The Waves Are the Work: Reflections on Camp Management
Years before becoming a camp lawyer, I was, and still am, a camp founder and operator. Like many of you, my family and I spend every summer at camp, where I have the privilege of managing the organization alongside an exceptionally talented team of professionals. As longtime readers know, once we are in the depth of summer, I sometimes like to step away from legal topics and share some reflections on camp management. I find these particular posts cathartic to write, and reade
22 minutes ago4 min read
Can We Turn Away an 18-Year-Old Camper?
Many camps share a common experience: Under various circumstances, a parent calls and requests to enroll an 18- or 19-year-old in the program, leading camp to question its legal obligations. Are we allowed to say that camp is only for those under 18 and turn away adult participants? While the answer is likely yes, the issue is not without legal nuance. This article briefly examines the relevant legal considerations. We begin with how “camp” is defined in the law, then turn t
May 214 min read
Buying or Selling a Camp: The Legal Roadmap
Thank you to my Potomac Law partner, Senwan Akhtar , for her thoughtful edits and valuable feedback on this article. After spending enough time in the industry, many camp professionals aspire to own their own camp, just as many former campers and counselors fondly recall their camp memories and dream of getting back into the industry. As a result, especially in certain regions, there are many more buyers than sellers. This often leads to a competitive purchase process and an
Apr 310 min read
Can Camps Employ International Staff Remotely After the Summer?
Camps increasingly find themselves asking a version of the same question: We have a great staff member from overseas. Can we keep them on year-round once they return home? Can they just work remotely for camp from their home country? It’s a reasonable question, particularly for camps that rely on international seasonal staff and would like to retain them beyond the summer months. The legal issue is that, once an employee is working from another country, the employer generally
Mar 42 min read
