ACA & Safety Navigator Partner to Fortify Camp Safety Nationwide

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. – January 15, 2026 – The American Camp Association (ACA), the nation’s primary accrediting body for summer and year-round camps, has announced a significant new partnership with The Safety Navigator, a network of safety experts. The collaboration aims to bolster safety practices across the entire camp industry by providing free, practical tools and on-the-ground support to the more than 20,000 camps that serve 26 million campers annually.

The initiative will launch with a focused rollout in Texas ahead of the 2026 camp season, with plans for a full national expansion in 2027. This move comes as camps across the country grapple with a host of modern challenges, from severe weather events to the growing mental health needs of both campers and staff.

"Camp safety is more than a talking point today, because it's always been embedded in the foundation of everything we do," said Henry DeHart, CEO of the American Camp Association. "This partnership reinforces ACA's role as the standard-bearer for camp safety while giving camps additional, practical, and effective resources to prepare for emergencies and natural disasters in an increasingly complex and unpredictable environment."

Responding to a New Landscape of Risk

The partnership arrives at a critical time for the camp industry. Beyond traditional concerns like scraped knees and waterfront safety, camp directors now face a multifaceted risk landscape. Recent industry studies highlight a dramatic increase in mental, emotional, and social health (MESH) issues among both campers and staff, including anxiety and depression, which have become more prevalent since the pandemic.

Simultaneously, physical security has become a heightened concern, with camps needing to plan for threats like active intruders. This is compounded by staffing shortages, which can stretch leadership thin and create potential safety gaps in high-risk situations. Perhaps most pressingly, the "unpredictable environment" DeHart mentioned is a tangible reality for camps operating in areas susceptible to climate-related events like wildfires, floods, and extreme heat waves. These evolving challenges demand a more sophisticated and proactive approach to risk management than ever before.

ACA already maintains a robust safety framework through its rigorous, voluntary accreditation process, which sets standards for everything from staff background checks to emergency management plans. This new alliance with The Safety Navigator is designed not to replace that foundation, but to build upon it, offering an extra layer of accessible, expert-driven support.

Texas at the Forefront of Change

The decision to launch the pilot program in Texas is no coincidence. The state’s camp community is currently navigating a dramatically altered regulatory and emotional landscape following a devastating flash flood at Camp Mystic on July 4, 2025, which resulted in the tragic loss of 25 campers and two counselors.

In the wake of this event, Governor Greg Abbott signed a trio of sweeping new laws—the Youth CAMPER Act, the Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act, and Senate Bill 3—that impose some of the strictest camp safety regulations in the nation. As of 2026, Texas camps are mandated to develop highly detailed emergency action plans, install advanced warning systems, conduct regular drills for scenarios ranging from fires to active shooters, and ensure redundant communication lines for emergencies. The legislation also includes stringent rules regarding structures in floodplains and significantly increased licensing fees, placing immense operational and financial pressure on camps across the state.

The ACA and The Safety Navigator initiative is timed to directly address these new, urgent needs. By providing Texas camps with templates for emergency plans, specialized training, and expert consultation, the partnership offers a vital lifeline to directors working to comply with the new laws and ensure they are prepared for the upcoming season.

Practical Tools for Proactive Protection

At the heart of the collaboration is a commitment to providing tangible, actionable resources. The Safety Navigator, co-founded by Charlee Johnson, Ted Jarrett, and Marley Palin, brings decades of safety expertise from other high-stakes industries to the camp community. Through the partnership, ACA will help ensure The Safety Navigator's toolkit is aligned with top industry practices and promote its free and unlimited access to all camps, regardless of their ACA-accreditation status.

The resources will include:
* Safety Templates: Ready-to-use frameworks for developing comprehensive emergency action plans and safety protocols.
* Training Materials and E-Learning: Accessible online modules and materials to train staff on a wide range of safety topics, from disaster response to MESH awareness.
* Expert Guidance: One-on-one access to experienced safety professionals who can provide tailored advice to help camps strengthen their unique safety systems.

"We believe camps can be safe and fun," the co-founders of The Safety Navigator stated. "Camps bring joy, development, and a sense of belonging — and at the same time they operate in environments that require serious, thoughtful preparation and deliberate planning. Partnering with ACA allows us to build our safety toolkit to meet the needs of camps. We complement the strong foundation ACA has built and are excited to help camp leaders take practical steps to strengthen safety readiness before next camp season."

As the Texas pilot program unfolds in 2026, the lessons learned will be crucial in refining the model for the broader national expansion planned for 2027. This strategic rollout ensures that camps across the country will eventually have access to a consistent, standards-aligned support system, helping to create safer and more resilient experiences for millions of children and adults.