Behavior, Health, and Safety Policies

At Northwoods Camp, the safety, health, and well-being of every camper, staff member, and volunteer is our top priority. The following policies are designed to create a positive, respectful, and secure environment where everyone can thrive. These guidelines help set clear expectations for behavior, outline important health procedures, and ensure that our camp remains a safe place for fun, growth, and community. We encourage all families and participants to review these policies carefully as we partner together to provide the best possible camp experience.

Behavior Policies

Camp Behavior Expectations:

1. RESPECT: Respect our property, ourselves, and each other.
2. SAFETY: Making choices that keep myself and others from getting hurt.
3. CLEANLINESS: Picking up after myself AND others. Using clean language.
4. CARING: Including others, being a leader, helping others, listening to others.

Discipline Expectations & Procedures

1. First Instance - Warning/Reminder
   • The leader or counselor present will give a verbal reminder of the camp expectations and address the expectation that the camper has violated.
   • The camper will be informed that if the behavior continues, there will be a consequence.
2. Second Instance - Natural Consequence
   • The leader or counselor will give a "natural consequence" appropriate for the specific situation.
     
     • Example 1: Camper has their feet on the lunchroom table. The Counselor will have the camper clean the entire lunchroom table.
     • Example 2: Camper is throwing garbage on the ground. The Counselor will have the camper find ten pieces of garbage or littler to throw away.
   • The leader or counselor will acknowledge the camper's willingness to complete the consequence, while reiterating the camp expectations.
   • The camper will be informed of what the consequence would be if the behavior occurs for a third time.
   • For second instances of repeated inappropriate behaviors, parents will be notified.
3. Third Instance - Unfavored Consequence
   • The leader or counselor will issue an unfavored conference to camper
     • Example 1: Camper will sit out for part of choice time to write 10 ways they can show respect to camp.
     • Example 2: Camper will go on a walk with the Counselor during choice time to discuss the ways they will make safer choices.
   • The leader or counselor will acknowledge the campers willingness to complete the consequence, while reiterating the camp expectations.
   • Inform that if the behavior occurs a fourth time, the camper will be making a phone call home.
4. Fourth Instance - Phone Call Home
   • At the fourth instance, the Divisional Youth Secretary (DYS) will be notified. 
   • The DYS along with the camper will call home to explain what behaviors they are demonstrating at camp. that could result in being sent home early.
   • If the behavior is considered severely disruptive to the camp experience for peers and staff, the camper may be dismissed from camp. Appropriate travel arrangements will be made between the affiliated Salvation Army unit and the parent/guardian.

Zero Tolerance Behaviors

Our camp is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all participants, staff, guests, and partners. We maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy for racial slurs or any threatening, harassing, discriminatory, or abusive language or conduct.

Prohibited behavior includes but is not limited to:

• profanity directed at others
• sexual or gender-based remarks
• ethnic or racial slurs; name-calling
• intimidation
• threatening behavior
• any form of physical aggression or assault.

This policy applies to interactions with fellow campers, staff members, leaders, officers and guests.

If the behavior includes any physical contact with another camper, staff member, leader, or officer; threats that are sexual in nature; any actions that cause harm or place others at risk of harm; or possession of tobacco, marijuana, vapes, alcohol products, or any illegal substances, the camper will be immediately dismissed from camp.

Inappropriate, disruptive, and concerning behavior will be documented in an incident report and shared with parents, and appropriate Salvation Army personnel. 

Dismissed Campers

Campers dismissed from camp due to inappropriate behavior or zero tolerance behaviors are not eligible to return to camp for the camping season. Campers can register and return to camp the following summer. 

If a camper is dismissed the parent and the affiliated Salvation Army unit will be contacted and expected to make arrangements to pick up the camper by end of day. If a camper is dismissed after dinner and travel time is extensive, arrangements may be made to pick up camper the following morning if arrangements can be made to house the camper(s) in another cabin.  

Healthcare Policies

Healthcare Staff

Our Summer Camp Healthcare Manager ensures the health and safety of all campers and staff. They will remain on-site and available 24 hours per day to respond in the event of an unexpected accident.

The Summer Camp Healthcare The Healthcare Manager is responsible for the secure intake, safe storage, accurate distribution, and proper return of all camper medications. This responsibility includes receiving medications directly from a parent or guardian at check-in, ensuring they are clearly labeled in original containers and accompanied by required authorization forms, administering medications according to prescribed instructions and camp protocols, maintaining accurate medication logs, and returning any remaining medication to the parent or guardian at the end of camp. 

