Is Your Summer Camp Safe?

How can a parent determine if a summer camp is safe? The chance of harm is always a risk, even at the safest summer camp. Most camps are extremely safety conscious, and a parent can choose one that is especially vigilant.

Of course, the basic idea of camp is for the child to be active and spend time outdoors. These two facts alone involve risk. Especially at camps where kids row or swim, play contact sports, ride horses, skateboard or climb, a child is at risk of getting injured.

Consider the following questions:

• Is there a good ratio of staff to campers?
• Does the camp employ a nurse?
• What are its emergency procedures?
• Are the grounds and buildings maintained in good condition?
• Are medical records required and respected?
• Are children protected from dangers such as sunburn, weather and insect bites?
•  Is the food handled safely and is it healthy?

Parents may wonder about more than physical safety.  They may be concerned about their child being mistreated by other campers or by staff members. They may worry that inappropriate behavior may jeopardize their child.

• Will the children be protected from bullying campers?
• Are the staff reliable persons who can be trusted around children?
• Are parents welcome to visit camp?
• Does the staff enforce written rules?
• Will the child have access to a phone to call his parent?
• What is the camp's reputation?
• Are staff members screened before they are hired?

The cost of a camp may not be an indicator of the camp's safety, but a parent can expect that a camp which spends money on nice advertisements, charges enough to cover all the real expenses, maintains careful medical records, and posts and enforces rules is a camp that the child is less at risk attending. The camp is safer if it is run as a business with a reputation and future to protect.  There are always risks for children, but a parent can minimize those risks when by doing some research before sending a child to summer camp.