Accreditation, Health, & Safety

All of our camp staff are trained on what to do in the event of an illness or injury at camp. During Staff Training, before campers arrive, we teach staff about their responsibilities for camper care, and what to do in the event of different types of emergency situations. There are First Aid kits located at each cabin and each activity area in camp.

We have a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or nurse practitioner (NP) on site at camp each week to serve as the health officer. The health officer lives at camp throughout the week, in our Kiwanis Health Center, and is responsible for the administration of all medications, and providing care for injuries and illnesses.

All of our cabin counselors and activity leaders are trained in Red Cross Basic First Aid and CPR, and our waterfront staff are certified in Red Cross Lifeguarding, and CPR / First Aid for the professional rescuer.

In the event of a minor injury, the staff member(s) present will administer basic first aid, and will contact the camp health officer to document the injury, the treatment performed, and to have the injury evaluated to determine if further care is needed.

The camp health officer will be responsible for assessing the situation and determining if additional steps need to be taken. If the health officer determines that professional medical care is necessary, they will either (1) contact Cass Family clinic - for minor injuries or illness that do not require emergency care, (2) transport the camper to Three Rivers Health - for injuries or illness that require immediate evaluation and care, or occur when the Cass Family Clinic is unavailable, or (3) call for an ambulance - for severe injuries or illness that require emergency medical services.

In any situation where outside medical care is needed, the Health Officer or Camp Director will contact parents immediately, by telephone. If the situation is not an emergency, parents may have the option to pick their camper up and transport them to receive care. In an emergency situation, the Health Officer will request that the parents or guardians meet us at the location where the camper is transported.

For illnesses or injuries where outside medical care is not sought, the Health Officer or Camp Director will contact parents if the camper is restricted from normal camp activities for more than 60 minutes. For instance, if a camper has a persistent headache, stomachache, or injury that prevents them from participating in normal camp activities. In most cases, the Health Officer will make contact with parents or guardians to discuss the situation when the camper is not present. However, if the parent or guardian requests to speak to their camper, the Health Officer will facilitate that call.

We have a Health Officer on site each session during camp, following Michigan Licensing Guidelines and American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation policies. The Health Officer lives in the Kiwanis Health Center, located in the center of camp. The Health Officer administers all regular medications, and is available to deal with all medical needs that may arise during camp.

The State of Michigan requires that our Health officer be one of the following:

1. A licensed physician
2. A licensed physician's assistant
3. A licensed nurse practitioner
4. A registered nurse
5. A licensed practice nurse
6. A licensed emergency medical technician
7. A licensed medical first responder
8. An adult who is certified as a wilderness first responder
9. If less than 20% of the camper population are campers with a disability, the Health Officer may be an adult who has satisfactorily completed training and certification that is equivalent to the requirements in American Red Cross manual number 656137 (Responding to Emergencies).

Typically, our Health Officer is an RN or an LPN who is the parent of campers attending camp that session.

We recruit staff from our previous camper and CIT programs, through word of mouth from prior staff members, from college job fairs and job posting boards (like Handshake), Indeed, and from international camp staff agencies like Wildpacks and IENA.

When an application for a counselor is received, it is first reviewed by the Camp Director. Qualified candidates are then interviewed by the Camp Director, and we contact at least three references for each candidate. We often have many more applicants than we have positions available at camp, which means we can be very selective about who receives an offer of a position.

If a candidate is offered and accepts a position at camp, we then conduct a series of background checks. We obtain a State Criminal History from each state they have lived in since they turned 18, as well as a State Central Registry check for each state they have lived in since they turned 18. In addition, we obtain a National Sex Offender Registry check on every candidate.

Seasonal staff members attend a 10-day staff training which is held before campers arrive at camp. During that training, we review all of the policies and procedures, as well as all emergency and safety practices. We also train the counselors on how to handle camper issues like homesickness, bullying, and discipline.

The Director and Assistant Director also use that week to evaluate the staff and determine which age group each counselor should be placed with, and which counselors will make the best team in each cabin. Counselors are also trained on how to lead the activities they will be working on during the summer,

Throughout the summer the counselors receive additional feedback from the Director and Assistant Director to improve their performance at activities and in the cabin.

Training topics during staff training include:

• Emergency Procedures
• Discipline Policies
• Waterfront safety
• Lifeguarding, CPR, First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Archery, and Low Ropes certifications
• Child Protection Plan
• Appropriate behavior for working with youth of all ages
• Staff policies (e.g., privacy expectations, alcohol and drug policies, time off, etc.)
• Staff role in camper health
• How to lead and facilitate activities
• Dealing with homesickness
• Communication with parents
• Daily schedule and routines (e.g, cabin cleanup, mealtimes, activities)
• Camp Fire and Camp T Mission, Vision, and Values
• History and Traditions
• Team building and staff bonding
• And sooo much more!

In the event of an injury or serious illness, we would transport campers to the Beacon Three Rivers Health Center, located 13 miles from camp. If necessary, an ambulance could be dispatched from the Newberg Township Fire Department, which is located 4.5 miles from camp.

