Tips for Safety at Summer Camp

Summer camp plays vital role in helping parents to entertain their children and develop their talents, creativity and keep children busy till school re-opens. Summer camp can be an exciting and enriching time for your children. Summer camp varies from one day camp to a month or two months camp and focuses on your kid’s interest such as dance, music, adventure games, art or a sport etc. Summer camp starts by the end of March as and when your children get vacation from their schools. But there are several factors to take into consideration when deciding summer camp for your kid or children. Camps without appropriate guidelines can put your child at risk from insufficient supervision, injury and maltreatment or bullying.

Ensure Your Children are Safe at Summer Camp

There are thousand of camps which appear to be similar, but each camp has its own objective. Before you choose a summer camp for your kid or children, ensure that the summer camp you choose is safe for your kid or children. Following are some tips for safety of your kids at summer camp.

Know details of activities planned: It is the right and duty of parents to know what is objective of summer camp or what are they trying to accomplish and activities planned in summer camp such as daily routine, special activities planned in summer camp etc. Knowing these things helps you to choose summer camp that suits best for your children and keep your children safe at camp.

Staff member training and background: To understand what the counselors are taught, and by whom, you may want to see the training curriculum and training materials. Ask about the camp’s screening process, and review the materials the camp has gathered concerning the counselors, including their backgrounds, their swimming, driving and criminal records, and their prior employment histories.

Safety and emergency plans: Emergency plan is one important plans required to have in summer camp. The camp organizer must have provisions and medically trained staff to handle emergency or incase something goes wrong. Ask questions such as Do counselors receive first-aid/CPR training? Is a first-aid kit brought to events?

Ratio of staff members: Check that the staff-to-child ratio is appropriate for different age groups. It is recommended to have One staff member for every five campers ages 4 and 5,every six campers ages 6 to 8, every eight campers ages 9 to 14, every 10 campers ages 15 to 17 respectively. Also ask who will be driving kids on field trips and how kids are restrained in the vehicles, and make sure you’re comfortable with the answer.

Checklist for camp: You can ask for checklist or list of items you need to provide when your kid or children attending the summer camp. Ask whether camp organizer has mad arrangement for foods, bedding and extra blankets etc required for your kids and other campers. Ensure that food and water provided in camp is hygienic for your kid.

Before choosing a summer camp, make a list of summer camp that is safe for your kid and discuss with them which summer camp would they like to go for this vacation. Summer camp you choose must not only be an entertainment for your kid but also develops talent and skill of your kid. Some children like adventure summer camp such as trekking, rock climbing or some adventure activity in them. You should not restrict them considering its risk but you need to help your kid to attend them by taking precaution and safety measures. Asking school teacher or discussing with your friends or parents of your kid’s friends can help you to choose best summer camp in your locality. You can also consider conducting summer camp in your locality with help of other residents in your apartment.