By
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Day camp and sleep-away camp are but a few weeks away. To even just apply to summer camp these days, you need to run around to (sometimes multiple) doctors to fill out the medical physical forms, a psychologist to ensure mental health stability, and the teachers to write a behavioral-okay recommendation. And once you know you’re accepted, Goodness knows how many shopping trips you have to take to get just the right list of clothing and supplies. For parents and children alike, camp preparation is exhausting, but the payoff of the camp is usually worth it. So, the preparation is an investment.
But with all of the run-around, have you also checked into your child’s camp’s security? Sometimes we assume that camps are protected enough, either because we don’t think it’s of concern, or we figure they cover themselves so much on the legal front that certainly they’ve set up a good security system. But it ain’t necessarily so.
Here are top questions to ask about your child’s camp security setup:
1) Security personnel. Where are they located, and what hours of the day? Is there at least one agent present for the duration of the camp day (and for sleep-away camp – the nighttime as well)?
2) Emergency planning. What if there is an earth quake or other natural disaster? What if there is an attack (say of racial nature, or Columbine-esque), entailing a need for a lockdown, an evacuation, or a bit of both? Is the camp prepared?
3) Status information and communication. Are parents kept abreast about any security breaches, or current needs for added security?
It’s great to have a safe haven for our children for the summer. Parents need to continue to work and the children need social and educational outlets for the two-month summer break. With all the preparation and benefits of summer camp, don’t let security go undealt with. Contact ISSM for more info.
