(WENY) -- Studies show that heat can affect children more severely than adults. With a separate issue being the air quality from the ongoing wildfires in Canada, local camps are taking steps to have a safe summer of fun.  

“We want to make sure the air quality is good for everyone,” Ryan Donnelly, Co-Director of Tanglewood Nature Center's Summer Camp, said.  

While the air quality has presented new challenges in summer 2023, day camps are taking steps to ensure kids have fun safely, while having fun in the sun. Drinking enough water is key, but what you wear can also help regulate your body temperature.   

Guthrie's Dr. Donald Phykitt, D.O., says if you're going to be running around in the heat, loose and light-colored clothes are the right fit.  

“(Wear) wicking ones that'll take the fluid away from the body and allow it to evaporate,” Dr. Phykitt said, adding, “Pure cotton is not good because it gets waterlogged, and can affect your ability to take care of the heat.”  

Tanglewood Nature Center's Summer Camp is making sure the kids have enough water, but they are also tracking the air quality, which could affect their outdoor activities. Camp Co-Director Ryan Donnelly says he's using the resource 'Air Now' to monitor the air quality levels.  

“We have some kids who enjoy our camps that have certain health effects like asthma,” Donnelly said, adding, “We want to make sure that they (can) enjoy (camp) too.”  

Stephanie Miller with Pathways says the Kids Adventure Camp has always made the well-being of their campers the main priority. She feels the required paperwork, immunization records, and providing everyday necessities for campers will help create a safer summer and ways to beat the heat and poor air quality.  

“They're keeping careful track of all the kids and making sure that if it's too hot outside, that they're not outside for too long,” Miller said, adding “They got proper sun protection, and they're having fun at the same time.”  

Experts say extreme weather is becoming the norm across the U.S. This means places like summer camps need to be aware of how to keep their kids safe, not only from high heat but also from poor air quality.