Summer Camp Litigation Resources
These summer camp litigation resources are written for plaintiff and defense counsel evaluating camp-related matters. They address operational issues that may arise in litigation, including camper supervision, staffing and training, incident documentation, emergency response, safety practices, and camp-industry standards.
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*The materials are general in nature. They are not legal advice and do not constitute case-specific expert opinions.
Featured Resources for Attorneys
Understanding Industry Standards for Camper Supervision in Summer Camp Operations
Common Staffing Failures in Summer Camp Injury Cases
Camper supervision involves considerably more than counselor-to-camper ratios.
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This article examines how camper age and maturity, activity risk, environment, staff experience, staff placement, active supervision, accountability procedures, and leadership oversight may affect the evaluation of supervision practices following a camp incident.
A serious camp incident may reveal staffing and management issues that existed well before the event itself.
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This article examines common areas warranting review, including staff screening, training, supervision ratios, staff placement and deployment, active supervision, and leadership oversight.
Evaluating Camp Emergency Response Following a Serious Injury
Camp Operations & Safety Commentary
An unfavorable outcome does not, by itself, establish that a camp's emergency response was inadequate.
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This article presents a framework for examining emergency planning, the incident timeline, staff training and decision-making, communication systems, EMS access and transportation, implementation of written procedures, documentation, and witness evidence.
In addition to these attorney-focused resources, Kevin Gordon publishes periodic commentary on current summer camp incidents, safety issues, operational developments, and youth-program practices.
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The commentary focuses on the operational questions raised by an incident or development rather than attempting to determine fault or liability from incomplete publicly available information.
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Topics may include:
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Camper supervision and safeguarding
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Staff hiring, training, and oversight
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Serious injuries and emergency response
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Aquatic and waterfront operations
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Medical, allergy, and medication procedures
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Camp policies and emergency planning
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Incident documentation
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Camp standards and industry practices
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Risk management and operational decision-making
What Camp Incident Reports Often Reveal—and What They Often Miss
Incident reports can provide important information about what occurred, but they rarely tell the entire operational story.
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This article discusses what incident reports may establish, the questions they frequently leave unanswered, and why training records, supervision policies, emergency plans, personnel information, witness evidence, and other materials may be necessary to understand the broader circumstances surrounding an incident.
About Kevin Gordon,
Summer Camp Expert Witness
Kevin provides expert witness and consulting services relating to summer camp operations, supervision, staffing and training, safety, emergency response, aquatics, and related youth-program issues.
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With over 40 years of experience in camps and youth programming, his background includes camp ownership and direction, risk management, waterfront operations, staff supervision and training, consulting, and camp-industry leadership.
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He accepts engagements from both plaintiff and defense counsel throughout the United States and Canada.
Discuss a Potential Matter
Kevin Gordon
SUmmer CAMP EXPERT WITNESS
United States & Canada • Plaintiff & Defense
*Please do not transmit confidential or privileged information before potential conflicts have been identified and cleared.
kevin@campexpertwitness.com
*These resources provide general information concerning summer camp operations and safety. They are not legal advice and should not be understood as expressing an opinion regarding any particular case, organization, incident, or party.
PHONE
815-713-4110
Counsel evaluating a summer camp or related youth-program matter may contact Kevin regarding availability, conflicts, qualifications, or the potential scope of an engagement.