Putting Safety Reforms into Action: Announcing our First Round of Safe Summers Fund Grantees
The Safe Summers Fund Makes Safety Reforms a Reality for Nonprofit Camps
At the Campaign for Camp Safety, passing legislation to keep kids safe at summer camps was our immediate first step. But in order to make these reforms a reality, we launched the Safe Summers Fund to grant financial support to qualifying nonprofit camps so they may implement life-saving safety enhancements before this summer season opens, in adherence to new state laws and regulations.
In collaboration with our partners at The Safety Navigator, we’ve bridged funding gaps for 14 nonprofit camps across Texas already. Also thanks to Safety Navigator, hundreds of camps have received expert risk assessments, templates and tools to support the implementation of best practices in an industry stewarding 26 million children annually in the U.S. alone.
We are proud to announce the inaugural round of the Campaign for Camp Safety’s Safe Summers Fund grants! We’ve awarded $232,000 to the following camps for safety enhancements that will protect more than 25,000 children across the State of Texas this summer:
Austin Sunshine Camps
Camp Fern Legacy, Inc.
GSNETX Camp Bette Perot
GSNETX Camp Gambill
GSNETX Camp Whispering Cedars
Christian Outdoor Alliance
Gilmont Camp and Conference Center
John Knox Ranch
Lake Lavon Baptist Encampment
Riverbend Retreat Center
Slumber Falls Camp
URJ Greene Family Camp
YMCA Camp Carter
YMCA Camp Cullen
These diverse camps span 12 Texas counties, multiple secular and non-secular affiliations, and are united by their commitment to the safety of their campers and staff. We are honored to support them in acquiring emergency warning systems, NOAA radios, second phone lines, external lighting, and backup power in case of emergency.
“Funding from the Safe Summers Fund is a gift that will help strengthen GFC safety and security for years to come. This support ensures every child can experience a summer filled with friendship, adventure, and camp magic while our whole community has peace of mind.” - Rabbi Erin Mason, URJ Greene Family Camp
The Safe Summers Fund is made possible by leading support from the Shalom Austin Texas Flood Relief Fund - supported by Jewish communities across Texas and around the country to stand with neighbors in urgent need - and Lauren Kate and Peter Holt. Additional major support has been provided by the BBYO Jewish Youth Movement and a number of individual donors who support the Campaign for Camp Safety’s mission.
These Safe Summers Fund grants are a reminder of the impact possible when camps, parents, nonprofits, and funders come together to protect our most vulnerable. We know that this is just the beginning of the good we will accomplish together through this fund benefiting youth camps, children, and communities across the nation.
Currently, we continue fundraising for a second round of grant applications, which will open in mid-September to camps in all states that have passed camp safety reforms in alignment with our Campaign’s priority pillars of Prevention, Detection, Training, and Response.
Join the movement by donating to the Campaign for Camp Safety today, and help us ensure that camps across Texas (and beyond) have access to the resources and expertise they need to respond to new regulations and implement best practices.
