CBS News has identified hundreds of reports of sexual abuse that occurred at children's camps across the United States. We found reports of more than 500 victims who were allegedly sexually abused at children's camps over the past 55 years. At least 21 of those cases surfaced this year alone

Victims' advocates tell us the real number of abuse cases is likely much higher, since many are never reported.

It's a story that's been repeated again and again across the U.S. Combing through reports dating back to the 1960s, CBS News counted at least 578 victims who were allegedly sexually abused at children's camps

That's probably just the tip of the iceberg," said Jon Conte, who studies child abuse and trauma at the University of Washington. He described how camps can sometimes create opportunities for predators.

"I think it's isolation from parents, it's out of a normal routine. Some kids are a little bit older and they're feeling more independent, and they may have a false sense of security," Conte said.

More than 14 million people attend camps each year. But there are no national regulations for camps to follow. Eight states have no requirements for overnight camps to be licensed, and 18 states don't require background checks for employees.

Further complicating matters: more than 20,000 camp counselors came from foreign countries on visas last year. If they did have anything on their records, security experts say, it might not show up in a typical background check.

If we can level the playing field, create national standards that all camps have to uphold to for accreditation, for licensing, for permitting, for certification, then you start making it more difficult for predators to find their way in," she said.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hundreds-sexual-abuse-cases-childrens-camps-reported-across-us-cbs-this-morning/