With Memorial Day marking the start of summer, children’s summer camps across Texas are scrambling to comply with a sweeping series of new state regulations that were introduced in the wake of last year’s July 4 flooding tragedy that killed 27 Camp Mystic campers and counselors and more than 100 others. In North Texas, though, dozens of day camps may be bowing out of the new guidelines completely.
At least 12 day camps in North Texas have chosen not to renew their licenses with the state, data from the Texas Department of State Health Services show, and another dozen have been dropped from the state’s roster of camps. Some of those camps may have scaled back operations so that registration with the state is not necessary, but industry leaders have warned for months that inevitably, the new rules would result in some camps closing for good.
Camps that meet the state’s definition of a “youth camp” are required to register with Texas. The guidelines apply to childcare that operates only during school breaks, for four or more consecutive days a week, for four or more consecutive hours. If the camp offers more than one of the following activities: waterfront access, archery, horseback riding, ropes courses or riflery, it is required to obtain a DSHS license…