General Guidelines for Camps and Summer Activities
I love summer activities. As a child I loved camp, hanging out with teenagers, learning how to canoe, swim, build fires, etc. Summer activities are so much fun but there are always inherent risks. We can't avoid risks but we can reduce them.
Risks...what type of risks?
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Summer risks include, but are not limited to:
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Exposure to sun and heat Drowning Infections from insect or snake bites Abuse Harassment Food poisoning
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Allergic reactions Automobile, boat and all-terrain vehicle accidents Water sport injuries Lost/missing children Equipment breakdowns leading to injuries |
These risks vary from low, medium to high risk ....from minor injuries to potentially life-threatening injuries. Many of these risks could also negatively impact the reputation of your organization.
Are you and your staff prepared to face risk, and respond appropriately?
Are your summer plans and activities on target?
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Recommended Guidelines For Making Wise Decisions:
When RISK increases, supervision should also increase.
One of the key ways to monitor and reduce risk is to ensure you have adequate supervision. Never leave minors on their own with a group of children. Always have a screened adult available to provide oversight. For the protection of children and young people, supervision of all staff and volunteers should be intentional and take place through formal and informal visits to classrooms and programs by supervisors or senior leadership.
RISK increases as isolation increases.
Avoid isolation both face-to-face and on-line.
- Where possible, all meetings with children and young people are to be with a group or in pairs rather than alone.
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Plan ahead and have two screened adults present when working with minors. If the other adult cannot be in the same room, it is best to have them close by in the same building and aware of the activity, acting in the role of a Hall
Monitor or oversight.
- All meetings should happen in open, public spaces rather than a closed, isolated settings. A cafeteria is better than a cabin. A common room is better than a person's home. A front yard is better than a walk in the woods.
- When meeting, an open door is better than a closed door; a door with a window with clear site lines is better than a solid door.
- Wall-to-wall communication on-line is much better than private messaging.
RISK increases as accountability and adherence to policies decreases.
Nurturing an environment of communication and accountability reduces risk.
- Know the policies and procedures of your organization. Permission should be granted prior to meet outside of schedule program hours.
- At all times make others aware of your activities and your whereabouts, particularly when meeting with the vulnerable sector outside of program hours.
- Complete incident report forms for all injuries, accidents, behaviour issues, etc.
- Meet regularly with your supervisor to discuss the ongoing nature and actions of the program.
- If a person is involved in a situation where a boundary is violated, or something occurs that is out of the ordinary or could be misinterpreted, or where such a violation or occurrence is alleged, immediately report it and discuss it with a supervisor. If the Program Lead is unwilling, unable, or unavailable for discussion, seek out a Board Member or Senior Director to discuss the issue.
- Activities that could easily lead to allegations of abuse or harassment, such as internet access with minors, transporting students alone, sleepovers, off-site interaction should always happen with supervision and permission from parents and leadership.
RISK increases when there is an imbalance of power, authority, influence and control between a potential abuser and potential victim. We can minimize risk by creating a balance of power.
- Physical / corporal punishment is prohibited.
- Bullying and harassment is prohibited and will not be tolerated.
- Report all allegations and suspicions of child abuse to Child & Family Services or the Police.
- Notify leadership when a report has been made.
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Retaining documentation is the key to demonstrating due diligence.
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Keep the paperwork! There is no statute of limitations on child abuse in Canada and many of the States so it is important to keep registration forms, Letters of Informed Consent, attendance records and incident report forms.
- Documentation also helps us demonstrate accountability, and creates a safer environment for those who are vulnerable.
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Tools to help you be even more prepared for summer programming:
1. Check out our Special Interest Webinar: Risks in Sporting located on our
Online School
. This training is designed for teachers, coaches, instructors, parents, community center staff, and sporting club leader and administration. We address potential risks associated with sports and how we can protect children and youth and prevent abuse. Coaches, teachers and leaders will learn protection policies for after school programs, practices, locker/change rooms, tournaments and hotels and parents and guardians will learn the questions to ask when enrolling children and youth in programs in order to ensure their young ones are safe. Let's raise the bar on protection!
2. Don't miss the July Summer Specials to help you equip your volunteers for summer programming.
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Plan to Protect
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Webinars this Month
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Plan to Protect
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Refresher
Thurs., July 19 (8pm-9:30pm ET)
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Plan to Protect
®
Orientation
Sat., July 21 (1pm-3:30pm ET)
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Click Here to register for an upcoming Plan to Protect®
webinar.
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FREE WEBINAR
Plan to Protect® 101
Thurs., July 12 (12:30pm-1pm ET)
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Plan to Protect® 101
Over, 10,000 clients have chosen Plan to Protect® as the standard of protection and abuse prevention they are striving to achieve. This webinar introduces you to the standard and covers the basics of Plan to Protect®. It also includes an introduction to our company, an overview of the insurance requirements, an implementation strategy, and a review of our membership levels, resources, services and training.
