"Dear Mom and Dad,
My cabin counselor said we should all write our parents every week, so here is my first letter. First week at camp has been awesome! I’ve already learned so much.
My cabin counselor taught us how to swing on the cables hanging down from the ceiling in the gym! Don’t worry, its totally safe. He says he almost never gets electrocuted and when it does happen its not that bad. Last night we played ultimate hide and seek. It’s called “ultimate” because we play at night. The big storage fridge in the kitchen is my favorite hiding spot. They still haven’t been able to find me!
After our game we were going to have a big campfire before going to bed but it started raining so we couldn’t. Brian, my bunkmate, said if it rains tonight maybe we could do campfire in our cabin instead! We’re going to collect some firewood later today.
Well, I’ve got to go now. I’ll write again next week.
Love, Tommy”
At Adventist Risk Management, Inc. (ARM), we wish to ensure your young people a safe and enjoyable camp experience. Before the beginning of each camp session, your facility should undergo a Safety Inspection. You can find the safety inspection form here. As you conduct the inspection, here are a few areas I always look at:
GENERAL ITEMS SURVEY
- Survey the entire camp starting from the main road to the end of the facility.
- Identify any visible hazards such as cracked walkways, broken window panes, overgrown trees, untrimmed shrubbery, tripping hazards. Low hanging electric lines, exposed water and gas lines, etc., are additional concerns. Any such exposure could become a hazard, causing potential injuries for the campers and staff.
- Check that all electrical panels, wiring, and transformers are well-secured, thus avoiding potential electric shock or injury.
- Verify that water supplied in the camp is tested for its quality. If the source of water is from a well, ensure that the water is treated and approved for drinking purposes.
- Make sure any open drains or waterways are well guarded and protected from pedestrians.
- Test pond and lake water on campgrounds to ensure the water is safe to swim in.
- Check any swimming pools to ensure they are in working order, draining properly, and maintained in proper repair. Safety rules should be clearly displayed in the pool area.
BUILDING SURVEY
- Inspect all buildings on the campsite to ensure that EXIT signs are posted on each exit door. Battery-operated emergency lights should be installed in all areas to ensure lighting in case of power failure.
- Establish an emergency evacuation plan and post around the campgrounds. Share the plan with all occupants and practice the plan before any camp activity begins.
- Mark and post all emergency meeting points.
- Inspect electrical panel rooms, boiler room, mechanical room, and AC blower rooms before camp begins. These rooms must be free of any storage, especially flammables. Each room must have a fire-rated, self-closing metal door, and must be accessed by authorized people only.
- Install an adequate number of fire extinguishers. They should be charged, inspected, and tagged annually.
- Verify that no loose wiring or tripping hazards are inside/outside the building.
- Install smoke detectors in each cabin. It is helpful to change out the batteries during a seasonal maintenance check.
- Inspect kitchen facilities to make sure the exhaust hood is cleaned and the fire suppression unit is serviced. Staff is to undergo safety training for safe food handling, and use of personal protective wear such as caps, gloves, and aprons, and maintain safe hygiene in the kitchen and cafeteria.
- Check that all walk-in coolers and freezers are set to correct temperatures, such as 4.4 C / 39.92 F for cold foods, and -17.8 C / -0.04 for frozen food. Inside safety latches are to be in working order.
- Maintain storage in good order and control. Cleaning supplies should be stored in separate area and the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) sheet should be displayed for safety information.
For camps located in the United States, it is recommended your camp be accredited through the American Camping Association (ACA). Bill Wood, coordinator for NAD Camp Ministries, says that “ACA accreditation signifies to parents and the public that a camp cares enough to thoroughly review its operational practices, see the wisdom of other camp professionals, and make necessary improvements to comply with the 275 ACA camp standards. We also recommend for other areas around the world you check for organizations that provide standards and best practices for running camps."
For more safety information during child and youth activities, visit the Child and Youth Activities page on our website.
Wondering what Tommy is getting up to next? Find out right now in the part 2 of the Summer Camp Series, Play Safe and Have Fun!
