|

ADT® Special: Just $99. Call Now!*

1 (866) 880-0524

*with $99.00 customer installation charge and purchase of alarm monitoring services (see important terms and conditions to this offer)

6 Essential Summer Camp Safety Tips

by Carolyn · 1 comment

In the 1880′s, summer camps were first introduced to the children of America. They highlighted a “back-to-nature” trend, which had recently increased in popularity over the past few decades. The summer camp experience was designed as a way for children in high-population areas (such as major cities) to experience the simple pleasures of being exposed to nature.

Today, summer camps are a regular occurrence for thousands of children across the United States. There are an incredible number of options for parents to choose from – horseback riding, hiking camps, history camps, math camps and wildlife education camps. However, not all camps are created equally, and it’s essential that you follow a few safety procedures when choosing a camp for your child.

1 - Your Child’s Needs
If your child has special needs, you need to be absolutely sure that a summer camp is properly staffed and equipped to meet these needs. Some of the special needs many children may have include:

ADD/ADHD
Food/Medication Allergies
Allergies to Bee Stings
Daily Medication
Unique Behavioral Disorders
Physical Handicap(s)
Mental Handicap(s)
Physical Limitations
Chronic Health Problems
Problems with Homesickness
Bed-Wetting

2 – Camp Certification
Once you have chosen summer camp, you will need to make sure that it is ACA Certified. Though a certification from the American Camp Association isn’t stand-alone proof that a camp will be safe for your child, it can still be a important factor to consider. You can navigate to the American Camp Association Website for more information.

3 – Activity List
As an inquisitive parent, you should be able to obtain a list of the activities offered by a camp that you are considering. If a camp refuses or is unable to provide you with an activity list, this could be cause for concern. It’s essential that you read this list to ensure that all activities are safe and appropriate for your child. If you see some activities that your child will be unable or unwilling to participate in, contact the camp to see if they will have alternatives. For example, if your child has a severe allergy to dogs, check to make sure that they will not be exposed to dogs during regular activities, nature walks, camping trips and other events.

4 – Medical Safety
It’s natural to worry about your child getting hurt while attending summer camp. To help ease your concern, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the medical procedures and equipment at a camp that you are considering. For example, you may want to inquire about the medical training of the camp counselors, the distance to the nearest hospital, if there are on-staff certified medical professionals, etc. If your child will be going on extended hikes or camping trips, it’s also important to ask about what type of medical training the trip leaders have completed.

5 - Disciplinary Procedures
When a large group of children are together for extended periods of time, it may occur that disciplinary action is necessary. However depending on your disciplinary procedures at home, you may want to check on a summer camp’s policies. You may be able to request a special type of discipline for your child, depending on the structure of the camp.

6 – Disaster Plan
Though unlikely, a summer camp may experience a natural disaster while your child is in attendance. It’s best to contact a camp about their emergency disaster procedures, as well as their safety measures for such a situation. Flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes,