All Emergency Procedures outlined on this page is reviewed and taught to all of our staff and volunteers prior to any week at summer camp. Most of our staff are trained on these procedures during Staff Training (1-2 weeks before our first summer camp week) and the staff and volunteers that join later in the summer get trained on these procedures before campers arrive.
It is our responsibility and goal to care for your child as if we were their parents. Taking care of your child includes preparing for the unlikely event of an emergency. Camp Ghormley ensures that all of our staff understands this responsibility and are willing to act accordingly.
On this page you will find:
General Emergency Response Procedures
Parent Emergency Alert System
Lightning
Forest Fire and Evacuation
Earthquake
Missing Person
Stranger/Intruder on Camp
Active Threat
Vehicle Accident
Child Abuse
Drowning or Water Related Accident
Life Flight Procedure
All staff are given a copy of our Emergency Procedures Manual, which is reviewed and updated annually. Included are a list of current emergency contacts and a more detailed overview and steps to take in any of the situations outlined on this webpage. The General Emergency Response Procedures includes, but is not limited to, “When to Activate Emergency Response”, “Chain of Command”, “Reporting and Documentation of Information”, “When to Contact EMS”, “External Communication”, “Arranging for Medical Care”, “Arranging for Mental Health Services”, and “When to Resume Normal Camp Activities”.
The Parent Emergency Alert System is utilized by Camp Ghormley to communicate to parents of campers and minor staff. Instructions and information that require a mass parental notification will come in the form of a recorded phone call, a text message, and an email. In the case of evacuation or alternate camper pick-up instructions, we are prepared to communicate with all parents or guardians of all campers and minor staff.
Our planned programing is always interrupted when lightning strikes are within a 6 mile radius. Our staff are trained to ensure the safety of our campers by requiring them to remain indoors during the passing of a thunder storm. All staff will be directed by our Program Director and Program Lead to close water-involved activities and Challenge Course (aka High Ropes Course) elements, bring campers indoors, and wait out the storm for at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike. We also prepare our staff with information if there are signs that a lightning strike is imminent and there is no shelter to enter.
Fires on camp property and forest fires in the near vicinity are taken very seriously. Our staff are prepared for either case and are trained on the procedures to ensure camper safety before anything else. All evacuation efforts are directed by our Executive Director to ensure that all persons on camp are evacuated safely and in coordination with the National Forest and other emergency response entities. In the case of an evacuation, the Parent Emergency Alert System will be used to notify pick-up locations and other instructions.
Our Emergency Procedures for earthquakes are to drop, cover, and hold on. Specific instructions are listed in different scenarios, such as indoors, in bed, and outdoors. All staff members are instructed to remain in-place until the Maintenance Director assesses the structures within camp and the all-clear is given.
Preventative measures are first stated in this section of our Emergency Procedures. Once it seems that a camper has gone missing, specific steps are to be taken immediately, further escalating after 30 minutes by a second set of instructions. Authorities are to contacted once the missing person hasn’t been found within 90 minutes or 45 minutes if off-site (such as at Silver Beach Resort for Lake Day).
All staff are given the authority to approach unrecognized individuals and ask if they need any assistance. Staff are to direct all visitors to the office to check-in if they have not already. If the individual becomes resistant, staff are instructed to alert nearby staff members with the phrase, “I need assistance with a guest”, yelling if needed. At this point, the Executive Director must be notified, the make model, and vehicle license plate number is to be taken down, and authorities notified. If the unauthorized visitor refuses to leave, focus is shifted to protecting campers, redirecting campers away from the intruder. All staff in the vicinity will aid the staff members confronting the individual, for the protection of others and for making clear to the individual that we are taking the situation seriously. All staff members are prepared to protect campers at all costs.
Camper and staff safety become the highest priority in the event of an active threat, whether after initial confrontation or unannounced. We reserve the air raid siren sound for active threats: if any staff hear a prolonged air raid siren, they are to follow specific instructions for whether they are inside or outside. The all-clear following such an event is only given in person by a full-time staff member. The camp bell will not be used as it could serve as a false alarm used by the active threat to lure victims.
A specific set of instructions is to be followed if there is confirmation that a staff member or camper was involved in a vehicle accident, whether on camp or off-site. Internal communication will always be directed to our Executive Director. All details relating to the incident, communications about the accident, and other relating information will be recorded. Those requiring EMS services on scene will be transported by ambulance to the nearest hospital with a staff member. All uninjured campers will be supervised by a staff member until they can return to camp. All involved parents of campers, injured or uninjured, will be notified and further plans and decisions are made.
We train our staff to recognize and respond accordingly in any case where a child is abused, at camp or off-site, whether by another child, by an adult, or a staff member. Our Emergency Procedures covers the necessary steps if a child is abused at camp and we have a separate document and separate training covering child abuse awareness in greater detail. In any situation, the Executive Director is to be notified immediately and the minor and the accused are to be separated and have no contact with each other and the accused will be separated from all other minors. Parents or guardians will be notified, along with Camp Ghormley’s Board Chairman, Business Manager, and Camp Ghormley’s insurance company. Each situation will be fully investigated by our organizations management with the assistance of legal counsel and civil authorities.
Preventative measures are taken to ensure a water related accident never happens. Prior to any swimming or boating activities, Camp Ghormley lifeguards will assess the swimming abilities of all campers and staff. There will always be at least one lifeguard on duty during any water related activities, whether in our pool or at Rimrock Lake. In the event of any accident or injury, the staff member with the highest level of training available will perform First Aid or CPR with the assistance of other staff trained in First Aid and CPR until Emergency Medical Services arrive and take over.
If an injury occurs which warrants a camper or staff member being transported to a hospital via life flight, Airlift NW, located in Yakima, will dispatch a flight crew to our location. The decision to transport via life flight is made by EMS and the parent of the camper will be notified. Campers that are not injured will be directed by staff to a safe location away from where the helicopter will land, indoors if available. Staff involved in administering First Aid will provide a summary of the incident to the airlift crew and a copy of the camper’s health form.
Find Out More Information
Camp Policies
- Cancellation Policy
- Lice Check Information
- Lost and Found Policy
- Parent Notification Policy
- Youth Camp Registration Policies
Summer Camp Essentials
- Cabinmate Information
- Check-in and Check-out
- On-site Camp Packing List
- Pre-Camp Checklist
- Scholarship Information