Preventing Assault at Summer and Sports Camps
Recent news reports that a Pennsylvania gymnastics camp has been ordered to pay $8 million to a former camper for an alleged sexual assault by a coach has brought the issue of safety at summer and sports camps to the forefront. As the lawsuit alleged that the camp knew about the coach’s inappropriate behavior toward campers yet continued to rehire him each year, many are left wondering: how often does this happen, and what action can be taken to prevent this?
According to the CDC, one in four girls and one in 13 boys will experience child sexual abuse before they turn 18 years of age. Victims of abuse can be affected mentally and physically with severe, long-term consequences. The American Camp Association (ACA) recommends a number of things camps should do to mitigate the risk, including:
- Rigorous staff and volunteer screening
- Comprehensive staff training and education
- A strict, clear code of conduct communicated to staff, campers and parents/guardians
- Education for campers that includes an understanding of personal boundaries, consent, and safe, confidential reporting channels
- Vigilant monitoring and supervision of camp activities and campers
- Clear, confidential reporting and response protocols
Additional strategies recommended by the ACA include ongoing staff training, partnerships with external organizations that specialize in abuse prevention and response, and regular auditing and evaluation of camp protocols.
A USA Today report shared steps that parents can take to make their kids less vulnerable, starting with conversations about safe and unsafe behavior, as well as and healthy and unhealthy secrets. Children should be instructed how to ask for help and to be persistent if they don’t receive it – that they will not be punished and it’s not their fault. The Children’s Advocacy Center recommends that parents pre-screen potential camps about training, policies, and procedures in place surrounding the risk of abuse, and that parents learn the warning signs of abuse.
If you or a loved one has been injured on a property where you believe the owner was negligent to their required duty of care, consider speaking with a top premises liability attorney in Philadelphia. Contact us to set a time to meet and discuss the unique details of your situation.