Guidelines for a Safe
Approved By: Committee on Outdoor Ministries Spring 2006
Purpose: Provide a safe place for children and youth of the Camping out is an experience that every girl and every boy should have… There are certain sides of our nature that will be underdeveloped if we have not the campfire for our teacher. The experience that softens the heart and kindles friendship and the imagination is no less educative than the knowledge that instructs the head. Camping intensifies friendship, and friendship furnishes the motive and the reward of most of our efforts. It doubles our strength for achievement. It gives us most of the joys of life. It is the riches of the spirit and quite as worthy of effort as wealth or learning. Henry S. Curtis (1914: 125-6)
The Welcome is a critical time for youth:
We have one chance to make a good first impression!
First 24 hours: To establish security in their habitat. What they look for:
Second 24 hours: They are testing you.
Maintaining an “envelope of safety” for campers… Why is this needed for children and youth?
Maintaining an Emotionally Safe Environment…
Other Important Practices that Help Maintain Safety…
Specific Guidelines for Camper/Staff Touching
Legal Responsibilities You are a mandated reporter – and obligated to report suspected abuse:
Code of Behavior and policy for Volunteer Volunteers and staff involved in the life of the campers shall receive training and accept the intentions provided by the following code of behavior. The code of behavior must be signed and a training session be completed before assuming their position. Drugs & Alcohol: The use of any illegal drugs or alcoholic products at any youth camp is not permitted by anyone. Tobacco Products:
Transportation Guidelines: Transportation of campers by only one adult, unless in emergency situations, should be avoided. Reporting Responsibilities: Any inappropriate conduct or relationship shall be reported to a Program Leader and Managing Camp Director, immediately and out of earshot of others. Discipline: The purpose of discipline with campers is to maintain order in a manner consistent with the teaching of religious responsibility, respect, and cooperation. No camper shall be disciplined by spanking, hitting, slapping, or any form of physical punishment. Verbal reprimands shall not include destructive criticism, insult or shouting. Staff persons are encouraged to listen to the camper, communicate expectations of appropriate behavior, use time-outs or give alternate choices. If a camper is disruptive, a staff person may be sent to locate the Program Leader or his/her designee once an additional staff person is in place to maintain the two adult rule. The Two Adult Rule: Whenever possible, campers shall be under the care of supervision of two camping staff, one of whom may be a minor with a five year age separation between counselor and camper. An exception would exist if the camp activities are so constructed as to provide constant visual access and frequent observation by the program leader or his/her designee. Furthermore, no staff person shall place oneself in a compromising situation by being alone with a camper out of sight of other staff persons. Finally, no staff person shall be alone with a camper in camp bathrooms or showers. Shower/Bathroom Supervision: Normally staff persons who accompany a camper to the shower/bathroom should remain outside the bathroom while the camper is inside. If a camper needs assistance with zipping, buttoning, buckling, clean-up, wiping, etc., two staff persons need to be present, one of whom may be a C.I.T. If anything unusual occurred during this assistance, a note should be written, which describes the help given and the persons present, and that note should be handed to the camp director at the close of camping day. Creating Boundaries: Physical contact such as wrestling, horseplay, sardines or other high contact games are not appropriate recreational activity. No adult leader, staff or volunteer, should initiate or encourage physical or intimate contact with children or youth. Setting boundaries is the responsibility of the adults. Camp is a group ministry. All participants are expected to remain with the group throughout the times listed in the camp description. No pairing or otherwise separating off from the group to other parts of the camp grounds is permitted. Specific Guidelines for Adult Supervision: Staff or volunteers function as representatives of the camp and as such are held to different standards than when acting as a parent or adult in their own family. The rules and guidelines of the camp must be followed by all staff and volunteers at all times, thereby providing appropriate supervision for the camper. Illegalities and irresponsibility cannot be allowed. Supervision must be consistent, reasonable and prudent. Staff is encouraged to remember that they will be providing both supervision and modeling adult Christian behavior for the campers in their care, and should endeavor to see that the example they set is consistent with the values and expectations of the camp community.
Abuse includes:
Bullying Prevention Bullying is when one or more people exclude, tease, taunt, gossip, hit, kick, or put down another person with the intent to hurt another. Bullying happens when a person or group of people want to have power over another and use their power to get their way, at the expense of someone else. Bullying can also happen through cyberspace: through the use of e-mails, text messaging, instant messaging, and other less direct methods. This type of bullying can also lead to persons being hurt during or between the camp seasons and be especially hurtful when personas are targeted with meanness and exclusion. Our Camp philosophy is based on our mission statement which ensures that every guest has the opportunity to enjoy the program, enjoy friendships, and learn. We work together as a team to ensure that campers gain self-confidence, make new friends, and go home with great memories. Unfortunately, persons who are bullied may not have the same potential to get the most out of their camp experience. Our leadership addresses all incidents of bullying seriously and trains staff to promote communication with their staff and their campers so both staff and campers will be comfortable alerting us to any problems during their camp experience and between camp seasons. Every person has the right to expect to have the best possible experience at camp and by working together as a team to identify and manage bullying; we can help ensure that all campers and staff have a great summer at Therefore, the Committee on Outdoor Ministries under the direction of the American Camping Association has adopted a “Camp Take a Stand” zero tolerance guideline on bullying. This guideline is as follows:
Wrap Up If you are unsure whether or not your suspected case constitutes a form of abuse, it is strongly recommended that you err on the side of caution and report your suspicion to a Program Leader and Managing Camp Director, immediately and out of earshot of others. It is your job as
Thank You!
Adapted for Camp Mimanagish from content in the "Guidelines for Safe Camp Environment". A safety manual developed for the Pacific Northwest Conference Camping Program. |
