Last year, DD(then-8) went to camp for three days. My girls go to a United Methodist camp (there are three in our conference.) Each camp has a comprehensive "Child Protection Policy" including screening all employees and volunteers with fingerprinting and nation-wide criminal background checks. They have regulations regarding camper/staff ratios and privacy (ie. counselors being alone with campers, etc). Of course, no "policy" is worth anything if not enforced, but I know the director of their camp personally, and he is absolutely devoted to creating a safe (in every way) environment. (I still verify every year (this is dd13.75's 5th year there) that the screening was conducted on EVERY employee who will be at the camp.) I would absolutely avoid a "church" camp (or a church itself, for that matter) that used its religious affiliation as an excuse not to address these issues!


Susannah, the Girl Scouts use similar screening regulations, and the staff at GS camps are almost totally "female" with the exception, (probably) of a camp caretaker (Our GS camp has a "resident family" as caretakers.) An all-female staff reduces the possibility of sexual abuse by about 98%. My only objection to OUR GS week-long camps is no hot water! I wouldn't love that for an entire week, and neither would my girls.

(Note! Although I'm sure that the Boy Scouts have similar policies, I would not place my son (if I had one) in an "all-male" environment for a week...statistically, that is a much higher risk.)

Frankly, I consider camp as an important part in "protecting" my girls from predators. Self-confident, independent, strong children with healthy attachments are not targets for predators...predators target insecure, unattached, introverted children. The more healthy attachments my girls make, the better. I have great confidence in this particular program.

If you have not read "Protecting the Gift" by Gavin DeBecker, DO SO! (Lynn has a link for it.) It is imperitive reading for all parents!

Love to all, and happy camping!


Lenora