From extreme heat to wildfire smoke, how summer camps are adapting to climate change

Climate change has brought a hotter summer and wildfire smoke. Summer camp staff say they're needing to change traditional activities to keep kids safe and comfortable.

Nadia Clendon loves camp so much she only answers to her summer camp name – Potamus – even while at home.

“We do Sandy Beach Park for Potamus,” the 15-year-old said. “And we do gardening for Potamus.”

Nadia is autistic.

Her mother, Jana El-Guebaly, said Nadia’s experiences every summer – meeting friends and taking part in activities – mean so much to her she talks about it for months, even though she only attends for weeks.

But Nadia was at home in Calgary while speaking to Global News. Her was camp cancelled because the air quality was so poor.

“It took a good amount of time to get Nadia settled into the fact that today was not going to be a camp day,” El-Guebaly said.

Climate change is posing challenges for camps across the country. They’re needing to adapt to hotter weather and wildfire smoke.

Camp officials in Ontario and Alberta told Global News they’re focused on maintaining the core experience of camp – like building friendships on a canoe trip or sitting next to a campfire. But those activities might look different in order to keep kids comfortable and safe.