Safety First at Camp

From ParentGuide's Ultimate Camp Guide May 2009

AFTER A WEEK OF PACKING AND A THREE˜HOUR DRIVE, you’ve dropped the kids off at camp. The van is noticeably quieter until you hear it. No, not the toy phone wedged under the seat. It’s a nagging voice in your head… will they be okay?

Parents should do their homework up front, whether they’re looking for sleep-away camps or day camps, says Tony Oyenarte, President of the Board of Directors for the American Camp Association, Southeastern Section. The more you ask, the better the experience for both your child and you.

“This isn’t just about the children,” says Oyenarte, who also serves as Director of Camp Crystal Lake in Starke, Fla. “This is also about the parents leaving their most prized possession with a group of adults they’ve only met for 15 to 20 minutes.

”Children who have completed second grade usually are ready for sleep-away camps, Oyenarte says. Younger children should probably start out with a day camp.

What to Ask
Accreditation
Accreditation is the first topic most parents raise, says Oyenarte. Camps accredited by the American Camp Association – the most common program – meet 300 health, safety and program quality standards. The Girl Scouts of the USA encourages its camps to seek ACA accreditation. On the other hand, camps run by well-known groups like the YMCA and Boy Scouts of America are not ACA accredited. Instead, they follow safety procedures set by their own organizations. In the end, parents must weigh their options and decide what works for them, Oyenarte says.

Staff
Parents should always make sure the camp staff is qualified, says Bryan Beckham, program director at the Bob Sierra Family YMCA. Staff should undergo background checks, First Aid and other training. Counselors, who are on the front lines with your child, should be significantly older than campers, says Oyenarte. Also, the ratio should be about 1 counselor to 5 campers. Waterfront staff is another major concern, Oyenarte says. Camps with pools or simple swimming areas can have a ratio of 1 lifeguard to 25 children, but camps teaching sports like canoeing and sailing need more.

Medical care
Camps should be no more than two hours from the nearest hospital, recommends Dr. J. J. Levenstein, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Air access to the grounds is a plus should the unthinkable happen. At the camp, a nurse should be onsite around the clock to administer medicine and first aid, Oyenarte says. Staff members who accompany campers on offsite trips should have some medical training. Additionally, a doctor should review the camp’s medical protocol.

Emergency Procedures
Every camp should have emergency plans, evacuation routes and shelters in case of severe storms, fires and other crises, says Levenstein. Parents should know how the camp will get in touch in case of emergency as well.

Other questions
Camp equipment – especially pieces used in high-risk activities – should be inspected and certified, says Ralph Snyder, Learning for Life Director of the Boy Scouts Gulf Ridge Council. Parents of children with food allergies or dietary restrictions should talk to the director early on about whether their needs can be accommodated, Oyenarte says. If your child has other special needs or quirky behaviors, it’s vital to let the camp director know, says Jennifer Peter, program project manager for Camp/Outdoors for the Girl Scouts. Up-front tips and warnings can help camp staff avoid awkward situations.

What to bring
Most camps can’t accommodate multiple steamer trunks per camper, so parents should follow their camp’s packing guide, Levenstein suggests. Still, there are some areas where parents might stray a little.

Campers always spend much of the first night playing with flashlights, so pack extra batteries, Levenstein warns.

Children with emergency medication like epinephrine and rescue inhalers should pack extras for their counselors, Levenstein suggests. Older children who can self-medicate often can obtain waivers allowing them to carry the medicine.

Immunizations should also be up to date, Levenstein says. Close contact with other campers puts children at risk for meningitis and other infectious diseases.

Many day camps require children to bring lunches and snacks, so find out whether refrigerators or microwaves are available, Beckham says. Ask whether water will be provided.

Everybody knows that sunscreen is a must, but remember you’re counting on a child to apply it, Levenstein says. Physical sunscreens made with titanium or zinc provide protection sooner and last longer than chemical ones. Brimmed hats and SPF clothing also offer sun protection.

Parents of younger campers may want to pre-pack matching outfits in bags, Peter suggests. This heads off worry some children feel when they have to create their own outfit in a hurry each morning.

Besides insect repellant, campers headed to areas where ticks live should know how to inspect themselves and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants for protection, Levenstein says.

Campers shouldn’t bring items like radios, electronic games, weapons and MP3 players, Beckham says. Cell phones should stay home, too – in an emergency, staff will contact you far quicker than your child.

Camps may have different policies on digital cameras, so be sure to check your camp’s technology policy, Peter says.

With your homework done, that little voice in your head won’t disappear entirely, but should be a little quieter. Maybe a little grown-up music will help drown it out. It’s time to give your kids a taste of independence and reclaim a bit of your own.

Source: ParentGuide Ultimate Camp Guide May 2009
About the Author: Kristin Yarbrough is a freelance writer who lives in Brandon with her husband, Sean, and 2-year-old daughter, Katie.

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