General Rules and Policies:
The guest group and group leaders are responsible for the supervision and behavior of their participants. Guest Groups are advised to complete background checks on persons supervising children, including the national sexual predator database authorized by Congress (www.nsopr.gov).
If you would like to use our system to screen your staff or volunteers we charge $18 per person screened and are happy to do it. Or, if you prefer, we can connect you with our background company (PreSearch) to setup your own account.
In order to prevent situations where the opportunity for child abuse might arise, group leaders should determine when at least two staff persons are required with camper groups, such as on overnights, in shower areas, and on trips, both for the sake of safety and to prevent situations that places children at risk. The “buddy system” should be in place everywhere a minor participant goes. The following are some suggested Adult/Staff to Child supervision ratios to assist you in your staffing:
4-5 years old: (Overnight) 1 staff/adult: 2 children (Day) 1 staff/adult: 4 children
6- 8 years old: (Overnight) 1 staff/adult: 3 children (Day) 1 staff/adult: 6 children 9-14 years old: (Overnight) 1 staff/adult: 6 children (Day) 1 staff/adult: 10 children 15-18 years old: (Overnight) 1 staff/adult: 8 children (Day) 1 staff/adult: 12 children
We suggest that all staff should be at least 16 years old and at least two years older than the minors with whom they are working. Leaders should avoid being alone with a single child/camper unless in plain sight and visible to others. If someone needs to get up at night, a buddy is recommended. Children should always stay with the group. Leaders should know where their assigned children are at all times. Attendance checks or head counts should be made periodically and especially before each activity change. Participants and leaders should establish a signal for emergencies.
Orientation:
Group leaders will be given an orientation on camp rules/policies and guidelines for the use of the kitchen, equipment, and grounds. Group leaders must orient and enforce with their entire group the policies and rules as outlined in this Booklet and all others as related to them by camp staff.
Boundaries:
Participants should observe camp boundaries and be aware of the dangers of the woods. Unless participating in planned/supervised excursions, guests should stay within camp boundaries. No person should hike alone or without notifying someone else along any of our mountain trails. Off Limit areas include all staff housing and our shop facility.
Respect:
We ask that participants and guests respect everything at Pleasant Valley Christian Camp including other participants, facilities, nature and equipment. Directives given by camp staff regarding rules, proper facility use, or safety should be heeded.
Helpful Camper Guidelines
1) Please always wear shoes at camp – not only are there plenty of sharp rocks and objects on the ground but this is also in compliance with our health, safety, and cleanliness standards.
2) Please keep your personal living areas neat and clean – especially food related trash as it often attracts animals and insects.
3) Please do not throw things (other than play equipment) at each other. But also help us keep our facilities nice by not throwing rocks, sticks, or other objects at buildings. 4) When hiking in the woods or up the cross trail it is advised to travel in, at least, groups of three. If someone is injured one person stays with them and the other goes for help.
General Cleaning:
User group should comply with all Clean-up Procedures as instructed by staff or manuals. Camp grounds should be kept litter free. Garbage should be cleaned out daily from cabin areas and put into the nearest lined outside garbage cans. Kitchen garbage bags must be double bagged and placed outside in the garbage truck adjacent to the lodge for pick up at the end of every day. All bathrooms, exterior trashes, pool area, and some general use areas will be cleaned by camp staff daily unless otherwise requested.
Vehicles:
Please park your vehicles in designated areas only. We ask that the loop in front of the lodge be used only for temporary loading and unloading.
Personal Property:
Camp does not require participants to use personal sports equipment in the camp program but may be used with owner/user group’s discretion and permission. PVCC does not assume any responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged personal equipment or items. Such equipment may include but is not limited to personal vehicles (and contents), luggage (and contents), electronics, instruments and/or recreational gear or equipment.
Safety and Other Restrictions:
No animals (including personal pets), weapons*, alcohol**, smoking/ tobacco or illicit drugs are permitted. Gas, liquid flammables, explosives, and other hazardous materials may only be handled by persons trained or experienced in their safe use and disposal and must be stored appropriately with access limited to trained persons, in closed safe containers that are plainly labeled as to contents and in locations separate from food and flame.
*This includes all firearms – even if properly licensed, concealed, or secured there is absolutely no firearms allowed on camp property. Regarding other items that might or might not be deemed a weapon a general rule of thumb is “If the FAA would allow it – so would we.” The only exception is personal archery equipment, for use on our range, that we require be handled by adults only and secured inside a vehicle or locked cabinet (away from campers) when not in use.
**We recognize that some organizations use wine as part of communion. We ask that if you plan on using wine for communion that it be stored and controlled by responsible adults.
Fires are only allowed when properly supervised and put out when done. There are only four acceptable fire locations/conditions: The lodge, the amphitheater, the upper camp fire pit (during low fire danger seasons), or an above ground self-contained fire pit with spark lid that is at least 30 feet from permanent structures. You may be asked not to light fires anywhere during the course of your stay based on the county fire danger level.
Pool Use
There is a maximum of 40 swimmers in the pool at one time.
If your group is utilizing the pool in-season use requires a certified* lifeguard over the age of 16, and with these ratios:
1 lifeguards 1- 25 swimmers
2 lifeguards 1- 40 swimmers (Or 1 lifeguard with 3-4 Lookouts)
*Lifeguards must be certified by a nationally recognized body or equivalent with documented related skills, have a current First Aid, BBP and age-appropriate CPR card (including the use of breathing devices) and follow standard policies and procedures. This document must be provided before the pool can be used. Lifeguards will stand or sit in the lifeguard chair facing the water and must avoid socializing, responding to distractions, and stay out of the water. Groups are encouraged to utilize “lookouts” – who will often be assigned to a designated area in which they are required to be responsible for those swimming. They will assist on-duty lifeguards to keep an eye on all those in the water and responding during an emergency by actively watching and assisting campers after they exit the pool or helping contact emergency personnel. Lookouts should demonstrate the ability to utilize elementary forms of non- swimming rescues (i.e. throwing life tubes/rings). Lifeguards and lookouts are to be attentive to their responsibilities at all times and are located in positions from which they can continuously observe, and readily assist, participants. Other pool guidelines will be explained upon arrival.