Whether you’re prepping for a summer of ministry or onboarding first-time staff, camp safety starts with mindset. These five best practices, drawn from a recent Solutions feature and a conversation with Pastor Tracy Wood, offer real-world insights to help camp directors, leaders, and staff build environments where kids feel safe, parents feel confident, and ministry can thrive.
1. Front-Load Safety Training
Tip: Don’t wait for staff to arrive onsite to begin building your safety culture.Many camps are now using digital platforms to introduce key safety topics before the summer begins. Whether it’s a course through American Camp Association (ACA) online courses & Webinars or other sources, early exposure gives staff more time to absorb what matters most.
2. Prioritize Accreditation—and Let It Guide You
Tip: Use American Camp Association (ACA) standards as a framework.Only 25 out of 62 Adventist camps in the U.S. are currently ACA accredited. It’s a big investment—but one that pays off in safer practices, better documentation, and greater trust.
3. Invite Fresh Eyes for Facility Checks
Tip: Don’t overlook the little things—invite others to help you see what you’ve stopped noticing.Camp maintenance is never-ending. Over time, clutter, decay, or minor hazards may become invisible to the people who live with them. But alumni, church members, and skilled volunteers can bring new perspective.
4. Create Space for Mentorship and Alumni Support
Tip: Build a network of returning staff who can support, mentor, and model safe behavior.Safety culture is easier to sustain when veteran voices are part of the mix. Whether it’s returning counselors, retired camp leaders, or college students on break, relationships rooted in shared experience can make training more relational and more memorable.
5. Connect Safety to Spirituality
Tip: Remind staff that safety is part of ministry—not separate from it.The most meaningful camp moments happen when kids feel secure enough to open up. That trust begins with leaders who are trained, alert, and equipped to respond to emergencies.
Take the Next Step
Whether you’re getting ready for the first week of camp or planning next year’s improvements, remember this: safety is what makes effective ministry possible. And ministry is what makes camp unforgettable.Need help training your staff? Check out ACA Online Courses & Webinars and explore ARM's Safety Resources to equip your team for a safe, meaningful summer.