No camper medications may be self-administered or handled by staff outside of the Healthcare Manager unless explicitly authorized by camp policy.

All camp staff are First Aid/CPR/AED trained and certified to tend to camper needs. 

Health Forms

The State of Minnesota requires children's camps to collect a certificate of health for each camper (minors and adults). The certificate of health will be based on a physical examination performed no more than 90 days before camp attendance, and the physician must sign it. You can read more about the statute here.  This document is provided in the online registration an can be uploaded once complete.

Additional medical history information is collected in our online registration. This information helps our heath care staff know your camper's medical history in the event they are sick. These forms are confidential.

Medication

All medication will need to be turned in to the Health Care Manager upon arrival to camp. All medication must be listed on the camper's health form, be in the original container, and have the camper's name. Medication listed/not listed on CampDoc that is brought to camp is under the discretion of the healthcare manger in conversation with the parent/guardian.

It is recommended that campers who take medication during the school year should strongly consider remaining on their medication during camp, but this is ultimately at the doctor's discretion and should be noted on the medical form with the doctor's signature.

Illness & Injury

Illness or injury to campers in our care are catalogued using written incident reports. During camp sessions, reports are filed electronically each day through CampDoc. Parents/guardians are notified of the incident, including a copy of the written incident report, from an email via CampDoc. 

Printed copies of incident reports are also distributed during our check-out procedures, either to the parents/guardians directly or to the Salvation Army representative picking the camper up with the intention of delivering the incident report to the parents/guardians.

Calls to parents regarding illness or injury are always issued when a situation is declared a major incident. Calls for minor incidents may be issued on a case-by-case basis.

Minor Incidents

• Injuries treatable with basic first aid.
• Common illness that can be treated with over-the-counter solutions. This could include but is not limited to colds, headaches, sore throats, or minor stomach aches.

Major Incidents

• Injuries requiring care above basic first aid.
• Illness that is deemed uncommon which could include but is not limited to vomiting, diarrhea, head injuries, or the same minor illness needing to be treated more than once.
• Injuries or illnesses that require a visit to an off-site medical facility.

Head Lice Policy

Northwoods Camp has a no head lice policy. 

Please check all campers (youth and adults) for head lice before coming to camp. Everyone staying at camp will have a head check when they arrive at camp. If lice or nits are discovered, the individual may not remain at camp. At camp, children play in close contact with each other, simply exchanging hats, clothing, using another's brush or comb, pillow, or another personal article can result in the transmission of head lice from one child to another. Lice can even be transferred in the confines of a vehicle. It is best to check campers before they leave for camp.

Lice can be easily and effectively treated. However, we will not treat campers with lice at camp. The camper will need to return home for treatment. Those sent home for treatment may return for a later camp if they are found to be free of lice and nits.

If you do discover head lice, contact your doctor or the health department, or purchase a non-prescriptive head lice preparation from a drugstore, and follow the directions carefully.

Safe-From-Harm (SFH)

Per Salvation Army policy, all staff, volunteers, and officers must be up to date with Safe From Harm training prior to arriving at camp.

All camp personnel are expected to adhere to Safe From Harm practices and reporting mandates. 

A Safe From Harm report will be completed by the leader, officer, or staff member who witnessed the behavior. Please refer to the Safe From Harm Procedures section for additional information.
Violations of this policy may result in immediate disciplinary action, including removal from camp.

Please make a SFH report by both leaving a voicemail at the number below and completing an online report at the website below. In addition to the official SFH reporting, incidents should be shared immediately with the Northern Divisional Youth Department.

Safe From Harm Reporting

SFH Reporting Hotline: 855-846-3330
SFH Reporting Website: SFHreports.com

Report

All Salvation Army personnel are considered mandated reporters and therefore are required to make the appropriate report for extreme situations. Below are some examples of extreme situations that require reporting: 

• Suspected, witnessed, or disclosed abuse, neglect, or exploitation
• Missing Persons
• Major Injuries (hospital visits)
• Inappropriate behavior or policy violations (e.g. sexual behaviors, physical aggression, verbal abuse, threats, other behaviors that cause harm or put themselves/others at risk of being harmed).