American Camp Association | Summer camps enrich children's lives!

Camp is just around the corner, and you’ve still got to pack! You might be a pro at packing for camp, but there are always a few things you might forget. That's why The Clorox Company is partnering with the ACA to bring you a simple list of great suggestions for what counselors and staff should make sure is on their packing list this summer. Take a look – it just might save you from leaving something really important off your list!

The Clorox Company

Learn the skills you need to succeed. Camping Magazine is your primary source for the most recent trends in the camp industry,  the latest research in the field of youth development, critical management tools,  and innovative programming ideas. The July/August 2010 issue features articles that address programming, history, 20/20 Toolbox, and more.

Children and youth need a community that:  encourages achievement and builds self-esteem; promotes healthy lifestyles, fitness, and activity; teaches in a classroom without walls; instills appreciation, respect, and responsibility for the natural world around them; and inspires the confidence and courage to become the leaders of tomorrow.

A Voice for Excellence

ACA's Because of Camp…™ outdoor advertising campaign officially launched in early January. Since that time, orders have been arriving daily for billboards, posters, and transit shelters. Several orders have been placed already, and are being shipped to vendors nationwide. Visit ACA's Say It Big Web page to view a map of advertising placements as they are confirmed.

Preserving the rich history of the camp experience is essential for the future. The American Camp Association (ACA) is proud to celebrate our 100th Anniversary in 2010 and the 150th Anniversary of Organized Camping in 2011, and to honor our past with this Web-based tribute.

Celebrate ACA's 100th Anniversary

Find a Camp

Looking for a summer camp? Search over 2,400 ACA-Accredited camps.

Find a Job

Find the perfect summer or year-round camp job. Need Staff? Check Out ACA’s Staff Recruitment Solutions!

Join ACA

Join today and be an integral part of an evolving, versatile, and vibrant organization of people with knowledge to share.


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Pre-Camp Training Topics
     

Accreditation Center

* indicates mandatory standard

Site and Food Service

  • Proper handling and use of power tools — SF-11
  • Proper handling of hazardous materials, e.g., kerosene, cleaning agents — *SF-2
  • Required general maintenance routines, e.g., cleaning, reporting maintenance problems — SF -7 written
  • Food preparation, storage, and handling procedures (as applicable) — SF-19 through SF-28, some written

Transportation

  • Bus/van safety procedures and group management — TR-8 and TR-9 written
  • Orientation of safety regulations and procedures in vehicles provided for passengers — TR-10
  • Procedures in case of accident during transportation — TR-7 written
  • Safety procedures for orderly arrival and departure and for loading and unloading of vehicles — TR-3
  • Training for vehicle drivers — TR-17 and TR-18 written
  • Transportation of persons in nonpassenger vehicles — TR-4
  • Transportation policies that specify supervision ratios of staff to campers, availability and location of health information, and permission-to-treat forms — TR-6 written

Health and Wellness

  • Procedures for informing staff of special needs of campers — HW-10
  • Responsibilities of staff for camper health care — HW-13 written
  • Providing health care and emergency treatment when out of camp — HW-14
  • How prescription and nonprescription drugs are stored at camp — HW-20
  • Records kept in health log and incident reports filed — HW-21, A and B

Operational Management

  • Camper security procedures — OM-17 written
  • Emergency communications plan — OM-15 written
  • General camp safety regulations and rules — OM-9 written, OM-8, and OM-12
  • Procedures for camper supervision in public areas — OM-16 written
  • Completing incident and accident reports — OM-13
  • Missing persons procedures — OM-14 written
  • Policy and procedures covering: personal property — OM-10 written
  • Smoking policy — OM-11
  • Procedures for dealing with possible intruders — OM-6 written

Human Resources

  • Behavior management — HR-16 written
  • Camper/staff ratios — HR-9 written
  • Personnel policies — HR-8 written
  • Pre-camp staff training (specific topics to be covered)-- HR - 11
  • Sensitive issue policy — HR-17
  • Staff/camper interaction — HR-15
  • Staff training in diversity — HR-5
  • Camp staff responsibility for general camp activities— HR-14 written
  • Supervision of staff — HR-18 written
  • Supervisor training — HR-19 written
  • Training for their particular job — HR-7

Program Design and Activities

  • Details for designated person left in camp — PD-14
  • Emergency information — PD-13
  • Environmental practices and activities — PD-3, PD-12
  • Supervision of specialized activity areas — PD-18
  • Operating procedures for each specialized activity — PD-19 written
  • Skill verification and activity supervision — PD-16, PD-17 written
  • Procedures for controlled access of activity areas — PD-18
  • Procedures for overnights and trips — PD-1 written
  • Participant competency demonstration — PD-21
  • Program goals and outcomes — PD-6 written
  • Safety orientation for participants — PD-20
  • Use of program equipment — PD-4

In addition, staff leading special activities such as archery, boating, etc., will provide training/orientation to general staff and campers before use.

Adapted from Appendix G - Precamp Topics, Basic Camp Management, available from ACA's Bookstore, 888-229-5745.

American Camp Association | Summer camps enrich children's lives!

Camp is just around the corner, and you’ve still got to pack! You might be a pro at packing for camp, but there are always a few things you might forget. That's why The Clorox Company is partnering with the ACA to bring you a simple list of great suggestions for what counselors and staff should make sure is on their packing list this summer. Take a look – it just might save you from leaving something really important off your list!

The Clorox Company

Learn the skills you need to succeed. Camping Magazine is your primary source for the most recent trends in the camp industry,  the latest research in the field of youth development, critical management tools,  and innovative programming ideas. The July/August 2010 issue features articles that address programming, history, 20/20 Toolbox, and more.

Children and youth need a community that:  encourages achievement and builds self-esteem; promotes healthy lifestyles, fitness, and activity; teaches in a classroom without walls; instills appreciation, respect, and responsibility for the natural world around them; and inspires the confidence and courage to become the leaders of tomorrow.

A Voice for Excellence

ACA's Because of Camp…™ outdoor advertising campaign officially launched in early January. Since that time, orders have been arriving daily for billboards, posters, and transit shelters. Several orders have been placed already, and are being shipped to vendors nationwide. Visit ACA's Say It Big Web page to view a map of advertising placements as they are confirmed.

Preserving the rich history of the camp experience is essential for the future. The American Camp Association (ACA) is proud to celebrate our 100th Anniversary in 2010 and the 150th Anniversary of Organized Camping in 2011, and to honor our past with this Web-based tribute.

Celebrate ACA's 100th Anniversary

Find a Camp

Looking for a summer camp? Search over 2,400 ACA-Accredited camps.

Find a Job

Find the perfect summer or year-round camp job. Need Staff? Check Out ACA’s Staff Recruitment Solutions!

Join ACA

Join today and be an integral part of an evolving, versatile, and vibrant organization of people with knowledge to share.