Nearly all camps have experienced campers and/or staff who threaten to, or actually, engage in self-harm during camp.

This e-session, co-hosted by ACA, New England & ACA, New York and New Jersey, will be led by three experts in the summer camp space: social worker and camp consultant Nick Teich, and attorneys Isaac Mamaysky and Rachel Fendell Satinsky.

During the web session, we will dive into the topic of self-harm and how to prepare directors and camp leadership to make decisions such as:

• When do we need to send campers or staff home?
• How can we consider what mechanisms we should put in place if they should stay?
• How can we know what individuals truly mean when they threaten self-harm or make suicidal statements?
• Are we asking enough questions about mental health before camp?
• Most importantly, how can we keep our campers and staff safe, get them the care they need, and ensure that we are abiding by the law?

The presenters will leave time for questions and answers from participants.

About the presenters:

Dr. Nick Teich is the founder and was the longtime director of an overnight camp in New Hampshire. He is now an executive coach for camp directors, helping them with their camp’s unique needs and goals, through his business, Fairwinds Camp Consulting. Nick is on the ACA, New England Board of Directors and is a 2024 recipient of ACA, New England’s Peter Kerns Award for the Advancement of Professional. He is a trained social worker and holds a doctorate in social policy. Nick lives in the Boston area.

Isaac Mamaysky is a Partner at Potomac Law Group, where he started the firm’s Camps and Youth Programs practice. He also writes the Camp Law Blog. In addition to his practice, Isaac has over a decade of experience as the founder and director of a large ACA-accredited overnight camp in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. As an active camp operator, Isaac has firsthand experience with the same types of challenges faced by his clients, which gives him a unique perspective when addressing their legal needs. Isaac is a frequent speaker on legal matters at American Camp Association conferences and events. He earned a juris doctor cum laude from the Boston University School of Law. He earned a bachelors degree summa cum laude from the University of Rhode Island.

Rachel Fendell Satinsky is a seasoned attorney concentrating in employment litigation and counseling. Rachel has successfully represented a range of clients, from Fortune 50 companies to start-ups, in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. She has experience with all aspects of litigation including obtaining successful resolutions on summary judgment, at trial, and on appeal. Her litigation and counseling experience spans various industries, including retail, financial services, and healthcare. Rachel also has a focus on the camp industry and is recognized as a leading authority in that field.

Registration Information

While ACA, New England & ACA, NY and NJ are hosting this e-session, camp professionals from all regions are invited to register and attend.

Cost: Free for individual ACA members/$25 for non-members. (Registration is based on individual membership status.)

Click here to register.

Registrations are non-refundable but may be transferred to another participant from your camp/organization.

This session will be recorded. If you can’t join us live, the recording will be available for 30 days after the event.

You will earn 1 CEC for participation in this e-session.