Keeping children safe

Summer camps offer kids a chance to be with other kids, and most important, away from their parents. But before parents drop their kids off at any camp, they should do their homework, checking out everything from who will be supervising the kids to how health concerns are handled.

Neither Washington nor Idaho require licensing for summer camps.

It is up to parents to ensure that their child’s camp is run by safe, well-trained adults, says Tom Nielsen, the American Camp Association’s executive for the Washington region.

“They need to talk to a director about how criminal background checks are done,” Nielsen says.

Parents can visit www.acacamps.org for a listing of camps accredited by the ACA. Certified camps are inspected every three years for 300 different health and safety standards, Nielsen said.

Several local camp organizations make it known that they take children’s safety seriously.

Skyhawks, a Spokane-based company, provides sports day camps for children ages 4 to 14 in 25 states.

“We’re entrusted with 100,000 children per year by their parents,” says Bill Goodrick, Skyhawks’ chief operating officer. “The most important thing here is the safety of the kids.”

Because they found that camp safety requirements vary from state to state, Skyhawks officials developed their own set of standards, which go above and beyond most state requirements, says Skyhawks CEO David Berto.

“The standards that [states] have aren’t good enough to protect our children,” Berto says.

Besides running all staff members through a 50-state background check, Skyhawks also conducts reference checks and requires all coaches to be certified in CPR and first aid and to receive field training and pass a coach’s test, Goodrick says.

“In today’s society, don’t be afraid to investigate,” Goodrick advises parents.

When Skyhawks was first developed 27 years ago, sports camps for children were rare, Berto says.

Today, children’s sports camps are commonplace, especially those sponsored by college and high school athletic programs. However, Berto says, some coaches may organize sports camps without obtaining proper insurance, checking to make sure equipment is safe or making sure that staff members are trained in how to handle emergencies.

“They’re common sense things, but they’re just overlooked,” Berto says. That’s why parents need to be vigilant about asking questions.

Camp counselors also need to be trained in how to interact with their campers. Children enjoy having their coaches play with them, but coaches need to be educated on how to play safely when competing against children who lack their size and skill level. When coaches become wrapped up in the game and allow their competitive streaks to break loose, it is easy for children to get hurt, Berto says.

Berto also suggests that parents avoid sending their child to camp alone. Sending a friend along will help a child be more comfortable and engaged and will also supply accountability.

Along those lines, parents should ask about a camp’s policy on check-in and check-out procedures to make sure children do not leave in the wrong hands, as well as camp rules about when or if children are ever alone with camp guides. Berto suggests that when dropping off their child at camp, parents check to ensure that the child’s name and emergency contact information are correct.

Some camps, including those run by Camp Fire and YMCA, have detailed parent handbooks and brochures available online that answer common questions about camp policies.

But the bottom line, camp advocates say, is parents should be prepared to ask plenty of questions.

“The biggest advice to parents that I would give is, don’t be afraid to ask,” Goodrick said. “Don’t sell yourself short for caring. One of your most valuable assets and commodities in life is your child.”