Summer camp tips: A checklist for parents

Summer camps for kids can be enriching, fun and memorable. Just as important can be parents taking a much-needed break. But how do you make sure your kids will be as safe and happy as possible?

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The Canada Safety Council, an Ottawa-based non-profit, is reminding parents to do their research.

"It's important for a parent to verify with the child that they are ready to go off on their own," said Lewis Smith, the council's executive director. "Make sure they understand the risks, they understand what they're getting into."

It shared a checklist of things parents should look for when choosing a summer camp for their kids.

Accreditation

Some summer camps become accredited with the Canadian Camping Association (CCA), a non-profit national organization that sets standards to meet and sometimes exceed federal and provincial legal minimums including building and fire codes, safety equipment and food standards.

Parents should keep an eye out for this accreditation when researching camps, the council advises.

"Their job is really to ensure that camps meet and exceed those qualifications," said Smith.

And if parents see a camp that's otherwise fantastic, but isn't accredited, ask why not, Smith advises.

Ratio

"Ask about the ratio of counsellors to campers," advises Smith.

Returning campers who sometimes double as junior counsellors but aren't properly trained do not count, Smith emphasized.

According to the CCA, summer camps should have a counsellor-to-camper ratio of eight to one or better, not including maintenance, office and support staff.

"You don't want to go overkill," acknowledges Smith. "That takes away a lot of the autonomy that comes with camp."

Camp Abegweit in Augustine Cove, P.E.I., has 40 weekly campers and tries to keep the ratio at five-to-one, said board chair Garth Cousins.

The ratio at Campe Seggie in Rice Point, P.E.I., is four or five campers to one counsellor, said executive director Bob Tepstra.

Ask how closely children will be supervised and decide on your and your child's level of comfort.

For instance, at both Camp Abby and Camp Seggie there are two counsellors per cabin, so if one takes a child to the bathroom in the night, someone will always be there. Children are never left alone with one counsellor, added Terpstra this helps shield them from abuse allegations.

Parents should also confirm what kind of training and accreditation camp counsellors receive.

Activities

Find out what kind of activities kids will be doing, especially water activities. If kids will spend time boating or swimming, make sure the camp has the proper number of life-jackets and that kids must wear them find out their supervision policies in the water and that all instructors are trained in CPR.

Are there lifeguards, and are they certified with Canada's National Lifeguard Service? Does the camp have proper emergency equipment including a spine board and oxygen?

"You want to make sure the water is properly marked off, that it's guarded at all times or if it's not guarded, that campers don't have access to it," said Smith.

Most campsmake sure kids' swimming abilities are listed on their registration form. Camp Abby and Camp Seggie hire lifeguards for their pool and ocean swims.Camp Seggie'ssenior counsellors alsohave advanced swimming certification.

Naturally, some activities are inherently riskier than others a gymnastics camp, for instance, couldresult in more injuries than a computer camp, the council points out.

Health issues

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Make sure camp counsellors or leaders are made aware of any of your child's health issues and can properly administer any medications your child takes.

"That can be something as simple as food allergies or nature allergies," said Smith. "Injury history, recent surgeries, illnesses the important thing is you want the counsellors to know as much as they possibly can about your child."

Some camps including Camp Abby also cater to children's special dietary needs, like gluten-free or celiac diets, given enough notice.

As well, most camps will provide you with a list of items your child will need for camp make sure to label everything with your child's name or initials.

'Homesickness pills'

Homesickness can be a factor in wellness too and can sometimes become an "emergency of sorts," said Smith. The council advises parents be available to take their kids' phone calls, even though most children won't have direct access to technology.

Thinking around letting kids call home has changed, saidTerpstra. Where years ago it was verboten, now "90 per cent of the time they're OK after talking to a parent," he said, noting it's usually harder for parents to say goodbye at the door than children.

There are always two or three kids every year out of the 200 at Camp Abegweit who are very homesick, said Cousins. Counsellors have come up with a secret weapon homesickness pills! that are actually candy. A few doses and a child is usually "cured," Cousins said.

Camp Abby has also introduced a new camp for five- to seven-year-olds the first two days they go home but the third and final night is a sleepover camp.

"They get to see if they can handle the overnight camp," said Cousins.

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