Safety You Can Trust: How We Care for Your Child at Camp
When you send your child to Camp Manito-wish YMCA, you’re placing a tremendous amount of trust in our team. We don’t take that lightly. In fact, everything we do, before camp even begins and throughout the summer, is designed to ensure your child is safe, supported, and able to fully enjoy their experience.
Camp Manito-wish YMCA is proud to be an accredited member of the American Camp Association, reflecting our commitment to the highest standards in health, safety, risk management, and program quality. We are also Praesidium accredited, demonstrating our dedication to abuse prevention and creating a safe environment for every camper and staff member. As a proud part of the YMCA, we are guided by values that build character, leadership, and belonging in all we do.
It starts with our people
Every staff member goes through a rigorous hiring process that, at a minimum, includes interviews, reference checks, and background checks. Once hired, they receive comprehensive training in child safety and supervision, emergency procedures, along with clear expectations to model values like honesty, respect, responsibility, and care.
Safety is built into daily camp life
We believe that safety isn’t just about policies, it’s about culture. That’s why campers and staff follow clear guidelines designed to protect everyone. Campers use the “truddy” (tri-buddy) system, and at the beginning of each session, emergency procedures are reviewed. These practices help create an environment where kids feel both secure and empowered.
We teach kids to be part of their own safety
An important part of growing at camp is learning awareness and self-advocacy. Campers are encouraged to speak up if something feels off and to reach out to trusted staff members whenever they need support. An anonymous reporting tool called the “Buddy Box” is also available. By helping campers understand what to expect, we give them the tools to feel confident navigating their experience.
Open communication matters before, during, & after camp
One of the unique parts of the camp experience is giving campers the opportunity to build independence, confidence, and connection while unplugged from home. If there is ever a situation where we feel a parent needs to be contacted, you will hear from us directly. In the meantime, campers are busy building friendships, trying new things, and fully immersing themselves in the camp experience.
A proactive approach to prevention
Our team is trained to recognize warning signs and respond quickly. By focusing on awareness, knowing how issues can arise, spotting concerns early, and taking action, we foster a culture where prevention is everyone’s responsibility. At the end of the day, safety at camp isn’t just a checklist, it’s a commitment. It’s in the way our staff are trained, the structure of our programs, and the relationships we build with every camper and family.
Because when kids feel safe, they can take healthy risks, build confidence, and grow into the leaders they’re meant to be.
