Specialty insurance coverage for youth camps and retreat centers
Updated March 2023
For many of us, our best youthful memories often involve times we have spent at Summer camps or retreats. If you own a camp or retreat facility, you are a catalyst for social and even spiritual encounters that may well be foundational in building a young person’s future. Marriage retreats are also vital in restoring or refreshing adults in their commitments and love for each other. In supplying the resources necessary for these activities, there are several factors to consider when operating a camp or retreat.
Property Coverage – Camps and retreat centers present unique challenges in covering property in that there are usually multiple buildings such as lodges, cafeterias, dorms, shower buildings, concession stands, and pavilions. Property maintenance is important in being able to provide facilitation of everything from a youth camp to senior retreats. Following safety guidelines for children as well as elderly can be challenging. Be sure your policy limits are adequate for each building and you will want to determine whether you might need a blanket protection for your personal property, especially if your building contents may be moved into storage facilities for the off season.
In addition to buildings and personal property, you may have a need to cover other structures such as fencing, swimming pools, athletic equipment, lighting, and other structures that are utilized outdoors. Maintenance of these structures is also vital in securing adequate coverage.
Liability Coverage – While you will need premises and operations General Liability, there are several other coverage issues of importance for camps and retreats that are specific to your camping activities. One coverage is Medical Payments coverage that will usually cover those who are participants in the activities and events. If you lease or rent out your facilities to others, you should also ask to be listed on their policies as an insured for the activities they may plan while at your location. This can be taken care of by asking for a Certificate of Insurance.
Saddle Animal Liability – Many camps feature horseback riding or trail rides as an activity, and this presents a unique risk for injury to campers. Saddle Animal Liability would protect the camp ownership from claims of Bodily Injury while riding. This coverage is usually restricted to animals that are owned by the camp as leased animals would need to be covered by the owner.
Watercraft Liability – Another activity common to camps is canoeing or kayaking and this poses a risk to the participants. This coverage is available to protect the camp owners from injury claims related to these activities. There are usually some stipulations and safety guidelines that should be followed, such as how many people to a canoe and the use of life jackets.
Swimming Liability – Some camps provide pools and lake swimming as an activity and this may include diving boards or inflatable devices that catapult the swimmer out into the water. In these activities, the camp needs to have a liability coverage that rates for swimming and the dangers associated with that.
Sexual Misconduct Liability – As with most organizations that deal with children or youth, this liability is for the protection of the organization in the event of an allegation of misconduct. There are usually stipulations for background screening and adult supervision that are designed to avoid this type of claim, but this continues to be an area where camp owners often suffer tremendous loss in dealing with this type of situation. Having adequate coverage is essential for being able to recover and continue business operations.
Camps offer a full slate of activities that can include everything from cooking classes, arts involvement, and all sorts of athletic games and activities. Governments and regulation may require the insurance coverage for your events. The best way to be sure you are covered and meet the regulation as a camp or retreat operation owner is to sit down with a knowledgeable agency representative who can offer insight and guidance and recommend the best options. We have agents standing by to be of assistance to you and answer your questions.
Comments