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The ACA Camp Crisis Hotline continues to be a valuable service to the
camp community during challenging times. The hotline saw an increase in
usage of 11 percent from the previous year. The majority of calls still
come in during the summer months (June through August) while 13 percent
of calls received were during the nonsummer months (September through
May). The hotline serves as a sounding board for camp professionals who
want to talk with another camp professional about a situation in their
camp either before it becomes a crisis or during the event. Situations
can include a death in camp; abuse (i.e., staff to camper, camper to camper,
or abuse reported from home); illness; accidents or injuries; and natural
disasters such as fires or flooding.
In many cases, camp professionals are seeking guidance in dealing with
a challenging situation. The hotline team is available to help camp staff
identify questions that should be asked or various options that could
be considered. The following calls were received this past year on the
crisis hotline:
Death in Camp
Eight deaths were reported this past summer — five campers and three
staff members. Two of the deaths occurred during off-site trips: one camper
slipped off a waterfall during a backcountry trip, and the other collapsed
after encountering a bear on a hike. One camper drowned in a guarded activity,
and a staff member was struck by lightening. Two young campers were killed
when tree limbs fell on them, and two staff members were murdered on their
time off while visiting a beach in a remote area.
Medical Concerns
Four medical concerns were reported. One call asked what the camp’s responsibility
was for a camper with AIDS who wanted to attend. One dealt with a camper’s
allergy to peanuts and what measures or parameters the camp was required
to take to accommodate the family. One call discussed the disappearance
of stolen medication. Four campers were bitten and/or scratched by rabid
skunks.
Personnel
Personnel issues comprised almost 19 percent of calls. One issue dealt
with releasing camper information to a nonparent. Medical considerations
for staff included required immunizations for food service staff, and
one case of an international kitchen staff diagnosed with hepatitis. One
staff member was reported missing from a campout during a precamp overnight.
The following employment issues were addressed: a staff member faking
a reference; a staff member (not with direct supervision of campers but
who worked in the kitchen) with a felony record; and child labor laws
regarding junior staff. A staff member reported concern about a camp not
adhering to ACA standards and safety concerns within the camp. One camp
requested information about an emergency phone service that could relay
information to international staff and campers.
Camper Behavior
Camper behavior is still the largest reported issue to the hotline with
24 percent of total calls. An increase has been noted on the reporting
of campers self-mutilating or “cutting” either at camp, home, or both.
Several campers were sent home after they were found to be smoking. One
CIT was taken to the emergency room after having a seizure after allegedly
smoking marijuana in camp. One camp called to seek advice about a camper
who had been accused of stealing in the past and who wanted to return
to camp. One camper was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm.
Two fifteen-year-old campers exposed themselves to a female staff member,
and one camper was reported to have made alleged racist and sexual remarks
towards staff and female campers. Bullying was reported once.
Child Abuse
Of the total number of calls received 22 percent reported child abuse
either occurring at camp or at home, and 11 percent pertained to sexual
abuse at camp. Half of the issues reported at camp were staff-to-camper
issues. Camps called in to question whether they were mandated reporters
or to seek contact information for Child Protection Services in their
state.
At Camp
One staff member was accused of verbally abusing a camper. Other issues
included: a camper reporting that they were raped by another camper at
camp; a counselor allegedly molesting a camper on an overnight trip; two
staff having oral sex with a fifteen-year-old CIT; several camper-to-camperabuse
incidents witnessed by staff but not responded to; a fourteen-year-old
camper coercing several other campers into sexual acts in a tent; and
a staff member who had sexual relations with a CIT.
At Home
A camper was reported to be seeking attention at camp via sexually inappropriate
means. The camper reported being abused at home. A ten-year-old camper
was reported to have inappropriately touched other girls. A camper reported
having been raped three years ago by someone she knew who was not a family
member. A parent was irate with the camp when the camp reported a situation
to the state that was revealed by a camper in their program. The camper
remained in camp.
Parent Issues
Five percent of calls this past year dealt with parent issues related
to camp programs. A parent called as she felt her son was in danger in
the camp program he was in but didn’t want her son to leave. A camp reported
that parents of a camper were threatening to pull their child out of the
program if a fifteen-year-old lifeguard was not fired because their child
felt scared and uncomfortable with the staff member. A CIT was fired for
having alcohol in camp, and parents were irate and threatening action
against the camp for early dismissal of their child from the program.
Other Incidents Reported
Thirteen percent of calls received reported other miscellaneous incidents.
