As parents, you may have read numerous articles about what to ask the camp owners and directors, from facilities, to camper staff ratios, to the objectives of the camp. Here is a list of some other questions that you should be asking your Camp Director so that you can make sure your child is in a safe and secure environment where respect and tolerance are the order of the day.

• What staff training do you do.? How many days is it. Do you send your staff to conferences to upgrade their training? At your pre camp training do you have any guest speakers?

• Do you specifically cover in your staff training topics such as Respect, Bullying, Cabin bonding, Discipline, Homesickness, "the unattached camper", first aid training, anaphylaxis management, adolescence and sexual issues for staff and older campers?

• Do you give all of your staff a basic first aid course?

• Does your water system have filters, Ultraviolet light and chlorination? Is your water system checked at least once a day to insure the quality of the water. (If so it is likely better than water in the city).

• How old is the senior staff person in each cabin?

• Do you hire extra staff in case a staff member leaves for any reason?

• Do you receive two references on your staff?

• Do you do a criminal check on your staff?

• Do your kitchen staff take a food handling course each year?

• Do all your foreign staff enter legally with a Visa thus ensuring they have no medical problems or criminal record?

• How old are your tripping staff- do you send out junior trippers alone on a canoe trip?

• Do you have a security guard at camp?

• Do you offer healthy choices in terms of food at meals such as Salad Bar, Vegetarian options for all campers, and fresh fruit at every meal?.

• Is the doctor on site a family physician or pediatrician or knows kids illnesses or are they specialists?

• Is every medical form reviewed by the medical staff at camp and also by the camp director?

• If the camp is coed are the girls cabins separate from the boys for privacy?

• Do the girls and boys units, especially the older ones, have unitheads that are the same sex as the kids so that the campers can approach their unithead on sensitive issues?

• Are there showers and washrooms in the cabins thus allowing your children to not leave the cabin late at night and also take showers on a regular basis.

• Do the younger cabins have less kids in the cabin so they get that special attention they deserve? Younger cabins of 8 kids for example allow for that extra attention!

• Do the camp directors, activity heads and unit heads meet once a day to advise of any campers issues so everyone is prepared to give that child the extra attention they require?

• Do the staff at each activity actually have skills related to that activity or are they people that are just there to supervise at that activity?

• What does the camp do when it rains?

• Does the camp enforce its rules and send home campers without reimbursement for breaking the "non-negotiable" clear cut rules.

• Will the camp send home campers without reimbursement? (after working with the particular camper, and after exhausting all remedies, including contacting the parents to rectify and help the situation) if rules are not followed in terms of respect for campers, staff, thus creating a culture of tolerance and caring.

• Do the camp directors take the time to meet with each unit and all the campers on the first day of each session to explain to them that the staff and directors are there for them and that they can be approached at any time on a confidential basis, about any issue?

• When you request to discuss camp, (if the Camp Director is in your area), will the Director come to your home to meet you, thus giving you the necessary time and respect to get to know your child and your needs and answer your questions in person?

• Does the camp provide a reference list if asked to be provided?

• Does the camp inculcate a culture of respectful caring children- For example:
  • When a camper goes on a bus are the campers taught to always thank the bus driver-
  • When a camper visits another camp are the campers taught to thank the staff and campers for having them.
  • Do the campers pick up their garbage, clean their cabins, and respect their environment?
  • Does the camp discuss each week topics relating to respect, friendship, helping one's community, etc. Does the camp partake in a community week where it visits the local old age home, or hospital and performing a short play or dance? Does the camp create a community spirit in the camp which enforces respect for every individual?

Does the camp have many camp directors who are older , many with families who understand how to deal with issues whereby these camp directors are available to support the other staff all the time?

What is the Director's background? Are they experienced? Why are they running a summer camp? Are they always on site. Do they ever roam throughout the camp late at night?

Do you feel comfortable with the Camp Directors- what is your gut feel? Remember this means a lot and you should get to know them by talking to them on the phone or in person.