Six Questions for Safe Camping

If you are sending your children off to summer camp, there is some information that is pertinent for you to know ahead of time. You are entrusting your children to complete strangers for a week or more, it is up to you to make sure that they will be safe. Here are some sample questions for you to ask.

1. Is this camp accredited?
The American Camping Association (ACA), the only organization of its kind, accredits about 2,200 camps in the United States. The ACA sets standards for camp supervision, food service, transportation, and health care. Similarly, the Boy Scouts of America have their own set of standards. If a camp is not accredited, ask to see its regulations and policies.

2. What's the counselor-to-camper ratio?
Different ages and levels of activities require different levels of supervision, although as a general rule, more is better. The ACA recommends one counselor to every 6 campers between 7 and 8 years of age. As children get older, the ratio changes as one counselor can handle more campers.

3. What is your procedure in case of an emergency?
Find out how near the police department, fire station, and hospital are, and if there is an on-site person certified in first-aid. Also, check to see if cell phones or two-way radios are taken on remote outings. Some more questions to ask: Does the camp have tornado shelters? Sprinkler systems? How is the camp alerted to dangerous weather?

4. How does your camp protect children from strangers?
A staff member should accompany any camp visitors, including parents. This helps the children to feel safer because the stranger is with someone that they know and trust. A lot of camps will request an approved list of visitors to be made up by the parent who signed the child up.

5. How does the camp select camp counselors?
Find out what the prerequisites are for being a counselor and if the camp runs a background check on counselor candidates.

6. What kind of certification or training is involved?
Activities such as kayaking, sailing, rock climbing, and horseback riding are dangerous- and even more so if not taught by someone skilled and experienced at them.