8. Working with Campgrounds & High-Risk Activities

Please find Campground-specific details in Appendix A for your Campground.

8.1 Before Arrival

Confirm by email: Dates and times of arrival and departure with caretaker and campgrounds contact. Buildings and spaces included in your booking. Bedding, tables and chairs, and A/V equipment availability. Kitchen access rules: who opens/closes, required cleaning, equipment training. Smoking rules and designated location.

Ask: Will the camp be fully locked when you arrive? What is the process for garbage, recycling, and compost? Who is the on-call person during your dates?

8.2 Health & Safety at the Campground

Campgrounds are responsible for: Is the kitchen inspected by Public Health? How often? Is the water supply municipal or well? For wells: testing requirements? Pools, beaches, or waterfronts: water testing, lifeguard certifications, supervision ratios. Dishwasher procedures: minimum temperatures, cleaning process.

As a Camp Director, our role is to ensure we follow the campground-specific practices. Mission Centre is looped in by the campgrounds so aware that the requirements are being followed.

Include campground-specific answers in Appendix A.

8.3 Onsite Orientation

On the first day, walk the site with the caretaker and confirm: first aid kits, waterfront life saving equipment, AED locations, extinguishers, hazards, out of bounds and set muster points. Main shutoffs for water and power. Severe weather plans and shelter locations. Where to post emergency procedures and contact info.

8.4 High-Risk Activities

Waterfront Activities

Current lifeguard certification required National Lifeguard Services registered lifeguard certificate. Visit: https://cofchristihq.sharepoint.com/sites/EventsandCamps/SitePages/Lifeguard-Requirements.aspx. Any lifeguards at a camp with campers under 18 must be Registered PAL / PAL assistant certified

Supervision ratios must meet provincial/state and campground requirements. Buddy system mandatory for all swimmers. Water testing completed and documented before any swimming. Designated swim area clearly marked. Rescue equipment readily accessible.

Night Games

Clear boundaries established and communicated. Adequate lighting or flashlights provided. Buddy system required. Staff positioned at boundaries. Emergency signal established (e.g., continuous car horn).

Off-Site Trips

Advance approval from Mission Centre required for overnight trips. Driver requirements met (license, insurance, driver abstract). Emergency contact info for all participants. First aid kit and trained personnel in each vehicle. Vehicle passenger limits enforced. No hitchhiking or unauthorized stops.

8.5 Cross-Border Camps & Shared Sites

Some Canadian campers and staff participate in camps hosted at sites in the United States (e.g., Samish Island).

When directing or sending campers to a cross-border camp: Clarify which Mission Centre is the lead organizer and which policies are in force. Confirm all Canadian campers and staff are registered through the agreed system. Ensure insurance coverage clearly extends to the US site (liability and medical). Review child protection standards from both jurisdictions and apply the stricter standard. Agree in advance how incidents and mandatory reports will be handled. Communicate clearly with parents about travel, border crossing requirements (ID, permissions).

8.6 Wagon & Hayrides (CMC Guidelines, July 2026)

Some campgrounds have tractors and wagons that are primarily used for transporting materials, equipment, or garbage. On occasion, these wagons may also be used to provide recreational hayrides for campers. Because wagon rides involve inherent risks, particularly when children and youth are participating, the following safety guidelines must be followed.

Wagon Requirements

The wagon must be in good mechanical condition and suitable for transporting passengers. The wagon must have secure sides to help prevent falls. Acceptable barriers include sturdy wooden planks or properly secured straw bales that provide continuous protection around the perimeter. The wagon floor should be free of hazards, with no protruding nails, sharp edges, or loose materials.

Supervision

A minimum of two Registered Program Activity Leaders (P.A.L.) must supervise every wagon ride. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring participants remain seated and follow all safety instructions throughout the ride. Camper-to-staff supervision ratios must be maintained at all times.

Safe Operation

The tractor or other vehicle pulling the wagon must be operated by a competent, authorized driver familiar with the equipment. The maximum speed must not exceed 15 mph (24 km/h). The route should avoid steep slopes, rough terrain, or other hazards whenever possible. Rides should be cancelled if weather or ground conditions make travel unsafe.

Passenger Safety

All passengers must remain seated while the wagon is in motion. Hands, arms, and legs must remain inside the wagon at all times. No pushing, standing, horseplay, or changing seats while the wagon is moving. Riders may board and exit only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop and the driver has indicated it is safe to do so.

Prohibited Practices

No one may ride on the tractor fenders, drawbar, hitch, or any other part of the tractor not intended for passengers. No one may ride on the rear or outside of the tractor. If a truck is used to pull the wagon, the same maximum speed of 15 mph (24 km/h) applies. No passengers are permitted to ride in the bed of a truck unless it has been specifically designed, equipped, and legally approved for passenger transportation.

Camp leadership should notify the Camping & Campground ministry team of plans and that safety requirements are satisfied.

8.7 World Church High-Risk Activity Guidelines (Vonda, August 2026)

For full World Church guidance on high-risk activities, see the SharePoint resource: https://cofchristihq.sharepoint.com/sites/EventsandCamps/SitePages/high-risk-guidelines.aspx