VISION and Camp Talahi

 

Volunteers and staff involved in the life of campers shall receive training and accept the intentions provided by the following code of behavior. Staff and volunteers, having satisfied the Primary and Secondary Screening Process and assigned to work with campers may not assume their position until they have ascribed by their signature to the code of behavior and completed a training session. Details of below guidelines will be covered at the training session.

 

1. Drugs, Tobacco, Alcohol: The use of any controlled substance, tobacco or alcoholic products on or in camp facilities or VISION sponsored activities is not permitted by our staff or volunteers. (see Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substance Policy)

 

2. Transportation: Staff cannot transport campers alone. Transportation for field trips, to activities, or for events is by groups. (See Transportation Policy)

 

3. Five Year Separation Rule: When utilizing high school and young adults in the camping programs, high school students will be required to attend the Counselor in Training Program, and will be directly supervised by the Summer Camp Director. Students will receive daily in-service training and regular meetings while camp is in session. Young Adult counselors will be at least 5 years older than the children and youth they supervise.

 

4. Reporting Responsibilities: Any inappropriate conduct or relationship between an adult worker or counselor in training, and a camper shall be promptly reported to the Summer Camp Director and VISION Program Director.

 

5. Visitors On-site: Campers and volunteer staff are not permitted to have visitors at camp, except with prearranged permission from the session leader and the VISION Program Director. No person not involved with a camp program may stay on the grounds without the direct supervision of a camp staff/volunteer. (See Visitor Policy)

 

6. If you suspect a violation of the code: If a suspected case of misconduct has either been reported to you or is suspected by you to have occurred at a VISION related function or program, immediately contact the Summer Camp Director or VISION Program Director. In the case these people can not be located, contact the Conference Minister. If there is alleged misconduct involves the Summer Camp Director or VISION Program Director contact the Conference Minister.

 

7. Discipline: The purpose of discipline with campers is to maintain order in a manner consistent with the teaching of responsibility, respect and cooperation. No camper shall be disciplined by the use of spanking, hitting, slapping, or any form of physical punishment. Verbal reprimands shall not include destructive criticism, insult or shouting. Staff persons are encouraged to listen to the camper and to communicate expectations for appropriate behavior. (See Behavior Management Policy)

 

8. Parental Guidelines: We strongly encourage parents, when on the premises with their children, to know at all times where their children are, who they are with and what they are doing. 

 

9. Parental Consent: VISION requires a signed, written consent of a parent or guardian before minor attends any VISION sponsored program or participates in an off site activity.

 

10. The Two Adult Rule: VISION program participants under the age of 18 shall be under the care and supervision of two adult advisors, one of whom may be a minor who has completed the Counselor in Training Program.   Furthermore, no staff person shall place themselves in a compromising situation by being alone with a camper out of sight of other staff persons. Finally, no staff person shall be alone with a camper in camp bathrooms or showers, or for purposes of clean-up from craft or art projects, or for the care of illness or injury.

 

11. Shower/Bathroom Supervision: Normally staff persons who accompany a camper to the shower/bathroom should remain outside the bathroom while the camper is inside. If a camper needs assistance with zipping, buttoning, buckling, clean-up, wiping, etc., two staff persons need to be present, one of whom may be a counselor in training.

 

12. Camper Housing: Adult staff to camper ratios shall be : Awake Hours 1:10, Sleeping Hours 1:14 (See Staff to Camper Ratio Policy)

 

13. Release of Camper Policy: No participants shall be allowed to leave VISION Programs or Camp Talahi other than as part of a scheduled off site activity without written permission of parent, guardian or other person authorized by parent or guardian. (See Camper Release Policy)

 

14.Creating Boundaries: Physical contact such as wrestling, horseplay, sardines, or other high contact games are not appropriate recreational activity. No adult leader, staff or volunteer, should initiate or encourage physical or intimate contact with children or youth. Setting boundaries is the responsibility of the adults. All participants are expected to remain with the group throughout the times listed in the event description. No pairing, or otherwise separating off from the group is permitted.

 

15. Specific Guidelines for Adult Supervision: Staff or volunteers function as representatives of VISION, and as such are held to different standards than when acting as a parent or adult in their own family. The rules and guidelines of VISION must be followed by all staff and volunteers at all times, thereby providing appropriate supervision for the participants. Illegalities and irresponsibility cannot be allowed. Supervision must be consistent, reasonable and prudent. Staff is encouraged to remember that they will be providing both supervision and modeling adult Christian behavior for the participants in their care, and should endeavor to see that the example they set is consistent with the value and expectations of the VISION program.

 

16. Sexual Misconduct and Abuse can include:

Fondling, sexual remarks, watching any sexual activity, touching parts of the body which would be covered by a swimsuit, showing pornography, inappropriate kissing, over stimulation, and intercourse.

 

If you are unsure whether or not your suspected case falls under this definition, it is strongly recommended that you err to the side of caution and report your suspicion immediately.

 

17. Sexual Harassment: Repeated or coercive sexual advances toward another person contrary to his or her wishes. It includes behavior directed at another person with the intent of intimidating, humiliating, or embarrassing the other person, or subjecting the person to public discrimination. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:

q       Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition or circumstance of instruction, employment, or participation in any VISION activity

q       Submission to, or rejection of, such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for evaluation in making personnel or church-related decisions affecting an individual; or

q       Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance or participation in church activities or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or work place

 

Prohibited sexual harassment includes unsolicited and unwelcome contact that has sexual overtones, particularly:

q       Written contact, such as sexually suggestive or obscene letters, notes, e-mail, or invitation;

q       Verbal contact, such as sexually suggestive or obscene comments, threats, slurs, epithets, jokes about gender-specific traits, sexual propositions;

q       Physical contact, such as intentional touching, pinching, brushing against another’s body, impeding or blocking movement, assault, coercing sexual intercourse; and

q       Visual contact, such as leering or staring at another’s body, gesturing, displaying sexually suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons, posters, or magazines.

 

 

 

VISION Staff and Volunteers are expected to participate in a camp training and orientation program prior to the summer camp season. The training session will include:

q       VISION and Camp Philosophy, Goals, and Objectives

q       Policies and Operating Procedures

q       Behavior Management and Developmental Needs

q       Procedures and requirements or procedures and policies related to staff members duties

q       Risk management and Boundary training

 

Staff and Volunteers are also expected to meet with camp leadership team prior to each camp to assign specific tasks and responsibilities to counselors, make scheduling arrangements with camp staff, and distribute curriculum materials.

 

During the summer camp session regular meetings for further in service training sessions will be arranged for on site staff, session staff and counselors in training.

 

Leadership for VISION sponsored events are expected to meet with the VISION Program Director prior to the event to receive training in

q       VISION philosophy , goals, and objectives

q       Relevant guidelines, policies and operating procedures

 

Following the event, the event leader will provide VISION, a written summary and evaluation, including name and address of participants.