CAMP MENDOCINO
A Program of Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco
SAFETY AT CAMP
HEALTH, SAFETY, & SUPERVISION
The Safety and Well-being of Young People is Our Number One Priority. For 130 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco has served youth and families in San Francisco, and the safety and protection of the children we serve is always our number one priority.
STAFF SAFETY
Our organization is committed to the highest standards of safety and integrity and has zero tolerance for behavior that harms children. Our caring staff are focused on providing both physically and emotionally safe places for our children and teens to thrive.
ALL NEW EMPLOYEES WILL UNDERGO THE FOLLOWING RIGOROUS BACKGROUND CHECKS:
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FBI Fingerprint Check
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California Department of Justice Criminal Check
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State and National Sex Offender Registry check
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Professional Reference Checks
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Verification of Authorization to work in the US
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Fingerprint checks also include a subsequent arrest feature that notifies the organization of any arrests or convictions subsequent to the initial check.
While at Camp, every camper (including teens) is supervised at all times. Staff members sleep in cabins with campers to ensure campers are physically and emotionally taken care of, even overnight.
WHAT HAPPENS OVERNIGHT
We are committed to ensuring that your camper is safe the entire time they are in our care and we take this job very seriously. While campers and staff are asleep, we have Night Watch staff who are responsible for making sure that all is well overnight.
VISITOR POLICY
We do not allow parents/guardians to visit their campers while they are at Camp. This ensures that everyone at Camp has been properly background checked and ready to keep our campers safe. Sometimes, parents/guardians will need to come to Camp to pick up that camper. In that case, we have specific policies to ensure that whoever is in front of us is authorized to pick up their camper.
ACTIVITY SAFETY
We have a lot of fun activities at Camp and many of them require special safety precautions. Our staff is well trained and it is important that they keep safety as the number one priority. Anytime campers are swimming or kayaking, a lifeguard is present. Kayaks also require life vests at all times. On a bike? Campers must wear a helmet. The ropes course also has specific safety gear that is inspected often. We will take great care of your camper while they are with us!
HEALTH & SAFETY
We have a fully-stocked health center at Camp Mendocino and each summer, we employ three full-time medical staff. These medical staff have current certifications as EMTs, Paramedics, or Nurses and are responsible for the day-to-day care of campers and staff. They are also on-call to handle any emergency situation. Most other staff at Camp also have CPR/First Aid training.
MEDICATION
If your camper takes medication on a regular basis during the rest of the year, we expect you to send their medication to Camp for the summer.
When sending your child’s medication, please make sure that it is in original bottles with prescription information included. This will help our medical staff ensure they are getting what they need. Campers needing daily or as-needed medication will be taken to the health center and medical staff will ensure that their needs are taken care of.
On the first day of Camp, all campers will be seen by medical staff for a brief check-in. Medical staff will speak privately with them about any concerns they have, review health history paperwork, and confirm that they have the medications they need.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CAMPER GETS SICK?
Campers who don't feel well will be seen by health center staff. Often, they need time to rest or over-the-counter medication and can continue on with Camp activities.
If your camper experiences a significant illness or accident, medical staff will contact you. If it is something that requires additional medical care, or if your camper may be contagious to other campers, we may ask you to come to pick them up from Camp early.
If your camper requires immediate emergency medical care, we have a great relationship with our local hospital and ambulance company – both are quick and communicative should we need to use them. Our closest hospitals are in the towns of Willits, CA, and Fort Bragg, CA.
While we do our best to manage all camper health needs at Camp, there are some conditions we are not set up to manage and the nearest hospital is an hour away. If your camper has a medical condition that requires more specific attention, please contact the Camp office to discuss how we can best support your camper prior to sending them to Camp.
We go over the rules and expectations for your camper during the orientation on Day 1. That first night, campers also get the opportunity to set expectations for themselves, their peers, the staff, and their village as a whole.
CAMP RULES
THE BASIC RULES AT CAMP ARE THE 3 R'S:
THE VALUES WE FOCUS ON AT CAMP:
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Respect Yourself
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Respect Others
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Respect Camp
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Community
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Nature
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Confidence
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Self-care
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Service
We believe that all young people can be successful and act responsibly with the guidance of consistent role models. At Camp, we believe in approaching conflict and disagreement through a restorative justice lens. This means using mediation and community building to find a common solution that works for all, moving away from a punitive discipline model.
In the event that a camper has made a decision that puts in jeopardy the safety (physical or emotional) of another person or the group, that camper will be removed from programming. Consequences will vary depending on the situation, but this camper may be asked to leave Camp.
Do you have additional questions?
You can find more information by visiting our FAQ page, calling our Year-Round Camp hotline at 415-757-6690, or by emailing camperapplication@kidsclub.org. Our year-round office staff are available to answer questions or concerns so please don’t hesitate to reach out.