Camp Guidelines
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Introduction
This set of guidelines has been produced to assist those
organising and attending Woodcraft Folk camps. Although they apply in
detail to camps with a direct national interest they have been generally
circulated to serve as a possible model for any camp. Groups and Districts
are encouraged to be flexible in adapting them to suit local needs and
conditions whilst retaining the essential elements in respect of best
practice and adherence to the Woodcraft Folk's aims and principles. Camp guidelines should be made available to all participants
and the parents of those who are under l 8. This must happen far enough
in advance of the camp for comment and discussion to take place. They
should include reference to the range of sanctions available to the camp
committee and must always include expulsion and exclusion from the camp. National Camp Guidelines should clearly establish the
relationship and lines of communication between National Council and Camp
Committee. Group, District and Regional camps must have a similarly clear
relationship between Camp Committee and the relevant Regional Committee
or District Council. Section 1 - General Guidelines
Programme
The camp leadership has a duty to ensure that there
is good, appropriate activity both during the day and the evening and
that adequate adult supervision is provided. At National Camps this includes
central activities and supervision in central areas. All participants are expected to support the programme
as agreed within the village. Care of the environment
Participants must note the need to care for our environment
in all decisions and actions. Folk shirtsAll campers are encouraged to have a Folk shirt, sweatshirt or 'T shirt and to wear it on appropriate occasions. Council Circle
Council Circles will be held regularly by each village. Silence Cry
It is expected that villages will be quiet from 10.00
pm to 7.30 am. Events in activity areas should finish by l1.00pm at the
latest. Section 2: Health and Safety Guidelines
First Aid and Health
1. All people on camp will have completed
a health form. A copy of this will be kept by the acknowledged first aider
and by either the group or clan leader, 2. All participants under the age
of 18 must have a completed consent form. 3. Each village should preferably
have a qualified first aider or someone competent in first aid. 4. All medicines should be kept by
the acknowledged first aider. 5. The Camp Committee will identify
any Doctors/qualified Nurses to whom people can be referred. 6. Details of the local GP and hospitals
with accident and emergency departments should be kept within the village. 7. When on outings, a first aid kit
should be carried. 8. Any accidents should be recorded
in an accident hook kept by the village. 9. Districts need to ensure that their
delegation has reciprocal NHS health cover or that they have health insurance. Alcohol, tobacco and drugs
The camp should be guided by the appropriate
laws on these matters. Hence it will be unacceptable for 1. Anyone under 18 to purchase alcohol 2. Anyone under 16 to purchase tobacco 3. Anyone to be in illegal possession
of controlled drugs In addition to this the following
guidelines should also apply: 4. There should be NO SMOKING in areas
where children are present 5. There should be NO DRINKING OF
ALCOHOL in areas where children are Village Health and Safety
Each person is responsible for his/her
own health and safety. All villages are In addition: 1. Only people on rota are allowed
in or near the kitchen. 2. Hazardous substances and dangerous implements
will be kept in a safe place. 3. Kitchens will have a fire blanket and an
extinguisher. 4. It is assumed that structures will be checked
out by adults before use. 5. There should always be two people in each
village capable of driving at any time of day or night. 6. Appoint a Safety Officer to ensure equipment,
tools etc.: are safe, and young people are not at risk. Child protection/safety
Please also refer to the Child Protection
and Equal Opportunities policies. 1. All adults attending camp should be adult
members. 2. Minimum standards of supervision Elfins 1:5 3. There should be two leaders with
each group and where this is not the case,
groups should be twinned in order to ensure that there are. Additional
adults will be required for central activities. 4. Any groups of children under 13
years going off-site must have at least two adults with them. Venturers
will also need consent forms if they are to 5. All absences from the campsite
should be notified to leaders in the appropriate village. All young people
should obtain permission from the village 6. When swimming, strong swimmers must be allocated
to watch and oversee the swimmers. Fires
1.The camp should have one major fire
drill. 2.Fires are only allowed subject to
local regulations e.g.~ Forestry Commission
