Camp Security

[runrachrunn]

Just as a background to this post, I have taken an interest in Risk Management and Security for a number of years, and am planning a career in paramedicine (possibly consulting). So, with that said, I was very shaken to read about another school hostage-taking/ shooting. One of the things that our camp prides itself on is the fact that it is so out of the way of anything that no one would ever find us.

What about your camps? do you have procedures in place for a situation like this? has it ever come up in discussion??? We're living in rough times, guys.

[camper]

we have emergency procedures in place for like every situation...and we also have 3-5 security guards that are there 24/7. i never worry about not being safe at camp.

[CAMPFRIEND]

I think the big problem in camps is when parents show up and they are not suposed to pick up their child.

[Dave]

We have a security checkpoint at the enterance of our camp. All guests then must report to the trailer to receive a guest pass. I'm sure they must also show some sort of identification. Any guests must either remain at the trailer (if they're picking their kid up or something), or they must be escorted by a senior staff member.

In addition, all the staff are told to always be on the lookout for suspicious people. Only once have I seen someone like that. As it turned out, he was just a parent coming to pick his kid up, but he didn't know he had to stop at the trailer.

[rockinsmiles]

I like to think of camp as a safehaven, however, I know it can't be completely. During training we talk about what to do if someone we don't recongize is on camp grounds. It's pretty easy to spot those people, plus the worries of kidnapping aren't bad because we a 100% supervision policy. Of course it is impossible to keep an eye on campers at all times. The biggest problem we have is at the end of the session, whoever is picking up the campers (if they didn't come with a county) are suppose to show idenificaion and sign a piece of paper, however this doesn't always happen. Our director really got on us to make sure that our own campers do check out.

[Fallen]

There never was an issue with security at any of the camps I have worked for. Most of them were so far away from other people that only lost hunters or hikers would find their ways into camp. Normally our camp manager would take care of it and call the cops only if something was not right. I think the only thing that has ever happened was parents came to pick up the kid when they do not have custidy or something like that.

[Flukie]

We also have not had many issues with this in the past - but we do have a plan in place for intruders on the premises. One of our camps (a very urban day camp) had an issue last summer, so all of our camps needed to put one of these plans in place. (Which, to me, makes complete sense!) At one point, there was talk of building a house for the site manager at the entrance to the camp - as the GS Councils merge though, that is on hold. Our Site Manager's home is allllll the way into camp, which isn't the best place. Course, as of right now, we don't have a site manager. Lol.

[prettysocks]

We don't have a huge security worry at our camp. If there was a suspicious intruder, we would just stay in the buildings we were in, or go into the nearest building if we're outside. The camp director would then take care of it.

We do get quite a few hikers and bikers, because there's a path that exits on our driveway, so they have to get out somehow! It's never a concern. We're Canadians and we're very nice! :)

[runrachrunn]

We're Canadians and we're very nice! :)


Slighhtly off topic, but I believed in the same thing until the Dawson College shooting.

[prettysocks]

Slighhtly off topic, but I believed in the same thing until the Dawson College shooting.

Still slighty O/T (but still having to do with security!), but there are far more shootings in the US, than in Canada. :( There are so many Canadians who don't lock their car or house at night, and most all Americans do. (Not saying it's a bad or good thing - it's just a difference in culture and safety and threats).

[runrachrunn]

Bri,

Very true indeed. I think that despite the Ecole Polytechnique shooting in '89, we as canadians did not truly think that it could happen to us. I was reading an article about how TDSB schools are now practising Lockdown procedures - sad that's what it's come down to. (this is the link here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061007.LOCK07/TPStory/?query=fire+drill

[prettysocks]

Oy! That's scary. If I had to do that in school, I'd be scarred and cry!

[runrachrunn]

i'm taking a night school course at a TDSB high school, so it will be interesting to see if they discuss any of the procedures with us. But I agree; I had a hard enough time with all the fire drills I endured over the years.

[Saintly15]

We started lockdowns when i was in OAC, so...5 years ago.. and I'm from a small board in Ontario... all the schools around here have them now..

L.C

[countrygal]

Wow...OAC, its been a long time since Ive heard speak of that LOL
I also have practiced lockdowns at school. My high school which is located in a small farming community in Ontario started practicing this drill a few years after the columbine shooting, I think it was in my grade 9 year, I remember doing at least one. So that would have been 6 years ago. I don't know if they still practice them, but in light of recent events Im sure if they don't they might start again.

[runrachrunn]

Wow...OAC, its been a long time since Ive heard speak of that LOL
I also have practiced lockdowns at school. My high school which is located in a small farming community in Ontario started practicing this drill a few years after the columbine shooting, I think it was in my grade 9 year, I remember doing at least one. So that would have been 6 years ago. I don't know if they still practice them, but in light of recent events Im sure if they don't they might start again.

That's so strange because I went to a private school smack dab in the middle of Toronto, and we never ONCE practised lockdown procedures. I guess different strokes for different folks?

[Saintly15]

That's so strange because I went to a private school smack dab in the middle of Toronto, and we never ONCE practised lockdown procedures. I guess different strokes for different folks?


Private schools might do it differently, lockdowns were mandated by school boards..

L.C

[SWTexan]

I haven't had any problems with security. At my current program (a day camp) all staff are issued ID that they have to wear when on site. Even the other managers/administrators from our department have them. Additionally, parents create a list of who can/can't pick their children up, and everyone must show a photo ID to sign out a camper.

At the residential program I worked at, the main part of the security system was the mile-long drive from the front gate to any of the buildings. During that time, a counselor from every activity class that saw you would stop you and ask how they could help you. By the time you got to the business office, you'd been stopped about 16 times. Some people got pretty upset about it, but when we asked if they thought someone was going to get in and out with the wrong kid, they understood.

[code3cadet]

At my camp last summer. We had a three Security Officer. One was on at all times. up at the gate to driving around at night.