Severe storms knocked out the power to a camp that was hosting a user
group, leaving the camp without power for at least twenty-four to thirty-six
hours. Despite the conditions and loss of operation of toilet facilities,
water, and dining facilities, the group refused to leave. Fire destroyed
part of a camp — campers and staff were safely evacuated. A user group
participant reported physical abuse by a boatman with a commercial vendor
on a raft trip. Severe flooding left one camp under 7 feet of water and
forced it to close for the year. An international staff member was arrested
for soliciting sex from local area girls (not campers) using the Internet
at camp. Authorities were extremely cooperative with the camp. One camp
called to ask who to release a camper to as the parent was hospitalized
for a serious injury/ illness, and no grandparents or other guardian was
listed, other than an emergency contact. An experienced seventeen-year-old
camper got lost on a hiking trip out west and was later found safe. A
camp was closed by the leasing agent when it was discovered that there
was insufficient insurance in place.
Information received by the hotline team is kept confidential. ACA is
not always informed of the final outcome of the situations that are reported.
Additional support is sometimes provided by ACA local offices if the camp
requests this or gives permission to discuss the incident with the local
office.
Mandated Reporting
Questions on whether a camp director/administrator should report child
abuse is ongoing. If abuse is reported to you by a camper or staff member
or you have reason to believe that abuse has occurred, you are required
by law to report. Be familiar with your state law and recognize that it’s
not your job to investigate the incident. That doesn’t mean you can’t
find out details about an incident in camp, but it’s the state’s responsibility
to determine if abuse has actually occurred, whether with your camp or
at the victim’s home. Reports should be filed in the state where the abuse
has occurred and within twenty-four hours of discovery. Some reports are
made to the state; some are made through the county. The hotline team
has a list of reporting offices by state available for your reference.
Review Your Plans
Reviewing your risk management and crisis management plans, in addition
to your personnel policies, should be an annual practice for your organization.
Key considerations during a crisis include contacting legal or medical
counsel; contacting your insurance agent, mental health professionals
to assist with staff and campers, and contacting parents; and composing
key messages to relay to parents, campers, staff, board members, and the
media. Questions to consider as you review your risk management planning
include:
Who is your legal counsel? Some camps do not keep legal counsel on retainer.
Do you have someone who is accessible in the event a crisis occurs? Can
you identify anyone related to your organization (a board member or volunteer
who may have a legal background) who can help you identify whom to contact
or how to proceed in such an event? Are they familiar with your organization?
Additional professional practices found in the American Camp Association’s
Accreditation Standards for Camp Programs and Services asks whether arrangements
for legal counsel have been made and such counsel is available as problems
arise (American Camp Association 1998). Does your camp have legal insurance?
While many people are unaware that legal insurance is available, it is
a tool to help small businesses get legal advice that is more affordable.
It works much like an HMO, providing people access to an attorney for
consultation on issues before they become big problems. For more information
regarding legal insurance, contact your state’s bar association, www.palidan.com/statebar.
htm — this link provides contact information to state bar associations
nationwide.
Who is your medical team? Do you make personal contact with your camp
physician to touch base each year? In the event of a communicable disease
or other situation at your camp, do you know who to contact at the health
department in your area? Do you maintain copies of books on communicable
diseases (such as the Control of Communicable Diseases Manual available
through online bookstores such as Amazon. com) for quick reference?
Have you identified mental health professionals who will assist you?
Many local hospitals and community or religious organizations have lists
of mental health professionals available to help you in the event of a
crisis. Contact these professionals prior to an incident occurring to
ask for their assistance in the event of a crisis and familiarize them
with your program and clientele.
Have you identified a spokesperson? Have you identified someone to serve
as a spokesperson for the media in the event of a crisis? Does the spokesperson
know he or she has been identified as a camp spokesperson? Does your staff
know your procedure for dealing with the media and who speaks to the media,
parents, other staff, etc.?
Have you identi?ed key messages? What are the messages you wish to relay
to parents, campers, staff, or the media? Will your messages be different
depending on the crisis? Consider preparing a statement in advance and
tailoring it to the situation as needed.
Having some of these key pieces in place will support you in the event
of a crisis within your program. The ACA hotline team is available 24/7/365
to all ACA camps to assist you in identifying key questions, considerations,
or resources that will guide you through a situation. Many times camps
call in to verify they have taken appropriate steps in a situation. The
more planning prior to an incident, the better prepared you’ll be if and
when one occurs.
Originally published in the 2004 Fall issue
of The CampLine.
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