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Special Interest Webinar: Mentoring and Counselling
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July 18, 2018
12pm - 1pm ET
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Are we allowed to do one-on-one mentoring and counselling? Can we pick up participants and drive them in our car? Does gender matter? Can I get a parent's permission over the phone? Can I use Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or other social media for mentoring and counselling? Let's Plan to Protect® during mentoring and counselling!
This webinar is designed for volunteers or staff offering mentoring/counselling services and the program leaders/supervisors who oversee them. We will address potential risks associated with mentoring and counselling activities and how to prevent them. Victoria Bissell, OCT. and Director of Training at Plan to Protect®, will discuss how we can protect the children, youth or vulnerable adults we are working with and how we can protect ourselves in these situations. We will cover ethics in counselling, specific age-related issues, and how to respond and intervene in a crisis. Let's raise the bar on protection!
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Self-Paced On-Line Certification Training with Video Seminars
We've been working non-stop to bring you our most requested service yet!
We are so proud of the work we have put together, and
we're confident you're going to love it too!
Self-paced, On-Line Certification Training is now available for
Administrator/Leader and Train the Trainer, Level 1 & 2 courses.
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING ABOUT THE COURSES?
"This was one of the better online courses I have taken. This program was well adapted to an electronic format. Thank you for doing all this work. I would say it is definitely valuable, and anyone in a leadership position which includes over-sight to workers with youth, kids, or vulnerable adults should take this course." - Thomas Verboom, Train the Trainer Level 1
Most valuable component of the course? "The assignments. Taking what I learned and reviewed from the videos and making it practical through assignments." - Angela Hoffman, Administrator/Leader Level 2
"This training was interactive, engaging, and it motivated me to provide my organization with effective training. I feel prepared!"
- Jessica Debanne, Train the Trainer Level 2
"Excellent way to re-certify! The training was concise, valuable, and easy to follow along. A great way to update my course material and re-energize me for the my next round of training events." - Pam Loeppky, Train the Trainer Level 2
"Taking the Administration Online Course has allowed me to keep up to date with any changes that are occurring so that our application of this program is relevant and applicable. I have enjoyed this online format as it permits me to work it into a busy schedule, submit my assignments at an appropriate time for me and yet receive feedback that contributes to further honing my skills." - Sara Myers , Administrator/Leader Level 2
"This course is thorough and much appreciated for those of us who do not live in cities where Plan to Protect® is provided in person.
- Nancy Craig, Train the Trainer Level 2
"My favourite part is listening to you. Everything is going well - this is my third week. I'm really really preparing for my practicum. I was a teacher in Kenya, I know the methods of teaching here are the same and yet different. I am going through everything and I want to present my Practicum with the right methodology. Bridget has been really good and helpful. I am so excited about Plan to Protect - everything is really good. The manual is really good and an eye opener as well. I'm having a really good time being back at school. There is no reason I shouldn't do well. I really, really appreciate it. It's very clear. The way she explains every topic is very understandable and not complicated. I'm able to digest and comprehend. Keep up the great work. I'm very grateful for Plan to Protect®." - Becky Owende, Train the Trainer Level 1
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Have questions? Don't know what course to register for? Want to know more?
Click Here
Click Here to contact the training department at Plan to Protect®.
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Want to know what you're missing?
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What You're Missing on the Member Section
Recorded Webinar:
Caring for Survivors of Abuse
In June, we recorded a Special Interest Webinar called "Caring for Survivors of Abuse".
Every month we add these recording to the member section of our website for unlimited access!
This is available to you on the Plan to Protect® School.
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JULY SUMMER SPECIALS 
Prepare you volunteers for a summer of programming with these Volunteer Bundle options!
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Volunteer Bundle 1
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Volunteer Bundle 2
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Volunteer Bundle 3
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1 PlantoProtect App
1 Plan to Protect® Lanyard
1 Refresher Training Registration
Cost: $21.25
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1 PlantoProtect App
1 Plan to Protect® Lanyard
1 Orientation Training Registration
Cost: $26.25
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1 PlantoProtect App
1 Plan to Protect® Lanyard
1 Plan to Protect® Pin
Cost: $6.95
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Equip Your Volunteers
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Up to
45% Off
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~Taxes extra
~Shipping included
~No additional discounts apply
All Volunteer Bundle orders will be processed directly from the webstore
CLICK HERE
Note: Volunteer Bundles will be provided to the purchaser to distribute to volunteers.
Don't miss your chance to stock up on training registrations to prepare for upcoming programming!
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Extra $1 off for each registration
Bundle of 10- $190 ($10 savings)
Bundle of 25 - $425 ($25 savings)
Bundle of 50 - $700 ($50 savings)
Bundle of 100 - $1100 (100 savings)
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Offer Expires July 31, 2018
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