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A child participates in Safety City at Summer Impressions Day Camp.
Safety First
Do your homework to ensure
kids’ safety at camp.
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016
P Please
l e ase j join
o i n us for
f an even
evening
ni ng of f
traditio
tradition n & excellence as we
honor & celebrate Rabbi Daniel B. Syme
for his 20 years of dedicated service,
retirement, and transition
to Rabbi Emeritus.
Thi special
This
spec ial
i l evening
i will
ill f feature
t
a
M
any parents are concerned
about camper safety when
choosing a summer camp.
With so many choices available for sum-
mer experiences, parents are challenged
to find a meaningful, yet safe environ-
ment for their children.
This year, summer camps are being
asked more questions about safety, rang-
ing from policies and procedures to staff
screening to bullying prevention.
“Safety is definitely a priority when
selecting a summer camp,” says Ericka
Doyle of Rochester Hills. “It’s especially
relevant this year due to recent headlines
of abuse at camp.”
As a first step, experts say that par-
ents should look for a camp that has
American Camp Association (ACA)
accreditation. “They have a rigorous
accreditation process,” says Libby White,
director of Summer Impressions, a day
camp in West Bloomfield. “Following
ACA guidelines means that camps have
safety as top of mind.”
Parents should also consider the
camper-to-staff ratio. The more eyes
that are on the children, the less likely
that a serious incident will occur. Camps
should have enough staff so when a
smaller group needs to break off from a
larger group, multiple counselors are still
present with each group.
“I don’t want my child ever to be left
alone with a staff member,” Doyle says.
“I teach my kids to never be with only
one counselor.”
Camp staff should be screened
through local, state and national data-
bases. In addition to basic background
checks, ensure that the camp screens for
child abuse and neglect as well as sex
offender registries.
Gregg Schultz, a labor and employ-
ment attorney with Schultz & Young
PC in Detroit, adds, “It’s also worth
using social media to obtain informa-
tion on staff.”
He suggests that camps dig deeper
into the staff background. “References
are huge, where available.”
Likewise, it is highly recommended
to visit the camp facility. While you are
there, examine the physical size of the
camp and environment. Look for any
potential areas that may not have visibil-
ity to the rest of the camp. Ask questions
about where staff is placed during the
camp day.
“Is it clean and organized? Is every-
thing in good repair? If there is a pool,
are there proper warnings and protec-
tions?” Schultz asks.
He also wants to understand the chain
of command. Do they have a see-some-
thing/say-something policy’? Are people
held accountable?”
Camps should be prepared for emer-
gencies and have established and docu-
mented policies. Art White, director
at Summer Impressions, suggests that
parents be allowed to see the manuals,
if wanted.
“Emergency procedures should be
documented for all types of situations.
Parents should ask to see the manuals
and ensure that camp staff can readily
find them,” he says.
Allergy awareness is also critical when
examining camp safety, even if your
child does not have an allergy. Camps
should have documented sanitizing pro-
cedures, which benefit all. Staff should
also have name-to-face recognition for
those children with allergies.
Bullying prevention is a critical dis-
cussion happening in schools, and the
topic extends to summer camp as well.
Camps should have a zero-tolerance
policy, and staff should participate in
intensive training to handle such situa-
tions if they arise.
“Summer Impressions is a camp that
tends to the social and emotional needs
of campers. We know the children who
attend our camp. We know our families
because they come back year after year.
Bullying isn’t much of an issue here,”
White says.
*
Todd Brockdorf is a business consultant in West
Bloomfield and author of Better than Average:
Excelling in a Mediocre World.
6:00
6
00 PM
M Sh
Shabbat
bb t Di
Dinner
Adults, $36 / Children 12 & Under, $15
(Children under 3, not ordering a meal, are free)
followed by
Shabbat Services at 7:30 PM
Community leaders and guests will honor
Rabbi Syme’s twenty years of dedicated service and
spiritual guidance at Temple Beth El.
REGISTER ONLINE at tbeonline.org/event-registration or
contact Laura Lucassian at 248.851.1100 or llucassian@tbeonline.org.
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