Many schools, camps, and churches plan and create day camps for local communities to enjoy and attend. Day camps offer an excellent opportunity for the local community to learn about the church and provide a safe space for children to spend the day when school is out of session. Before starting a day camp, consider several aspects.
Preparing Your Environment
Depending on the type of day camp, it is necessary to inspect and prepare your facilities for the participants and planned activities. This is especially crucial if your facilities do not usually have a large number of children coming through its doors every day. Take a moment to walk through the facilities and ensure all equipment, spaces, and grounds are safe for use. You may find it useful to utilize a self-inspection guide for your facilities. Use the ARM Self-Inspection Guides during the walkthrough and make notes of any areas that need repair or attention before opening the day camp.ARM Camp Self-Survey Form
Choosing Your Staff
For a day camp to run smoothly, you must select the right staff. In addition to conducting background checks, ask for references for each candidate to ensure the person is qualified, prepared to work with children and to handle the types of activities that may occur during the camp. When checking references, keep these things in mind.Be sure to have a list of questions ready when you speak with the reference. This will allow you to get the information you are looking for and keep the request short and helpful. Ask the reference questions concerning the type of work the candidate will be doing such as working with children, leading out activities, etc. Lastly, provide the reference with the opportunity to disclose if there is any reason the candidate should not be allowed to work with or around children.
For more information on checking references, see ARM’s guidelines here.
Acquiring Accreditation
Your day camp must adhere to specific guidelines for camp operation and safety before opening its doors to the community. A great way to ensure your day camp abides by these guidelines is to receive accreditation from the American Camp Association (ACA). According to the ACA website, the guiding purpose behind receiving accreditation is to ensure that camp directors are well educated on what is needed to keep staff, participants, and all those involved safe while in the day camp. Additionally, it demonstrates to the public that your camp prioritizes safety and adheres to the industry-accepted and government-recognized guidelines. This is a crucial aspect that many parents seek for when selecting a day camp to enroll their children in for the summer.For more information on accreditation, see the ACA Accreditation page.
