Health & Safety
Our Commitment to Camp Health & Safety for Over 50 Years!
Roughing It has been providing safe outdoor experiences for children since 1972. Our team is committed to making Roughing It the safest place possible. We go above and beyond to be sure our campers have the very best camp experience and are always safe, supported, and supervised. We will monitor health conditions in our community and put safety protocols in place as needed. We require all staff, campers, and camp families to follow our Health & Safety protocols for the safety of everyone at camp.
Health & Illness
Campers must stay home from camp if they are sick or have flu/cold or COVID symptoms, and they should not return to camp until all signs of illness have passed. This is to prevent the spread of illness and to give the camper time needed for a full recovery. If a camper is not feeling well or has flu/cold symptoms at camp, parents will need to make arrangements to pick them up and take them home.
If a camper is sick with cold, flu, COVID or shows any symptoms of other illness:
- They must stay home (or be picked up immediately from camp)
- They may return to camp if symptoms have improved and have had no fever for 24 hours (100.4 or higher), without fever-reducing medication
- Please keep campers home if they have any symptoms, fever of 100.4 or higher, or test positive for COVID. Campers must be fever free (100.4 or higher) without fever-reducing medication for 24-hours before returning to camp
- For more information: See When to Keep your Child Home – Illness & Symptoms guidance
We will update our health and safety protocols as conditions in our community change and as we follow the guidance of our regulatory agencies. Modifications may include masking, testing, and vaccine requirements. We align our health and safety requirements with the following agencies: Contra Costa Health Services, State of California, EBMUD, CDC, and ACA (American Camping Association).
Vaccination Requirements
Campers, staff, and junior counselors need to be up to date on their required vaccines in order to attend camp this summer. Roughing It follows the State of California vaccination requirements for children to attend school. The COVID vaccine and boosters are encouraged for all eligible campers, and required for staff, and junior counselors to keep our camp community as safe as possible.
Beat the Heat Days
Hot days can occur at camp and are something Roughing It prepares for. Our goal is to keep campers and staff safe, cool and having fun. When temperatures start to increase we follow our Hot Weather Plan and adjust our camp program as needed. All staff receive training in heat management strategies to keep campers safe and comfortable.
Our Staff are Dedicated to the Safety of Campers
We go above and beyond to be sure our campers have the very best camp experience and are always safe, supported, and supervised. The health and safety of each camper is the primary concern of every staff member at Roughing It. Supervision is constant at all times and at all our program areas. Our staff to camper supervision ratio is 4 campers to 1 adult staff. Campers learn the safety procedures at each program activity area on the first day.
- Lowest camper-to-staff ratios
- Carefully selected all-adult staff
- High standards, extensive training for all staff
- Our camp community ensures emotional safety
Safety Qualifications
All staff members receive extensive safety and health training each year, and possess American Red Cross First Aid and CPR certifications. All swim and waterfront staff possesses Lifeguard certification, and senior instructors possess American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certifications.
Roughing It’s Staff Screening and Hiring Process
- All staff have current First Aid / CPR and/or Lifeguard Certifications
- Camp buses driven by licensed professional school bus drivers
ACA Accreditation
Roughing It Day Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association and is the longest accredited Day Camp in Northern California. As part of ACA Accreditation, Roughing It complies with over 300 health and safety standards.
Staff Training
All staff participate in an extensive six day staff training with workshops on counseling, safety, teaching and program planning. Group counselors receive an additional two day staff orientation during their first year and all camp administrative staff participate in eleven days of pre camp staff training. Staff receive on-going training and evaluations throughout the summer.
Emergency Services
Roughing It has two medical doctors on call to provide consultation and medical services to our campers. We also make annual arrangements with local paramedics and emergency services to support our staff.
We are Partners with Parents
We encourage and promote communication with parents. Our staff contact all parents during their child’s camp session both by phone and written end-of–the session reports. During camp, parents are encouraged to call with any questions or concerns, or to speak with any of their child’s counselors. Ann and Hobie and Amy as well as our Program Director, our Trans Coordinator and our Unit Leaders are always available to talk with parents or campers.
