ACA accreditation standards have always provided guidance in identifying steps critical to crisis planning. The events of 9/11 may have generated new concerns that need to be added to camps’ plans and procedures:

Risk management planning (standard OM-4)

  • Possibility of bio-hazards from mail contamination, infectious disease, environmental (water or air) contamination
  • Financial impact of possible decline in enrollment, additional staff costs, security measures, increased insurance costs
  • Impact from possible change in access to property — deliveries delayed, additional transportation time and costs
  • Alternative storage of critical records — emergency contacts, registration information

Security review (standards OM-7 and OM-18)

  • Evaluation of use of high profile public sites/areas for program
  • Screening procedures for delivery or construction vehicles
  • Review of how much public (Web site) information is available to all

Safety regulations and emergency procedures (standards OM-8 and OM-9)

  • Monitoring system with the capability to contact individual campers or staff at any time on short notice
  • Added evacuation procedures, with alternate routes and meeting places
  • Anticipating loss of power, water, supplies, and lack of available emergency services

Safety orientation and training (standards OM-10, OM-14, and OM-18)

  • Clear guidelines for supervision responsibilities — in camp, during transportation, in public places
  • New emergency scenarios for staff to rehearse; training to prevent panic and to reduce anxiety

Emergency communications (standard OM-17)

  • Multiple methods for emergency communication with emergency services, parents, agency personnel, or owners
  • Guidelines for use of cell phones — campers and staff; parent expectations

 

Originally published in the 2002 Winter issue of The CampLine.
 

The views and opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Camp Association or ACA employees.