PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR
CampAbuse has identified the fact that, among the majority of camps in which COVID-19 outbreaks or cases have occurred, a significant sum of those infected apparently were not wearing masks or following CDC guidelines.
CampAbuse is also further exploring why many of the outbreaks occur at faith-based camps.
In April of 2020, as states were shutting down due to a rapid acceleration of COVID-19 cases, hospital overloads, deaths and uncertainties, American Camp Association President/CEO Tom Rosenberg said to ABC News that not opening camps posed an “existential threat… what we do know is kids need camp more than ever.”
In May of 2020, Rosenberg, his fellow ACA officials, lobbyists and associates found their way into a meeting with former Vice President Mike Pence to all but demand that camps be allowed to open during COVID. Former President Trump White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx also attended.
In June of 2020, Pence, the CDC and other top state officials, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, gave Rosenberg and camps the answer they were looking for, replete with a colorful document titled “COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Day Camps.”
Only two weeks after that determination, news broke of a major outbreak at Camp High Harbour in Georgia. Only 344 of the 600 campers and staffers were tested. Of those 344, at least 260 tested positive, half of which were children. See below for a sample of COVID outbreaks at camps in 2020, preceded by a sample of outbreaks from this year.
One might not think that COVID outbreaks should be classified as abuse per se. But when children are landing in hospitals with potentially longer term health battles, all stemming from preventable outcomes and misinformation, this is where adults must draw the line.
A sample of COVID-19 cases at summer camps, 2021
160 COVID cases attributed to church camp in Galveston County, Texas… MORE
130+ infected by COVID at summer church camp in Beaumont, Texas… MORE
Covid cases reported, hundreds exposed at church camp in Castro Valley, California… MORE
96 COVID cases reported from summer youth Christian camp in Rushville, Illinois… MORE
Nearly 80 test positive at Christian camp in Miamisburg, Ohio… MORE
80 COVID cases erupt at the South Texas District Church of the Nazarene youth camp… MORE
At least 58 COVID cases associated with christian camp in Rosman, North Carolina… MORE
Roughly 50 COVID cases linked to cluster of Christian camps in Kansas… MORE
At least 50 COVID cases linked to Baptist summer camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee… MORE
42 COVID cases linked to Christian youth camp in Gladwin County. Michigan… MORE
25 staff members test positive for COVID at New Life Ranch Christian camp in Oklahoma… MORE
Dozens affected as Fresno church cancels youth activities after COVID exposures at summer camp… MORE
23 test positive for COVID at Copake, New York camp… MORE
At least a dozen test positive at Baptist church camp in Woodway, Texas… MORE
11 test positive for COVID at Baptist Camp in Wabash County, Illinois… MORE
11 cases of COVID at school camp in Brevard County, Florida… MORE
Popular Jewish Community Center summer camp reports 10 cases of COVID-19 in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania... MORE
Dance and gymnastics camp reports 10 positive COVID cases in Missouri CIty, Texas… MORE
At least 10 summer camps with COVID outbreaks in Utah… MORE
8 test positive for COVID at bible camp in Story City, Iowa… MORE
Unknown number of people contract COVID from church camp in Hopkins County, Kentucky… MORE
Christian camp in Baltimore hit by COVID… MORE
COVID cases reported at Church of the Nazarene summer camp in Orange, Texas… MORE
More COVID outbreaks at Kansas summer camp
Asheville, North Carolina camp
Red Hook, New York summer camp
Marco Island, Florida summer camp
Tallahassee, Florida summer camp
Calhoun County, Michigan summer camp
Brandon, Mississippi summer camp
Fresno County, California summer camp
A sample of COVID-19 cases at summer camps, 2020 during the height of COVID
https://apnews.com/6bde87b6c7d3276208c439901af71650 — 260+ cases reported, exposure far greater
https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/07/christian-summer-camp-kanakuk-82-cases-covid-19.html - 82 cases reported, exposure far greater
https://www.bhpioneer.com/covid-19/cases-of-covid-at-south-dakota-youth-camp-grow-to-96/article_0a4cfd50-d738-11ea-b03f-0302d75a543f.html - 96+ cases reported, exposure far greater
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/coronavirus/article244417462.html - 80+ cases reported, exposure far greater
https://katv.com/news/local/arkansas-summer-camp-closes-after-campers-staff-test-positive-for-virus - unknown # of cases
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2020/10/29/cdc-report-links-1-boy-116-covid-infections-wisconsin-summer-camp/6074357002/ - 116 cases reported, exposure far greater.
