Safety at Camp
Safety at Camp
A safe camp is a happy camp! With caring and competent camp staff, your camper is sure to be well cared for.
Camp Family Handbooks
Learn more about safety at camp in the camp family handbooks.
Summer 2026 Handbooks coming soon!
Accommodations and Accessibility
Camp takes place outdoors, in all weather, over uneven ground, and inside and outside of buildings and units. In every case, we want campers to be safe and meaningfully participate in all aspects of camp activities. Please contact us if your camper has any physical, emotional, dietary, or medical needs that might make meaningful participation a challenge.
We provide reasonable accommodations for campers with special need and have most success when we can connect with you well ahead of camp or even registering your campers. If it is determined that we cannot ensure this experience for your camper, your family will be provided with a full refund and we can assist you in locating alternate options. Please contact us to see if we can adequately meet your camper’s needs.
Camp Staff
GSGWM summer camp staff are responsible, enthusiastic team members who are hired based on their interest and experience in working with youth in an outdoor setting. Each camp is managed by a trained Camp Director who is at least 25 years old. Each program will have 2 assigned counselors plus a supporting leadership team to help plan and oversee campers and programming.
Health at Camp
The health and safety of campers and staff is our first priority. Our healthcare policies meet or exceed standards set by Girl Scouts of the USA’s guidelines, state licensing requirements, and American Camp Association guidelines. All staff led camps employ a health supervisor, who is supported by a licensed nurse and an on-call physician for consultation. Our camp staff are trained in First Aid, CPR, and other health care certifications as required by their positions.
Communicable Diseases at home or at camp
Exposure at home
Your family shares the responsibility for keeping our camp community healthy. Campers who have a fever of 100° or higher, or who have experienced illness-related vomiting or diarrhea in the 24 hours before camp, need to be symptom-free for 24 hours to come to camp.
Campers or staff who refuse to be screened at arrival, who display symptoms, or who answer yes to any of the screening questions will not be allowed to attend camp.
If a staff member or camper has been exposed to communicable disease, including COVID-19, and is not exhibiting symptoms they can continue coming to camp in accordance with the CDC guidelines.
Exposure at camp
If communicable disease symptoms, including COVID-19, symptoms appear at camp, parents/guardians will be contacted. At day camp, families may be asked to pick up their camper early to administer care or an at home COVID-19 or flu test. At overnight camp, with parent/guardian permission, camp staff will assist campers in taking a home test. Families that choose to refrain from testing may be asked to pick up their camper early. In these cases campers must have a negative test in order to stay at or return to camp.
If a camper or staff member in a program group has tested positive for a communicable disease, including COVID-19, all staff members and campers in that group will be contacted (the name of the individual will be withheld for confidentiality) and made aware. This includes if a family notifies us after a camp day or session is over. We ask that families keep an eye on their campers and if they do start to display any communicable disease symptoms, please keep them home.
Bug and Tick Safety
We recommend that campers use bug spray daily and take precautions such as wearing long sleeves or shirt sleeves that cover armpits, and hats with a brim to limit bug and tick exposure. Most camp activities take place outside, under trees and in the grass, we educate campers on tick prevention and identification. At overnight camp we do daily tick checks to help locate and remove any ticks and recommend that you do the same at home for day camp. Please send bug spray to camp that you have determined is appropriate for your camper and teach them how to apply it.
Sun Safety
We recommend that campers use sunscreen daily and take precautions such as wearing long sleeves or shirt sleeves that cover armpits, and hats with a brim to avoid the sun. Most camp activities take place outside, in the sun, although we will avoid direct sun when we can. Please send sunscreen to camp that you have determined is appropriate for your camper and teach them how to apply it.
Water safety
Camps provide swimming and boating when available. Whenever campers are participating in waterfront activities, we use a buddy tag system. All campers take part in a waterfront safety orientation and swim check on their first or second day at camp. This swim check follows nationally recommended standards and determines the camper’s buddy tag color. Campers wear personal flotation devices for any boating activity and can choose to wear them swimming. Swim level does not limit camp activities for girls; it ensures that campers participate in the safest way possible.
Emergency Procedures
Health and safety at camp is our first priority. Campers and staff practice emergency assembly drills every week at overnight camp. Communication between units and main camp is maintained by walk-throughs and walkie-talkies, especially at night. In addition, we have an agreement and working relationship with the local fire/police/rescue departments to provide emergency response as needed. Camp staff are trained in anticipating and responding to most situations that might arise at camp, including, but not limited to:
- Injuries and illness
- Fire emergencies
- Inclement weather
- Waterfront emergencies
- Boating emergencies
- Stranger(s) on camp property
- Lost camper
- Off-site emergencies
- Vehicle breakdowns
- Wildlife interaction
