Alabama summer camps have been a foundational and transformative experience for our families over many decades. We are former campers and staff of Alabama camps and parents of current campers.

Most importantly, we had the privilege of knowing Sarah Marsh as a friend and neighbor.

In July of 2025, we had to tell our children that their friend had died in a flood at camp.

As summer approaches, we are answering their questions about the camps they love: “Is my cabin safe? Is my camp safe? Will my counselor know what to do if something happens?” We wholeheartedly support House Bill 381, the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, and stand firmly with the Marsh family in their advocacy for strong, clear expectations for all camps around emergency planning and protection of children.

We believe when families raise concerns about child safety, we must listen with humility—then take action.

This is especially true when families who have lost children, as the Marshes and other Heaven’s 27 families have, ask for our attention and our legislature’s help in preventing similar circumstances, especially in their home state.

Most camps in Alabama operate with integrity and an unwavering commitment to safety. This is evident through clear and transparent communication from them about emergency preparedness and all the effort they make to protect children from harm.

Safety is not an afterthought; it is embedded into camp culture. However, good intentions and strong traditions are not enough. We want experts reviewing and evaluating emergency preparedness and evacuation plans.

As our awareness grows about what can go wrong, we need to translate this knowledge into additional safeguards to protect our children and the camp communities that we love.

HB 381 is pro-camp, pro-kids, pro-parent, and pro-safety. It modernizes standards to reflect current best practices and strengthens summer camps so they may continue to thrive for generations to come. This legislation requires every camp to have:

• Annually-updated emergency preparedness and evacuation plans that cover, fire, flood, weather emergencies, illness, and other natural disasters.
• Background checks for every camp employee and volunteer.
• Safety notification protocols in place, including National Weather Service radios and camp-wide notification systems for activation in an emergency.
• Staff training on what to do during a weather event.

As camp alumni and camp parents, we believe that these thoughtful, common-sense regulations will reinforce parental and public trust. As a result, children will feel confident going to camp to enjoy nature, learn new skills, take breaks from social media, and make lasting friendships.

When families know that camps follow mandated safety protocols, trust deepens. This sacred trust is essential to the camp experience.

In the aftermath of unimaginable loss, the Marsh family is advocating for change to honor Sarah; their efforts reflect grief in action. We invite you to stand with them to strengthen summer camp safety in Alabama.

Please join us in support of Alabama HB381. Contact your legislators and encourage them to vote YES on HB381.

To find out how to contact your legislator or to learn more about this legislation, visit www.campsafetyalabama.com.

Sincerely,

• Melissa Powell, Camp Winnataska and Camp DeSoto alumna, parent of Camp DeSoto and Alpine Camp for Boys campers
• Ila and Jim Broyles, staff and camping alumnus of Camp Alpine
• Anne Miles Golson, alumna of Camp Mac; parent of Camp Winnataska camper Mary Meadows Livingston, friend of the Marsh Family
• Ginger and Josh Menendez, camping alumni of Camps Skyline and Alpine, staff alumni of Camps Desoto and Alpine, parents of current Alpine campers
• Anna Kate Prum, alumna of Camp Skyline
• Emily Schultz, alumna of Camp Winnataska and Camp Cosby; parent of current Camp Cosby campers
• Shannon Price, parent of Camp Winnataska and Camp Skyline campers Lauren Cole, friend of the Marsh Family
• Emily and Oscar Price, Alumnus of Alpine Camp and parents of current Alpine campers Ellen F Eaton, friend of the Marsh Family
• Ashlee Fulmer, parent of campers at Camp Sumatanga and Camp Seafarer, my daughter was friends with Sarah
• Kali Bennett, friend of the Marsh Family Jessica Ata
• Stacy Rockwell Gunn, parent of current Camp Mac and Camp Cosby campers Lauren Robinson
• Mary Louise Quinn, Alumna of Camp DeSoto, employee of Camp DeSoto and Alpine Camp for Boys, parent of current Camp DeSoto and Alpine Camp for Boys campers
• Lauren Amberson Laura Lumsden Kat Rinehart Loftin Rinehart
• Laura Van Pelt, parent of current Camp Winnataska camper
• Emily and Matthew Menendez, camping alumni of Camps Desoto and Alpine, staff alumni of Camp Alpine, parents of current Alpine campers
• Megan & Colton Houston, parents of current Skyline campers
• Anne Lynn Langloh, fellow parishioners at the Cathedral Church of the Advent Tara Davis, parent of Camp Laney camper and friend of the Marsh Family