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Security Services for Camps
Security, safety, and investigative services for camps in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.
I am Zach Baumgart, a paramedic and former federal special agent with more than 25 years of public safety and law enforcement experience. About me
Independent Advice, with Nothing to Sell
I do not sell security guards, alarms, cameras, or any other products or equipment. I only provide my services, so my advice is never tied to something I am selling. My only interest is giving you honest advice and the best client service.
How I Help Camps
I serve camps of every type and size, including day camps, overnight and resident camps, sports camps, arts and STEM camps, faith-based camps, scout camps, and camps hosted at schools or colleges, from single camps to organizations that run multiple sites.
Security Director on Demand
- On-demand security advice without the overhead of a full-time employee.
- I act as your dedicated liaison with law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies.
- I conduct independent, confidential investigations of incidents, allegations, internal policy violations, and safety concerns.
- I conduct threat assessments and threat investigations, and I develop threat mitigation plans as part of your contract.
- I give travel security advice and briefings for groups on international trips.
Threat Assessment and Management
- Health and medical issues (34%) and abuse allegations (31%) made up most calls to the American Camp Association's Camp Crisis Hotline in 2024. Source: American Camp Association, Camp Crisis Hotline Annual Review, 2024
- I assess and investigate threats from irate, threatening, or aggressive parents and others, including custody disputes and unauthorized pickup attempts, and help you decide how to respond before a situation escalates.
- I develop threat management and mitigation plans, and I coordinate with law enforcement as appropriate.
Emergency Procedures
- I audit, test, and review your current security measures and emergency procedures.
- I develop and update contingency plans for threats, Active Threat Response (commonly referred to as active shooter or armed intruder training), severe weather, missing campers, medical emergencies, and parent reunification.
- I conduct practical staff training and run emergency preparedness drills.
Physical Security Audits
- An independent audit of your facilities, property, cabins, and current security measures.
- I evaluate perimeter fencing, entry points, lighting, waterfront access, trails and open areas, pick-up and drop-off areas, and visitor check-in procedures.
- I identify gaps, vulnerabilities, and risks, and I develop actionable, cost-effective solutions.
Background Investigations
- Rigorous, multi-jurisdictional background screening of counselors, administrative staff, contractors, and recurring volunteers.
- I use proprietary databases that are available only to licensed firms, and I analyze the results myself as a former law enforcement officer to find red flags that automatic and instant background check services miss.
How It Works
Initial Consultation
A confidential consultation by phone or virtual meeting lasting about 15 minutes. The consultation is complimentary.
Scope and Contract
I recommend the services that fit your camp's needs, and a written contract sets out the scope and terms.
Work and Reports
I work with you and your team to conduct the agreed-upon work, provide regular updates, and produce final reports.
Ready to talk it through? The initial consultation is complimentary.
My Experience
I spent more than 25 years in public safety and federal law enforcement, starting as a volunteer EMT in college and working as a paramedic, a firefighter, a local law enforcement officer, and a federal special agent. As a paramedic, I know how quickly a medical emergency can escalate, and as a federal special agent I worked on security programs and emergency planning for U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.
I also managed the U.S. Department of State's sex crimes investigations program, so I have the skills to confidentially, discreetly, and thoroughly handle allegations regarding staff and camper conduct. I am a Nationally Registered Paramedic (NRP) and a licensed Virginia private investigator (DCJS), and I was trained as an instructor by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency and the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Training Center. Learn more about my background.
Where I Work
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need all five services?
No. Each of my services is available individually or as part of a Security Director on Demand contract.
Who does the work?
I do all of the work myself. I do not hand your project to subcontractors.
Do you sell guards, cameras, or alarms?
No. I do not sell security guards, alarms, cameras, or any other products or equipment, so my advice for your camps is independent.
How much does it cost?
The cost depends on the services you need and the size of your camp. In one example, under a six-month Security Director on Demand contract, a single-location day camp with about 100 campers would pay approximately $800 per month and would receive: a full review and updates to all emergency plans, monthly meetings and updates, monthly drills and/or training as needed, reviews of operations to ensure compliance with security plans, unlimited consultations on investigative matters, up to two initial threat assessments every month, and the ability to contact me on an as-needed basis during typical business hours.
Additional services, including 24/7 access to me, additional threat assessments, background investigations, or full private investigations, are available for an additional cost.
Can you work around my camp schedule and season?
Yes. I can schedule audits and staff training before your season starts, and I can run emergency preparedness drills when your staff are on site.
Can you screen counselors and volunteers?
Yes. I can conduct background investigations of counselors, administrative staff, contractors, and recurring volunteers. I can also screen staff and volunteers under 18 with parental or guardian consent.
During our initial consultation, I can recommend what level of background investigation is needed for your staff based on their access to children and their camp position.
Can you investigate allegations of staff or camper misconduct?
Yes. I conduct independent, confidential investigations of allegations involving staff, campers, and volunteers, and I report my findings to you in writing. Serious allegations involving a child should be reported to law enforcement or child protective services right away, and I coordinate with them as appropriate.
Can you help with custody disputes and unauthorized pickups?
Yes. I review your pick-up and check-in procedures, train your staff to handle custody disputes and unauthorized pickup attempts calmly, and develop plans for the situations that follow. When a parent or another person becomes a threat, I assess and investigate the threat, then develop threat mitigation plans. I do not give legal advice, so I recommend that you consult your attorney about custody orders.
Can you help with missing camper and parent reunification plans?
Yes. I audit, test, and update your plans for missing campers and parent reunification, and I train and run drills with your staff.
Do you provide lifeguards, security guards, or camp nurses?
No. I do not provide lifeguards, security guards, or camp nurses, and I do not sell products. Instead, I provide services such as Security Director on Demand, threat assessment and management, and emergency procedures to help you prevent and respond to problems. I can also audit your facilities, investigate incidents, and train your staff to carry out your plans.
Do you work with organizations that run several camp sites?
Yes. I work with single camps and organizations that run multiple sites throughout Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. I can audit each site and build consistent plans, training, and procedures across all of them.
Prefer to Start with One Project?
Each of my services is available individually or as part of a Security Director on Demand contract. Incidents and allegations can often lead to or also require private investigations, and camps can often benefit from staff training, background investigations of counselors and volunteers before they start, threat assessment, and travel security briefings for groups on international trips. See my full list of services.
I serve camps across Northern Virginia, including Loudoun County, Fairfax County, and towns such as Ashburn, Leesburg, Herndon, and Vienna. See my full service area.