Nashville summer camp continues after teen killed by falling tree during hike at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan
The 15-year-old was walking through the woods with his group when a leaning tree fell on top of him.
What This Story Is About
- A teen died during a camp hike.
Why It Matters
- Hundreds of children remain at the camp.
What Happens Next
- Police are investigating the death as an accident.
Catch Up
- Police identify teen killed by falling tree at Nashville summer camp
- Police release how a teen was killed by a tree during a Nashville summer-camp hike
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A 15-year-old camper from Virginia died Monday after a tree fell on him during a group hike at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan on Percy Priest Lake, Metro Nashville Police said.
Camden Robert Callihan was walking through the woods with his group when a 14-year-old friend touched a leaning tree their counselors had warned the group not to touch, knocking it onto Callihan, according to police.
Campers and counselors worked to lift the tree off Callihan so he could be rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he died around 11 a.m., police said. No other campers or counselors were hurt.
Metro Police said they are investigating Callihan’s death as an accident and had no updates to release on Tuesday.
Camp continues operations
The YMCA spokesperson said emergency protocols were activated as soon as the tree fell and they are fully cooperating with authorities.
Callihan was participating in the Teen Extreme Camp session, which started Sunday. The program is designed for campers ages 13 to 15 and includes activities such as ropes courses, lake camping, caving, a zipline tour and hiking.
The group of teens involved in the incident went home Monday, the spokesperson said. The organization is still running other programs at Camp Widjiwagan this week, with 24 total scheduled between day and overnight camps.
The YMCA spokesperson refused to answer WSMV’s questions about what safety precautions are in place in the wooded areas or what steps, if any, are being taken to keep campers out of the woods while camps continue through next week.
YMCA leaders said crews are focused on providing care for families, campers and staff.
According to the YMCA’s website, parents must sign a liability waiver and a release form to register their children for camp.
Neighbors react
Russell Small, who has lived across from the camp for more than 12 years, said they’re still trying to process this tragic death.
“We were just kind of shocked and surprised because nothing very bad ever happens over there,” Small said. “It’s a very nice, peaceful place and the kids are well behaved.”
While Small said he would not want to see the camp close or change its operations after this incident, he said camp leaders need to protect people from additional falling trees.
“They’re going to need to get out there and check some of those trees. At least follow the paths that they take the kids on and make sure there’s nothing else that’s going to fall down,” Small said. “Maybe limit the number of people going in and out of there until they’ve established that it’s safe.”
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