Summer camp is a beloved tradition for millions of families whose children spend all year looking forward to reuniting with friends and creating memories that last a lifetime. Unfortunately, it can also be a place where serious injury occurs, often as a result of inadequate supervision by camp staff.
From poorly supervised activities to inadequate staff training, summer camp negligence injures thousands of children across the country every year. In the wake of the catastrophic flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas last year, safety and precaution are at the top of mind for parents and staff heading to camp this summer.
If you, a family member, or a loved one has been injured at a summer camp, you should consult an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you understand your rights and your options to recover.
Camp Injuries Are More Common Than Parents Realize
According to the American Camp Association, more than 26 million children attend day and overnight camps in the United States each summer. While most campers have safe experiences, camps are environments with inherent risk, and when that risk is not properly managed, serious injury can follow.
In recent years, high-profile incidents have drawn national attention to camp safety. The July 4, 2025, flooding at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, made national headlines and showed just how catastrophic camp negligence can be. When the Guadalupe River surged before dawn, 27 campers and counselors lost their lives, along with the camp’s director.
A state-commissioned investigation later concluded that the deaths were preventable. Investigators found that the camp lacked a written emergency plan that met state requirements and did not evacuate its cabins for more than 90 minutes after the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning. This tragedy is a sobering reminder that serious injury is possible at camp and that meaningful safety planning is the responsibility of camp operators.
Across the country, summer camps owe a legal duty of care to the children in their charge. When they fall short of that duty, injured campers and their families have the right to pursue justice.
Common Types of Summer Camp Injuries
At Leav & Steinberg, we have handled dozens of injury cases arising at summer camps. While every situation is unique, the following are the most common types of accidents we see:
Inadequate Supervision
Supervision is the cornerstone of a safe camp environment. Children need close monitoring during activities, transitions, and free time. When counselors are understaffed, distracted, or absent, accidents happen. Supervision is especially critical during swimming, climbing, hiking, and contact sports.
Unsafe Facilities
The physical environment of a camp matters enormously. Poorly lit paths, unmarked hazards, improperly maintained equipment, and dangerous layouts, including in bathrooms, cabins, and common areas, create unnecessary risk. Camps are responsible for maintaining safe facilities and can be held liable for injuries those facilities cause.
Untrained Staff
Camp counselors are trusted with the safety of someone else’s child. When camps place staff, whether counselors, kitchen workers, or activity instructors, in roles they are not trained to handle, injuries are foreseeable and preventable. We have handled cases involving burns from kitchen equipment, injuries during specialized activities such as water sports and ropes courses, and harm caused by staff who were simply unprepared for the responsibilities assigned to them.
Water Activity Accidents
Water is one of the most serious hazard categories at any camp. Boating accidents, swimming accidents, and water sports injuries can turn catastrophic in seconds when camps fail to provide proper training, establish safety protocols, or ensure adequate staffing.
Trip-and-Fall Hazards
Uneven terrain, broken equipment, and poorly maintained common areas present serious trip-and-fall risks. These cases often involve injuries in cabins, recreation areas, sports fields, or pathways between activities. Under New York premises liability law, property owners, including camp operators, must maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition.
Camp Injury Cases Leav & Steinberg Has Handled
Our firm has successfully represented children and adults injured by camp negligence. These cases show how quickly a single lapse in supervision or instruction can lead to serious harm:
- A young boy at a sleep-away camp was riding a banana boat when the counselors failed to give hand signals to alert the boat operator and guides that a rider had fallen off the front. The boy bounced into the tow rope and was dragged toward the motor, suffering arm and shoulder injuries. We successfully represented him.
- A teenager was on a bunk deck when a counselor began horsing around with the campers. As our client tried to move away, the counselor kept chasing him, causing him to fall off the end of the deck and injure his leg. We successfully represented him as well.
- An adult woman attending an adult weekend camp getaway was never given proper instructions on how to use a rope swing apparatus. She fell suddenly onto the rocks below and was injured. We successfully represented her.
How New York Law Protects Those Injured at Camp
In New York, camps are considered to stand in loco parentis, meaning they assume a parent-like duty of care over the children entrusted to them. This imposes a higher standard of supervision and safety than that of an ordinary property owner.
The standard personal injury statute of limitations in New York is three years from the date of the injury under CPLR § 214(5). When the injured party is a minor, however, the clock generally does not begin to run until they turn 18, which makes 21 the effective filing deadline in most camp injury cases.
If the camp is run by a government entity, such as a public school or a city-run program, additional procedural requirements apply, including filing a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the incident.
What You Should Do After a Camp Injury
If you or someone you know was injured at camp or on a school trip, taking the right steps right away can protect both their health and any future legal claim:
- Seek medical attention immediately and keep records of all diagnoses and treatment.
- Photograph the scene, the hazard, and any visible injuries if possible.
- Request and preserve any incident reports the camp files.
- Write down what camp staff said in the immediate aftermath.
- Avoid signing any release or waiver the camp offers before consulting an attorney.
- Contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to preserve your options.
Leav & Steinberg Can Help
Our firm has handled dozens of cases involving injuries at camps, on school trips, and in supervised youth settings. We understand how camps are supposed to operate and how to recognize when a safety failure crosses the line into legal negligence. Whatever the circumstances, our attorneys have the experience to evaluate your case and help you understand the path to recovery.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a camp setting, contact an experienced team of camp injury attorneys who can help you understand your options. Contact us or call +1 (347) 427-5171 for a free consultation with an attorney who can evaluate your case and talk through your next steps.