For generations, summer has meant time outdoors for children across the country — camps, sports, and activities that get kids away from screens and into fresh air. But that long-standing tradition is now facing a serious threat from climate change.
Each summer, countless parents rush to sign their children up for outdoor programs and activities. However, a growing problem is making that scramble more complicated: extreme heat and wildfire smoke are increasingly turning the outdoors into a dangerous place for young people.
What was once a reliable season of outdoor adventure is now something families and program organizers have to carefully plan around, as dangerous air quality and record-breaking temperatures become more common features of the summer months.
