, review incident records if available, and confirm CPR/lifeguard certification for waterfront activities.