Kids Academy on Campus
Summer 2014
Camp Operations and Safety
Kids Academy on Campus is a NYS Permitted
Children’s Camp
These criteria
required RIT to
obtain a permit to
operate and
development of a
safety plan.
o
o
o
o
Between June 1 and September 15
10 or more children under 16 years of
age
Operating more than all or part of five
days in any two-week period
Indoor or outdoor organized group
activities (swimming)
Safety Plan
The RIT Camp Safety plan is unique to each camp . While many of the requirements
are similar from group to group, there are many unique elements specific to each
camp based on their activities.
Key Staff Responsibilities
Camper Supervision
Camper Orientation
General and Activity Specific
Safety
Buddy System
Lost Camper Protocols
Camper Supervision
NYS requires that campers receive "adequate
supervision," which is defined as:
 Being protected from any unreasonable risk to
their health and safety, including physical or
sexual abuse; and
 Visual or verbal communication capabilities
existing between campers and their counselor
during activities and
 a method of accounting for the campers'
whereabouts at all times.
Camper Orientation
 Evacuation procedures specific to each
building.
 Illness/Injury reports
 For older campers who may drive to
camp-not
permitted to leave camp
during the day (ie lunch etc)
 Buddy System
 Lightening Safety Plan
All campers are required to attend camper
orientation, which will minimally consist of
the topic list above. A “sign-in sheet” will be
provided to document the attending
campers, date of orientation, and content of
what was covered during the orientation.
Sign-in sheets will be maintained at the
camp for inspection by the LHD
Safety Plan
Campers shall be accounted for at all times.
Staff shall never be left 1:1 with a camper. Two adults shall always be present when working
with Campers. Campers shall always use the buddy system.
Camper Discipline
 Discipline will be aimed at addressing and correcting
unacceptable behavior.
 Counselors who are unable to quickly, safely and
effectively deal with a camper who is misbehaving will
utilize the chain of command to address the situation.
 Forms of acceptable discipline may include:
 talking to the camper about their behavior, discussion
of the expectations the camp has of all campers,
 asking the camper to express his feelings, mediation
of a dispute, and
 notification of parents/guardians.
 Discipline that is considered unacceptable and
that will not be allowed includes but is not limited
 To corporal punishment, humiliating treatment,
frightening methods, punishment associated with food,
rest or isolation, and use of foul or abusive language.
Lost Camper Protocol
 Notify the Camp Director and other
counselors of the identity of the missing
camper.
 •Interview staff and campers in an attempt
to determine the last known whereabouts
of the missing camper.
 Begin a search, starting with the last
known place of the camper and nearby
restrooms
 Notify RIT Public Safety if a Camper is
unaccounted for, for more than 10
minutes.
General Activity Safety
 Appropriate Personal protective
equipment for the activity, ie safety
goggles, gloves
 No horseplay
The Safety Plan Elements
 Emergencies
 Unexpected emergencies may occur at the camp. Staff must be trained to remain calm, maintain order,
supervision and accountability of campers at all times.
 The camp director shall be immediately notified of any emergency situations and initiate evacuation of
the camp if necessary
 Mechanisms of notification of an emergency on campus, RIT ALERT, RIT Message Center, Social media:
RITNews Twitter and RIT Facebook, Web sites: http://emergency.rit.edu and www.rit.edu,
 Fire Safety-
Rescuing, removing and accounting for all present must be the first priority.
Upon discovery of a fire or activation of the Fire Alarm in any RIT Facility
R-Rescue A-Alarm (if not already sounding), Confine-Close Doors and windows as you
evacuate, Evacuate-Leave the building and report to the designated gathering area outside.
NEVER RE-ENTER UNTIL AUTHORIZED BY THE FIRE OFFICIAL OR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER
ON SCENE.
 Allegations of Abuse
 All Staff will immediately notify the camp director or health director if they are witness to, or hear of,
any camper abuse (physical, sexual or verbal).
 The accused will be separated from the rest of the camp population.
 All allegations of abuse will be reported to the Public Safety and Environmental Health and Safety.
 EHS, Public Safety and Risk Management will make the required notification to Law Enforcement and
Regulatory Agencies.
The Safety Plan Elements
 Weather Safety-
“If you hear it fear it, If you see it flee it”
 Public Safety monitors severe weather forecasts and will provide notification should it
become necessary.
 In the event of severe weather warnings and you are outside, seek shelter immediately.
 You should not resume any outside activities for at least 30 minutes after the last
thunder and lightening event.
Water Safety
 The Aquatics Director is in charge: The Kids
on Campus Aquatics Director is responsible
for the Water (Swimming Safety Plan).
 The buddy system will be used during all
swimming activities.
 All camp counselors and program staff will
accompany campers to the swimming
activity and will stay to assist in supervising
swimmers.
 RIT Pool Life guards will also be present.
Reporting Incidents
The following incidents are require to be reported
to the Camp Director, Health Director, and Public
Safety and EH&S:
 Camper and staff injuries or illnesses that result in
death or require resuscitation, admission to a
hospital or the administration of epinephrine.
 Camper or staff exposures to animals potentially
infected with rabies.
 Camper injuries to the eye, head, neck or spine
which require referral to a hospital or other facility
for medical treatment.
 Injuries where the camper sustains second or third
degree burns to 5 percent or more of the body.
 Camper injuries that involve bone fractures or
dislocations.
 Lacerations sustained by a camper that require
sutures, staples or medical glue.
 Camper physical or sexual abuse allegations.
 Camper and staff illnesses suspected of being water-,
food- or air-borne or spread by contact
Review
 Staff Responsibilities Camper Supervision
 No 1:1 Contact, no exceptions, Always 2 deep leadership!
 Activity Safety
 Reporting of Incidents
 Camper Orientation: include emergency procedures.
Water Safety
Use the Buddy system
Weather Safety
“If you hear it fear it, If you see it
flee it”
Emergencies
Notification of an emergency on
campus, RIT ALERT, RIT Message
Center, Social media: RITNews
Twitter and RIT Facebook, Web
sites: http://emergency.rit.edu and
www.rit.edu,
Fire Safety
Upon Activation of the Fire
Alarm, immediately evacuate
the building to the outside
meeting area. Take
attendance to ensure all
campers are accounted for.
Allegations of Abuse
Immediately Notify the Camp
Director.
Immediately separate the accuser and
the accused discretely.
The Camp Director will notify RIT
Public Safety and EH&S
Reporting Incidents
The following incidents are required to be
reported
 Camper/staff injuries or illnesses that result in
death or require resuscitation, admission to a
hospital or the administration of epinephrine.
 Camper or staff exposures to animals potentially
infected with rabies (bats)
 Camper injuries to the eye, head, neck or spine
which require referral to a hospital or other
facility for medical treatment.
 Injuries where the camper sustains second or
third degree burns to 5 percent or more of the
body.
 Camper injuries that involve bone fractures or
dislocations.
 Lacerations sustained by a camper that require
sutures, staples or medical glue.
 Camper physical or sexual abuse allegations.
 Camper and staff illnesses suspected of being
water-, food- or air-borne or spread by contact