Kids heading to summer camp or other summer youth program for the first time or not can benefit from a checklist for what to pack. Parents can benefit, too, with a checklist of questions to ask providers and supervisors.
When making a choice about the camps your child will attend, it’s important to know what to ask. It’s equally important to prepare your child for what to expect when they are away and helping them understand their boundaries and how to reinforce them when you aren’t around. It might seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The below resource can help you get started.
Download the Safer Camp Experiences Checklist
In Indiana, camps do not have to be licensed, regardless of whether they board kids or operate all-day. Camps are required to fulfill licensing for construction and food safety, plus additional regulations for pool and water safety.
Consider asking your camp if they background check staff, check for criminal history and the Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry.
Talk to your kids about body boundaries, “what if” scenarios about various possible situations they might find themselves in with program staff and other kids, and how to treat others.