In a non-emergency we could transport campers to the Cassopolis Family Clinic, located 11 miles from camp.

If a camper is injured or becomes ill while at camp, the Health Officer will evaluate the situation. The Health Officer will determine if we need to transport the camper to a clinic or to the hospital. Any time a camper is referred to medical attention outside of camp, parents will be contacted by phone.

Please make sure that your emergency contact information is up to date in our registration system! Your family accident/health medical insurance will be billed, and you will be advised of and billed for any other medical expenses such as special medication and/or supplies advised by the physician.

CAMP WIDE EMERGENCIES

If we experience an emergency that affects all of camp, we will keep parents up to date on the situation via several communication methods. We will:

• Send email updates to parents
• Post updates to our Facebook Page
• Post updates in our current year Facebook Group
• Send text updates via UltraCamp

To make sure you are receiving all emergency communications, please make sure that your email address is correct in the camper registration system. You can also "Like" our Facebook Page, join this year's closed Facebook Group (you will receive an email on how to do this once the group is set up for the year), and sign up for text updates (instructions below).

The camp staff has been trained on how to handle this expected hurdle. It is usually a temporary period, and the staff helps to overcome this feeling by channeling your child’s energies towards other activities. By the time you receive a “low” letter, your child is probably feeling much better!

We do not allow campers to call home during the week, as this generally only makes homesickness worse. If we have concerns about your child, we will have a staff member contact you. You are also free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns during the week. The phone number at camp is 574-387-6095. You can also reach the camp staff by email at info@tannadoonah.org.

Camp T is located on the north shore of beautiful Birch Lake. The waterfront is the hub for many activities at camp, including swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, stand up paddleboarding, waterskiing, and wakeboarding. All of our water activities require a highly-trained, vigilant staff to keep our campers safe.

LIFEGUARD TRAINING

We train all of our waterfront staff right here at camp. Miss Amber, our CEO, has been a certified Lifeguard since 1995, and spent five summers as a member of the waterfront staff at Camp T, and also worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor for the Davison Athletic Club and for South Bend Parks and Recreation. In 2001, Miss Amber served as the Waterfront Director. Miss Amber is a Red Cross certified Lifeguard Instructor, and personally trains and certifies our lifeguards at camp prior to the start of each camp season.

All of our lifeguards are also required to arrive at staff training a few days early for a special waterfront training session. During this session, the Waterfront Director provides training specific to our waterfront environment, and confirms that all of the lifeguards are capable, vigilant, and mature individuals. We know that when it comes to water safety, there is no substitute for watchful, well-trained staff!

The waterfront training session includes rehearsing emergency procedures, practicing rescue techniques, and learning the curriculum and procedures for each of our waterfront activities. In addition, the entire staff (even those who do not normally work at the waterfront) receives training on basic rescue techniques and waterfront emergency procedures, in case a non-waterfront staff member is present when an emergency arises.

WATERFRONT ACTIVITY MONITORING

All waterfront activities are staffed by at least one trained waterfront staff member. This includes swimming lessons, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, stand up paddleboarding, waterskiing, and wakeboarding classes. In addition, there is a certified lifeguard on duty as lookout during all waterfront activity periods. For all boating activities, waterskiing, and wakeboarding, campers and staff are required to wear a Coast Guard Approved flotation device (life jacket).

SWIM TEST & LESSONS

All campers must complete a swim test prior to participating in any waterfront activities. Swimming takes place only in our designated swim area. This area is divided into three camper swim areas: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Non swimmers are automatically placed in the beginner area, where the maximum depth of the water is approximately 4 feet.

To be eligible for boating, waterskiing, or wakeboarding, a camper must earn either an intermediate or advanced swimming band. To earn an “intermediate” band, campers will be asked to swim two lengths of the waterfront without assistance and without stopping to rest (approx 50 meters). To earn an “advanced” band, campers must swim a third length.

Classes for all Red Cross swimming levels are offered, so lessons are appropriate for campers of all ages and swimming abilities. Campers who plan to take lessons are tested on Sunday evening to determine to which of the 6 Red Cross Swimming levels they will be assigned. At the end of the week campers who took lessons will be tested to see if they have met all of the Red Cross Requirements, in order to move on to the next swimming level.

BUDDY SYSTEM

Campers “check in” and “check out” of the swim area in pairs, using a “buddy number” system. Each camper is assigned a buddy number for the week, and they have a tag on the buddy board that they use to indicate that they are checking in or out of the waterfront. During free swim times, there are at least 5 certified lifeguards and at least 3 other aquatic observers or lookouts on duty. If there are an unusually large number of swimmers in the water, additional guards and observers are assigned. During free swims, there is a buddy check at least every 10 minutes, to confirm the location of all swimmers.

Camp T adheres to all State of Michigan licensing regulations and American Camp Association guidelines on waterfront safety, including a strict prohibition on nighttime waterfront activities.