General guidelines for running a safe tennis program include establishing an appropriate camper/teacher ratio, having clear expectations of a drill or activity, not allowing campers to jump the net, clearing the court of all balls during running drills, and suspending activity during inclement weather. Includes specific guidelines for practicing…

Strategies for risk assessment and accident prevention include supervising unstructured camper time; assessing games for potential dangers; examining facilities and special programs, including reviewing and evaluating safety and accident reports; and increasing staff awareness by discussing accidents at weekly staff meetings and generating ideas…

Considering the players, the game, and the environment in which games are played can make games play at camp safer, more successful, and more enjoyable. Presents factors concerning the players, the game, roughhousing, excessive competitiveness, the environment, space, boundaries, weather, time, and overall game objectives that need to be…

Overviews principles of boating safety, including teaching campers how to select a personal flotation device that fits properly, teaching skills related to keeping a small boat steady while moving about, and what to do when a boat capsizes or when a person is immersed in water. (LP)

Having a designated safety expert at camp creates a culture of safety. The Gene Ezersky Camp Safety College, which certifies safety directors, has identified seven areas of camp that should be the focus of the safety director: kitchen and food services, health and sanitation, emergency preparation and management, leadership training, facility…

Camps offering horse programs need to have written policies and procedures to ensure quality control and risk minimization. Basic elements of a horse program manual include routine care of horses; general guidelines relating to participants, program, and staff; and emergency plans. Four information resources are presented. (TD)

Lists eight steps to a safe waterfront, one of which is creating an emergency action plan. American Camping Association standards call for a written, rehearsed emergency action plan for aquatics programs. In creating a plan, one should consider one's resources, the camp layout, types of emergencies, and basic procedures. Staff training and plan…

Camp riding programs should be examined regularly for liability and risk management issues. Elements of a basic safety assessment include requiring proper safety apparel, removing obstructions from riding rings, ensuring doors and gates are closed, requiring use of lead ropes, securing equine medications, banning smoking, posting written…

In implementing community service programs, camps need to develop safe, specific projects. Key planning points for service projects are presented. Risk management considerations specific to community service projects include developing guidelines for camper interaction with the public; discussing first-aid and emergency precautions, including…

Precautions to take before, what to do if outdoors or indoors during, and inspecting for damage after thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods. Sidebars discuss emergency supplies to keep on hand, calculating distance from thunderstorms, and the Fujita tornado rating scale. (TD)

The principles behind a camp's hazard tree program are, first, identifying and removing those hazards that offer a clear, immediate threat, and then creating a management plan for the other trees. The plan should be written and contain goals and objectives, field evaluations, and treatments. Follow-up evaluations should be done annually and after…

Tattooing and body piercing are becoming mainstream, especially among the college population that comprises camp staff. Campers often idolize their counselors and want to be like them. Piercings may present a safety hazard. Camps should develop a policy and communicate it to prospective counselors and campers as early as possible. Several camps'…

Accidents at camps increase when counselors become fatigued or complacent, or step out of their primary roles as supervisors and become participants. Horseplay, time in bunks, and sports activities are hotspots for injuries. Camps must teach counselors how to monitor fatigue and recognize when activities exceed campers' abilities. A video is…

A camp that is establishing a challenge course or climbing wall must ensure program safety. Discusses financial planning, selecting a contractor, adhering to standards for construction, inspections, staff training, screening of participants, and the administrative challenge of implementing and documenting proper actions. Sidebar discusses a study…

Provides checklists that can be used as risk-management tools to evaluate rock-climbing programs: developing goals, policies, and procedures; inspecting the climbing environment; maintaining and inspecting equipment; protecting participants; and managing staff (hiring, training, retraining, and evaluating) and campers (experience level, needs, and…