Camp and Retreat Safety
Run overnight camps and retreats with safety dialed in from cabin to campfire.
For: Volunteers and staff who work with minors
What you’ll learn
- Set up safe cabin and overnight supervision that stays observable and interruptible
- Apply age-based camper-to-staff ratios and protect bathing and changing privacy
- Collect health forms, store and administer medications, and run headcounts correctly
- Prepare for waterfront, weather, medical, and missing-camper emergencies
Screen your volunteers for $5
VolunteerBadge runs FCRA-compliant background checks for just $5 — with identity verification built in. No monthly fees, no contracts.
Create a free account →Course outline
- 1
Why camp is a different kind of risk
5 min
- 2
Ratios and line-of-sight supervision
6 min
- 3
Cabins, overnight & the two-adult rule
6 min
- 4
Bathing, changing & privacy
5 min
- 5
Health forms, medications & allergies
5 min
- 6
Waterfront & aquatic safety
6 min
- 7
Headcounts & the missing-camper drill
5 min
- 8
Emergency action plans & putting it together
5 min
Sources & further reading
- American Camp Association — Standards at a Glance — supervision, ratios & accreditation
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Preventing Drowning — water safety & supervision
- American Red Cross — Water Safety & Lifeguarding resources
- U.S. Center for SafeSport — Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP)
- Nonprofit Risk Management Center — Screening Volunteers and Staff
This course is educational and provides general information about the Fair Credit Reporting Act and volunteer-screening best practices. It is not legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time — consult a qualified attorney about your organization’s specific obligations.