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Camp Sonshine

child protection plan

Camp Sonshine’s staff hold your child’s safety in the highest importance, which is why we’ve developed a comprehensive Child Protection Plan.

This plan includes background checks and exhaustive interviews with potential staff members, extensive training on Camp Sonshine’s policies and guidelines for summer and full-time staff, supervision, multiple reporting systems, and more.

STAFF SCREENING & TRAINING

Camp Sonshine is a firm believer in Active Supervision.  Campers are put into groups led by a trained counselor who is fully engaged and actively involved in the activities and conversations within the group.  This results in an environment where bullying and any notion of undesired behavior is addressed right away.

STAFF SELECTION

  • In-depth application process 
  • Team interviews
  • Social involvement
  • Spiritual development
  • Shared values and core beliefs
  • References and background checks

STAFF TRAINING

Camp Sonshine’s Child Protection Plan includes training staff in the following areas:

  • Risk Management (see more below)
  • Crisis Management
  • Safety Policies & Procedures
  • Zero Tolerance Policies Regarding Abuse
  • Comprehensive Abuse Awareness & Prevention
  • Proper Conduct: Touch, Talk Territory
  • Active Supervision: Training & Management

REPORTING

Camp Sonshine provides multiple avenues for campers and staff to report all levels of undesired behavior or violations of protection plan policies.

  • Multiple Layers of Leadership & Management
  • Access to Camp Directors who are involved in day to day operations
  • Comment Boxes available
  • Confidential Hotline Numbers are posted

RISK MANAGEMENT

Camp Staff are trained to manage a variety of risks associated with running a super fun, high energy, outdoor youth camp program.  These risks include but are not limited to:

  • Physical & Emotional Health & Safety
  • Facilities & Grounds Management
  • Food Service
  • Camp Security (Including Intruder Prevention)
  • Transportation

3-6-0 Overview & Camp Code of Conduct 

See Camp Code of Conduct

3 RULES

Recognizing

Our camp community members (staff, campers, volunteers, families) need to be aware of the rules/boundaries for the various aspects of camp. Just like in the game of basketball, or any other sport, there are rules that we all play by so we can have a safe and enjoyable experience. These rules help us know what we can do and can’t do, what is safe and not safe. Campers will be instructed on not just the “5 Camp Rules” but also the rules and boundaries surrounding every activity.

Resisting

Camp community members should NEVER feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Campers will be informed that if they ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable, they can say NO and get away from the situation immediately! This is a place where everyone should always feel safe and encouraged.

Reporting

If a camper EVER feels uncomfortable or one of the rules we talked about has been broken, campers have the power and freedom to tell someone immediately. The same goes for any of our staff members or volunteers.

    6 BOUNDARIES

    Modesty

    • Should be covered at ALL times. (Changing times, Sleeping times, Trips, etc.)  No exceptions.
    • Never display body parts to one another or touch someone else’s.

    One-on-One’s

    • Should NEVER be alone with counselor or other staff members where others are not present.
    • Should NEVER be alone with youth where staff are not present.
    • Always be with a “buddy”.
    • Nobody should ever tell you a “secret” or not to tell.  We don’t have any secrets here.  None.

    Good Touch vs. Bad Touch

    • Appropriate: Feel Safe & Encouraged – (high-fives, short side hugs, arm around shoulder, etc.)
    • Inappropriate: Feel Uncomfortable – (touching private parts, hitting, pushing, lap sitting, etc.)

    Good Talk vs. Bad Talk

    • Good Talk: Always Encourage One Another – Positive, Uplifting, Praise, Pure Speech
    • Bad Talk: Making Fun of Others, Negative, Bad Language, Disrespectful, Potty Humor, Sexual Jokes or conversation, Relationships of any kind, Dating/Crushes

    Bullying

    • No tolerance.  If someone asks you to stop…you MUST stop.
    • If you ever fell like someone is picking on you, being mean to you, making you feel uncomfortable, or talking about topics they should not be talking about or you have asked them to stop talking about…report it immediately.

    Your Territory

    • Your Space – Your Stuff – Your Body

    0 – ZERO TOLERANCE

    If you decide not to abide by these rules, it may lead to immediate dismissal from the program.