Registrations for your school’s summer camp are streaming in! Over the next few weeks, any remaining openings should fill up. As parents apply, they’re likely to have questions—questions that not only should you be able to answer, but questions that you should have already asked yourself and your summer program personnel.
Accidents. Parents care first and foremost about safety. They’ll want to know if there has ever been an accident or serious injury—especially if your camp offers specialty programs such as horseback riding or wilderness training.If there have been any incidents, it’s important to know how they were handled and what steps your program has taken to prevent future incidents.
Employee certifications. Are your camp advisers certified in CPR/AED? These skills can save lives in the case of cardiac and breathing emergencies, and your program should have at least one employee who is qualified to respond in such an event. Again, as safety is the top priority for parents, knowing your summer employees’ qualifications can eliminate concerns and hesitations.
Emergency and safety protocols. A summer program needs to have a risk protocol unique to its design. Your school’s risk management plan isn’t sufficient for your camp. All summer employees should be well-versed in how to react to an emergency such as a lost camper, injury, unknown person on campus, or wildlife alert. Is there a cell phone chain? Perhaps a code everyone needs to use over walkie-talkies? Does your summer program enforce a buddy system? Likewise, parents should be informed on how to respond to an emergency. Will they be called and/or responsible for calling anyone else? Will they be given the contact information for leaders taking campers on over-night expeditions? Who can they contact (and how) if trips are taken to areas outside cellphone reception? Clear policies eliminate confusion—and comfort parents.
Accreditation. Is your summer program accredited through the American Camp Association or another association? Has your program won any awards? Have any of your counselors or leaders acquired accreditation?
Discipline. Make your policies about drug and alcohol use, violence, curfews, weapons, etc. (as well as your policies on correction of such issues), very clear to both families and summer employees. Does your program maintain a zero-tolerance? Has any camper or employee ever been disciplined, expelled, or fired for breaking policy?
Personnel. In addition to accreditation and certifications, parents may ask about your hiring process. What is your screening process? Do you run background and criminal checks? Do you require a certain amount of experience or training from your counselors working with children? Are senior and junior counselors easily identified by campers?
Insurance. Student accident insurance isn’t a requirement, but it is an added layer of protection for your school, your summer students, and their families. If your school carries an additional policy for its summer program, let parents know that, although your school has taken every safety measurement possible, in the event of an accident, their child is covered. You can learn more about ISM’s Summer School/Camp Student Accident Insurance here.
Additional ISM articles of interest
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol.1 No. 8 Summer Safety Tips for Parents and Summer Program Leaders
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Management Vol. 4 No. 2 Managing Risk in Your Summer Program
ISM Monthly Update for School Heads Vol. 12 No. 1 Raising the Bar on Your Summer Program
ISM Monthly Update for School Heads Vol. 11 No. 2 The Leaves Are Falling—Think Summer Program
Additional ISM articles of interest for Gold Consortium members
I&P Vol. 38 No. 4 Your School’s Summer Program and Risk Management
