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Health and Safety
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Counselor Training & Credentials
Mountain Day Camp staff are enthusiastic about offering a variety of hands-on opportunities for campers. We take campers' mental, physical and emotional well-being into consideration as we structure program activities.
The staff participates in a seven-day training before camp begins. This training is long compared to training at other camps. We value the extra day, Training covers:
- Emergency procedures and medical situations
- Camp policies and procedures regarding working with campers, relating with other staff, parent contact, and more.
- Effective youth development methods and practice dealing with camper behaviors
- Logistics and programming content and structure
- Vehicle training and safe vehicle practices
- Reporting and camp evaluation
- Practices for adapting activities to individual camper needs and/or special needs (learn more about Inclusion at Mountain Day Camp)
- Comprehensive sessions on emergency procedures and risk management
Staff certifications/backgrounds:
- All counselors have CPR & First Aid certifications
- State and Federal background checks are completed for each counselor as well as personal reference checks
- We choose counselors with experience working at camps, after school programs, at risk youth programs, and more!
- Our counselors have educational backgrounds in early childhood education, educational psychology, psychology, philosophy, recreation administration, and more!
Inclusion & Adapting Activities
Our counselors receive a full day of inclusion training. This training helps them to work with campers who have special needs. It makes every staff member stronger when working with campers of all abilities. It will give them the tools they need to recognize when a camper is struggling for any reason and helps them to adapt the activity to meet the needs of that camper to help create a more successful experience.
Eldorado Canyon Program Transportation
Transportation is a valuable service we include as part of the Eldorado Canyon Program. We realize that time traveling in vehicles carries more risk than other program times at camp. Our camp bus drivers have experience and certifications necessary for driving buses loaded with campers, counselors, and gear. Camp van drivers have also had a separate day of driving training and have practiced and been critiqued on their skills throughout our 7-day staff training.
The camp day begins on the bus! Camp counselors lead songs, tell stories, and have group meetings while on the bus. All counselors are trained in safety procedures while in vehicles in order to manage campers and support the driver while in transit.
MDC Junior Transportation
Because we are based out of a school, MDC Junior campes will take trips out of camp each day to explore the outdoors. We use camp buses and vans to travel to our hike locations. Our camp bus drivers have
experience and certifications necessary for driving buses loaded with campers, counselors, and gear. Camp van drivers have also had a separate day of driving training and have practiced and been critiqued on their skills throughout our 7-day staff training.
Families are encouraged to leave behind their camper's chile safety seat for vehicles so we can use it in the camp van (the camp bus does not require safety seats, as it is a school bus.)
Safety During Program Trips
In both programs, we often take trips away from our home base. These trips include: hikes, environmental activities and exploration, bouldering, orienteering adventures, climber watching, pool days, and more. We do several things before, during, and after the trips to make sure campers stay safe under our supervision:
- Review the day's plan with all campers before leaving the camp home base
- Discuss with campers what to do if an adult tries to talk to them that is not a MDC staff member
- Take roll and head counts before departing to a new location; establish a group "sound off" where each camper has a letter or word in a phrase that must be completed to know everyone is there
- Have campers choose a buddy for the trip
- Remind campers to stay with the group for safety
- Review with campers what to do if they become separated from the group for any reason
- Travel by foot with campers placed between two counselors at a minimum
Hydration, Nutrition & Sunscreen
Hydration: On their first day of camp, campers will each make a water bottle that is personalized. Thieir water bottle will look unique and will be easy to spot among other bottles. Please send your camper to camp with a full water bottle. We provide water coolers to refill and encourage campers to drink water before, during and after activities. We realize that summer heat combined with lots of activity takes much needed fluids from their system, and encourage them to stay hydrated.
Nutrition: Please send your camper to camp with a full belly! Campers use much more energy at camp than they do at school and may need more food to accommodate their bodies' needs. If a camper forgets a lunch, we have lunches available and the family will be charged.
MDC provides a healthy afternoon snack of GORP (Cabin Groups create a trail mix recipe to share with the entire camp!), fruit, raw vegetables, or granola bars. We make every effort to accommodate allergies so please tell us about them on your camper's health form.
Sunscreen: Rocky Mountain Sunscreen with a 30 spf, will be offered to campers each day before activities begin. Even if they applied sunscreen at home, they will re-apply again at camp. We encourage campers to eat and play in shaded areas to avoid sun exposure when possible.
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