https://www.radio.com/wwjnewsradio/articles/news/dozens-of-cases-linked-to-christian-summer-camp-in-michigan - 54 cases reported, exposure far greater
https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/08/25-campers-and-staff-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-oregons-first-large-summer-camp-outbreak.html - 25 cases reported, exposure far greater
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/ymca-closures-atlanta-covid/85-6ed09cab-d71c-419f-9679-b34bede172b5 - unknown # of cases (1)
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2020/07/21/keller-parents-want-answers-after-kids-come-home-from-church-camp-with-covid-19/ - unknown # of cases (3)
https://www.kotatv.com/2020/07/27/covid-19-outbreak-closes-camp-judson-for-summer/ - 32 cases reported, exposure far greater
https://campenings.wordpress.com/2020/06/20/update-deer-run-cancels-youth-summer-camps-after-covid-19-outbreak/ - 35+ cases reported. exposure far greater
https://www.wpr.org/ashland-county-reports-covid-19-outbreak-northern-wisconsin-summer-camp - 14+ cases
https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/coronavirus/article244100447.html - unknown # of cases (1)
https://lailluminator.com/2020/08/04/state-officials-link-only-10-cases-of-covid-19-to-summer-camps/ - 10 cases reported
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2020/06/29/miami-dade-summer-camp-closed-after-employee-tests-positive-for-covid-19/ - 1 case reported
https://www.jweekly.com/2020/07/15/jewish-day-camp-in-texas-closes-following-covid-19-outbreak/ - 4 cases reported
https://wwmt.com/news/local/possible-covid-19-exposure-at-sturgis-summer-camp - unknown # of cases
https://www.forsythnews.com/news/health-care/child-forsyth-county-summer-camp-tests-positive-covid-19/ - unknown # of cases (1)
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/public-safety/2020/07/13/child-attending-irondequoit-summer-camp-tests-positive-for-covid - unknown # of cases (1)
https://wwmt.com/news/local/mother-two-in-family-test-positive-for-covid-19-after-summer-camp-exposure - 6 cases reported, exposure far greater
https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/2-children-at-morrisville-summer-camp-test-positive-for-covid-19/ 2+ cases reported, exposure far greater
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/07/25/coronavirus-oakland-montclair-summer-camp-closure/ - 1 case reported, exposure far greater
https://www.coloradocountycitizen.com/article/covid-19/covid-19-rocks-pine-cove-jump-positive-cases - 9 cases reported, exposure far greater
https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/local-day-camp-closed-after-two-test-positive-for-covid-19/ - 2 cases reported, exposure far greater
https://abc7chicago.com/coronavirus-illinois-chicago-covid-19-quarantine/6313973/ - unknown # of cases
https://abc7ny.com/manasquan-covid-coronavirus-summer-camp-nj-pause/6315058/ - unknown # of cases
https://patch.com/new-jersey/berkeley-nj/berkeley-camp-counselors-positive-coronavirus-camp-closes - unknown # of cases
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/oakland/2020/07/22/oakland-nj-summer-camper-tests-positive-coronavirus/5489062002/ - 1 case reported
https://campenings.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/st-petersburg-summer-camp-closed-after-positive-covid-19-tests/ - unknown # of cases
https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2020/07/17/pasadena-closes-city-camp-after-two-test-positive-for-coronavirus/ - 2 cases reported
https://www.darientimes.com/news/article/Darien-YMCA-takes-precautions-after-Hindley-camp-15424179.php - 1 case reported, exposure far greater
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/coronavirus/keller-mother-believes-daughter-contracted-covid-19-at-church-camp/2409567/ - 1 case reported, exposure far greater
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/coronavirus/child-at-ymca-camp-in-burlington-tests-positive-for-covid-19/2304056/ - 1 case reported, exposure greater