Summer camp waiver template
A summer camp waiver is the form every parent signs before their child spends a week at your camp. It lists the activities, gets consent for medical care, records who may pick the child up, and sets your behavior and refund policies. This one is written for day camps and overnight sessions. Read it below, then send it to every enrolled family from one spreadsheet.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 4 min read
The contract
Gray blanks are yours to fill in before you send. Each signer fills in the blanks in their color.
- You, before sending
- Parent or guardian
Summer Camp Waiver and Parent Consent
This Summer Camp Waiver and Parent Consent is between Camp name (the "Camp") and the parent or legal guardian signing below (the "Parent"), for the camper named here (the "Camper").
Camper's name: Camper's name Date of birth: Camper's date of birth
1. Session
Session dates: Session dates Day camp or overnight: Day camp or overnight
Camp location: Camp location
2. Activities and risks
Camp activities include: Camp activities. The Parent understands that these activities, outdoor play and time away from home carry risks, including falls, sprains and broken bones, insect stings, sunburn and heat illness, water-related injuries, and injuries caused by other campers. The Camp trains its staff and supervises campers to reduce these risks, but cannot remove them.
3. Swimming
The Camper's swimming ability, as the Parent understands it: Swimming ability. The Camp may test campers' swimming and decide where each camper may swim based on the result.
4. Health and medication
- Allergies (write "none" if there are none): Allergies
- Medical conditions the Camp should know about: Medical conditions
- Medications to be given at camp, with doses and times: Medications at camp
- Dietary needs: Dietary needs
The Parent will hand any medication to the Camp in its original labeled container, and authorizes the Camp's staff to give it as the label and the Parent's written instructions say. The Parent will tell the Camp in writing if any of these answers change before or during the session.
5. Emergency medical care
If the Camper is injured or ill, the Camp will give first aid and contact the Parent. If the Parent can't be reached quickly, the Parent authorizes the Camp to obtain the emergency medical treatment that the Camp's staff or a doctor believe is needed, including transport to a hospital. The Parent is responsible for the cost of that care.
Parent phone: Parent phone
Emergency contact: Emergency contact name Phone: Emergency contact phone
Health insurance provider and policy number (optional): Health insurance details
6. Pick-up
Besides the Parent, only these adults may pick up the Camper: Authorized pick-up adults. Staff will ask for photo ID. If anyone else arrives, the Camp will keep the Camper with staff and call the Parent.
7. Behavior
The Camper will follow the Camp's rules and staff instructions. Rules include: Camp rules. If a Camper's behavior puts themselves or others at risk, or seriously disrupts the Camp, the Camp may send the Camper home, and the Parent will collect them promptly. Fees are not refunded in that case.
8. Fees and refunds
Session fee: Session fee Refund policy: Refund policy
9. Release
To the extent the law allows, the Parent, for themselves and for the Camper, releases the Camp and its owners, staff and volunteers from claims arising from the Camper's participation in camp activities, except claims caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct.
10. Photos
The Camp may photograph camp activities. If the Parent initials here, the Camp may use photos of the Camper in its newsletters, website and social media, never with the Camper's last name: Initials: photo permission
11. General
This form is governed by the laws of the state of State. Electronic signatures count as original signatures. Parent email: Parent email
I am the Camper's parent or legal guardian, I have read this whole form, and the information I have given is true and complete.
Parent or guardian
Opens it in SignMaster as a template you can edit and send.
A starting point, not legal advice. Have a lawyer review it for your state and situation.
On this page
One form, a lot of jobs
A camp's paperwork does more than release liability. The lifeguard needs to know who can't swim, the nurse needs to know who takes what at lunch, and the front gate needs to know who may collect each child. Put it all in one signed form per camper and you're not reconciling three spreadsheets on the first morning.
The release part has limits. Many states won't let a parent waive a child's own injury claims in advance, and none will excuse gross negligence. The form still earns its place: it documents that families were told about the activities and agreed to the rules, and it gives you the consent you need to act fast in an emergency.
What the template covers
- Camper and session: the child's name and date of birth, the session dates, the location, and day or overnight.
- Activities and risks: swimming, hiking, sports, crafts, trips and anything else, listed by you, with the risks that come with them.
- Swimming: the parent's description of the child's swimming ability, for your lifeguards before the first swim test.
- Health and medication: allergies, conditions, medications to be given at camp, and consent for staff to give them as labeled.
- Emergency care: permission to treat if the parent can't be reached, an emergency contact, and optional insurance details.
- Pick-up: the adults allowed to collect the child, and what staff do when someone else arrives.
- Behavior: your rules, and the right to send a camper home.
- Fees, refunds and photos: the session fee, your refund policy in your words, and photo permission by initials.
Mistakes camps make
- Collecting forms on the first day. Problems surface at drop-off with a line of cars behind them. Have every form signed a week before the session.
- Accepting "no allergies" by omission. The template makes the allergy, condition and medication answers required, so a parent writes "none" rather than skipping the line.
- Not updating the pick-up list. Custody arrangements change; ask families to tell you in writing, and treat the signed form as the source of truth.
- Promising refunds you can't afford. Set a date after which fees aren't refunded, and say so plainly in section 8.
- Ignoring state camp rules. Many states license youth camps and set their own health form, staffing or medication rules; your waiver should match them.
Doctor's notes and medication forms
If your camp gives prescription medication, your state or your nurse may require a form signed by the child's doctor. Add an attachment field so parents upload it, as a photo or PDF, with the waiver.
How to send it to every family
- 1
Open the template
Choose Use this template above. It opens with one signer, the parent or guardian, and your camp's details as gray blanks.
- 2
Fill in your camp
Type the camp name, location, activities, rules, session fee and refund policy once. Leave the camper's details to the parent or to your spreadsheet.
- 3
Bulk send to enrolled families
Export your enrollment list with one row per camper: the parent's name and email, plus Camper's name and Session dates columns. Then bulk send it; from Excel, save as CSV UTF-8 first.
- 4
Let reminders chase
Set a sign-by date a week before the session. Parents who haven't signed get reminders that switch to due tomorrow, due today and overdue as the date arrives.
- 5
Brief your staff
On a paid plan, open the Responses tab for one table of every camper's allergies, medications, swim ability and pick-up list. Export it for the nurse, the waterfront and the front gate.
Late sign-ups and shared custody
For families who register after your list goes out, a public link on your registration page does the same job: each parent fills in the camper's details and signs their own copy. When parents share custody, add the second parent as a CC so both get the signed form, or as a second signer if your policy needs both signatures.
Questions? Answers.
Is a summer camp waiver enforceable?
Partly, and it depends on the state. A parent's release of a child's own injury claims is enforced in some states and not others. The consent, rules and medical sections do their job either way, so have a local lawyer review the release section.
Can parents sign camp forms on their phone?
Yes. They open the link from the email, fill in the camper's details and sign with a finger. No account or app needed.
Do both parents need to sign the camp waiver?
Usually one parent or guardian is enough. If your policy or a custody order requires both, add a second signer to the template.
Can I get the doctor's note with the form?
Yes. Add an attachment field and the parent uploads a photo or PDF of the note while they sign.