NEWS TO USE, Week of April 16 PART 2!

As things often happen, very shortly after we had sent out the NEWS TO USE earlier this week, we received a request to ask/remind camps of a couple important opportunities.  We’ve also included an excerpt of an email the Virginias Section President sent to the camps in that Section following the tragedy at Virginia Tech.  It contains some very useful advice… so please keep reading.

RESPOND NOW!   If you (or someone else from your camp) have not yet taken the time to complete the Spring Enrollment Survey, PLEASE do so immediately. The intent of this survey is to gather enough data upon which to develop projections for summer, based upon trends we see in the spring.  It is important to get as many camps as possible to be represented in the results so please do your part!  Take 10 minutes NOW and click away!    http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=241613441773   We want to fairly represent the camp industry when asked by the media and others.  Note:  It may be necessary for you to cut and past this above link into your browser.

HEALTHY CAMPS STUDY!  Have you enrolled in the American Camp Association’s Healthy Camp Study?  Why wait?  Enroll today.

Ever wondered how your camp’s illness and injury rates compare with other camps?  Would you like to learn strategies for reducing injuries and illnesses at your camp?  Getting involved in ACA’s Healthy Camp Study of camp injuries and illnesses can provide you with these answers and more.  There’s still time to enroll! 

The purpose of this five-year study is to monitor illness and injury among campers and staff at U.S. summer camps, so that preventive strategies can be identified and integrated into camps. ANY day or resident camp program may participate in the study regardless of organizational affiliation (both ACA and non-ACA camps).   All camps in the study will receive an annual confidential summary of their own camp data as well as a copy of the national data report for their type of camp (day or resident).  Participation in this study involves about 20 minutes of a summer staff person’s time per week to complete an online survey about camp illnesses and injuries.

To enroll in the Healthy Camp Study, visit www.ACAcamps.org/research/healthycamp.php (again you might need to cut and paste).

This study is made possible due to the generosity of Markel Insurance Company.  Partners in this study include The Ohio State University College of Medicine (OSU) and Columbus Children’s Research Institute (CCRI), the American Camp Association (ACA), Association of Camp Nurses, Christian Camp and Conference Association, and National Recreation and Park Association.

Questions about the study can be directed to Dr. Barry A. Garst at bgarst@ACAcamps.org or Sheila Dannemiller at sdannemiller@ACAcamps.org. Highlights of year one data can be viewed at www.ACAcamps.org/research.

THE THINGS WE DON’T LIKE TO THINK ABOUT (courtesy of the Virginias Section)

…Certainly, the events of this past week have been difficult for all of us to watch, and accept, that something like this has occurred.

Historically, when an event such as this does occur, parents become fearful and apprehensive about allowing their children to be away from them, and there is an impact on the camp industry. This impact has often included the loss of camper enrollment, at least for the immediate short term, especially for resident camps. And while the impact of parental apprehension from this tragedy will likely be felt at camps nationally, our specific experiences in the Virginias section, with events such as 9/11and the Pentagon, and the DC sniper, have taught us that the impact is greater when the tragedy occurs in your own backyard.

We are encouraging Virginia ’s camps to be proactive in taking steps to ease the minds of your campers, staff members, and parents with regards to safety and security of your sites and programs, and to be prepared to respond to questions regarding how you are prepared to prevent a tragedy of this type from occurring on your site.

Additionally, we encourage camps to use this as a learning opportunity, and to take a close, hard look at your camps

• Emergency procedures, including procedures for “lock-down”, and evacuation
• Methods for quick, effective mass-notification of campers parents, emergency contacts, etc.
• Site Security
• Capacity to deal with a multiple victim medical emergency
• Type of psychiatric support that you provide to staff and participants, as a preventative to incident, after an incident, etc.
• How you identify those on your site who may be a risk
• Plans & procedures for dealing with the media

Please refer to the American Camp Association website for guidelines on camp security:  http://www.acacamps.org/inside/security.php   This page also contains additional links to homeland security, Camp Line articles, and other agencies dealing with security.  Additional resources available include your local law enforcement and emergency medical response personnel, the ACA Accreditation Process Guide and Accreditation Standards Resource CD-Rom, your camp’s insurance company, and of course, your network of other camp professionals here in the section!

 HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Rhonda Mickelson                        Pamela Allen
Executive Director                       Membership Services Coordinator
Rhonda@acasoutheastern.org       Pamela@acasoutheastern.org