Ruling). 3. Fire assembly points will be clearly marked and
everyone in the village must be aware of the procedure in the event of
a fire. Hygiene
It is not only for health reasons
but also good practice that the camp is kept as clean as possible and
that standard of hygiene are kept up. 1. Rubbish should be bagged up at
regular intervals and disposed of properly. 2. No holes are to be dug in the ground without
prior permission of the site services co-ordinator. 3. Everyone will wash their hands prior to meals
and after using the toilet. 4. Villages should make arrangements
far all campers to bathe/shower at least once per week. 5. No dogs should be on site except guide dogs. Food Hygiene
1. Always wash your hands using hot water, soap and a nailbrush (a) before handling food 2. Keep all equipment and surfaces that may come into
contact with food in a clean condition using hot water, detergent/steriliser
and clean cloths. 3. Surfaces and equipment used for raw food, meat and
poultry should be washed and sterilised before being used for anything
else. 4. Keep high risk food i.e. meat, poultry fish and milk
under cool conditions until immediately before use. 5. Food should be consumed immediately after preparation
and cooking. 6. Do not leave food in warm condition at any time. Section 3: Grievance, suspension and expulsion procedure
It is important on a camp, that people are respected
and abide by the constitution with consideration given to the Equal Opportunities
and Child Protection policies with :regard to behaviour and language. At any camp, any problems or difficulties should always
be dealt with at a village level and the village co-ordinators/chiefs
should be aware of problems so that they can be dealt with before they
result in behaviour that is deemed to be unacceptable. Adults
If concerns or accusations are raised about an adult: 1. They should be brought to the village co-ordinator/chief
who should act as they deem appropriate - i.e. discuss it with the person
concerned, discuss it with the village adults, or take it to the National
Secretary - unless the complaint is made against the village co-ordinator,
in which case it should be referred directly to the National Secretary. 2. Once informed, the National Secretary will decide
whether it is a camp matter and should be referred to the district leaders
or camp committee or if it concerns unreasonable or unconstitutional behaviour
in which case s/he will convene a panel of three people according to the
National Grievance Procedure.
( The panel shall not consist of people all of the same gender). The person who is subject to the investigation shall
be entitled to have a friend or representative with them to speak on their
behalf and/or take notes. The decision to expel someone from the camp is final
and not open to appeal. The decision of the panel on the future membership of
that person shall be subject to the ratification of National Council. Any adult who has their membership terminated has the
right to appeal at the next ADC. (Refer to section 6.2 (ii) of the Constitution). Young people
All young people are bound to experiment but all adult
leaders should remember that they have the ultimate responsibility of
safety of young people under the Child Protection and Equal Opportunities
policies. Venturer/DF camps should always have health education approaches
built in, such as the Peer education Project Advice centre, to encourage
safe and healthy behaviour by all, as much as is realistically possible. On-site education may give rise to more problems for
the majority, rather than solve the immediate situation for the minority.
Exclusion from the camp may be the only way forward to benefit the whole
camp, so sanctions available must always include the possibility of sending
home in the event of serious anti-social behaviour. It may also be necessary
to refer the member to appropriate outside agencies. If accusations or concerns are raised about a young
person under l6: There must be a named group of three adults within the
camp leadership or camp committee, chaired by the National Council representative
at a national camp, that would deal with any behavioural or breaking of
camp guideline issues. These persons should be nominated in advance, not
all of the same gender and one of them should be independent of the camp
committee. The panel should not consist of any delegation members or young
people under 16. Within the remit of this grouping there must be natural
justice to all parties and not just reliance on hearsay and second-hand
information. At a national camp, the camp committee must receive
and back the sub-groups decision - if a decision is reached. However,
if a recommendation is made, the camp committee can discuss the matter. In conclusion
Our camps are organised to allow like-minded people
to live together in a safe environment with mutual respect for one another,
and it should be FUN! JULY 97 |