At  mbc,  health  and  Safety  is  our  top  priority

MBC follows the guidelines of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the American Camp Association, and the state of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to ensure camper and staff health and safety throughout the program.  Each year, MBC receives an unscheduled inspection by the state of New Hampshire to review an extensive list of health guidelines and safety parameters; encompassing everything from the kitchen, to the waterfront, to the cabin set up. MBC is proud to say that we have a 100% pass rate with this inspection, year after year. 

We recognize sending campers, especially young ones, to an overnight camp is an enormous act of trust on the part of the families. We hope that our transparency in sharing our procedures will help ensure your confidence in sharing your children with us for a session of camp! As always, you are welcome to reach out to our camp office with any further questions.

General Safety
General safety is maintained through the following:
  • Clearly established emergency protocols for key scenarios
  • Staff communication via two way radio throughout camp
  • Best practices for hygiene, including daily opportunities for showers, changing clothing regularly, and yes, even the notorious cabin "poop chart"!
  • Daily cleaning of cabins and shared spaces 
  • Screening at registration for communicable illnesses
  • Tick checks and instruction in basic nature safety
  • Ongoing maintenance of hydration and safety in the heat/sun, including sunscreen use
  • Monitoring of weather patterns to ensure safety during heatwaves, power outage, storms, and extreme cold
  • Field Trip Policies
    • Parent waivers and permission for campers to be transported offsite
    • Professional transportation companies-campers are not transported in staff vehicles
    • Monitoring of safety and ability levels for skiing/snowboarding (Winter Camp) with staff supervision at all times

Supervision  &  ratios
Campers are supervised at all times while at camp. MBC policy requires that no individuals are ever alone in a 1:1 setting without supervision, to ensure everyone's safety and protection.
  • Cabins are staffed at a ratio of a minimum of 1 staff member to 6 campers, with standard ratios of 1:3
  • Campers and staff must travel in groups of 3 at all times
  • Confession with clergy, should campers choose to participate, is visually supervised by staff from a distance at all times​
  • Campers are not permitted in one and other's beds at any time
  • Bedtimes are enforced by age group to ensure adequate sleep during the week, while still having fun!
  • Camper meals and hydration are monitored and supported by staff to ensure sufficient nutrition for the busy days

Medical  Care
Our on-site infirmary is staffed by at least one licensed nurse or doctor at all times, with consulting physicians available as needed by phone. Medical care is of the utmost importance, ensuring that campers receive daily medication and care, as well as urgent attention as needed.
  • All campers must submit an updated health and immunization form annually (Due May 15) in order to ensure all relevant safety information is shared with the camp.
  • All camper and staff medications, supplements, vitamins, etc., are stored in the infirmary at ALL times. Medication must be distributed and recorded by the medical staff.
  • Medication is distributed at meals, before bed, and at any other scheduled opportunities. Families are encouraged to provide as much detail as possible on their child's medical forms to ensure medical staff are prepared to support your child as effectively as possible.
  • All families will have the opportunity to speak with the nurse at registration. If you have additional needs or anticipate needing more time, please contact our office to arrange a conversation with our medical staff and/or camper support coordinator to ensure we are prepared to support your child.
  • In the event of injury or illness, medical staff will provide triage/assessment before determining a need for offsite care.  If needed, campers will be transported to Concord Hospital Urgent Care for further evaluation.
    • Campers will be accompanied by two staff members
    • Medical forms, which include insurance information, will accompany staff and campers offsite
    • Families will be notified immediately if their child requires offsite care. Urgent care will call the family directly for consent for treatment
    • Camper return to camp will be dictated by the assessment of the treating provider, in conjunction with our consulting physician
  • Families will be notified as soon as possible of any medical concerns not related to offsite care needs.
  • Medical staff will work closely with the camper support coordinator and kitchen to support allergy and food related needs.

Waterfront
The lake is a beautiful feature of our camp, but also an area where we take safety extremely seriously. Campers will be informed of the waterfront rules on day one of camp, and closely supervised while using the waterfront at all times. Activities include shallow and deep end swimming, canoeing, water trampolines, and tubing.
The waterfront is supervised by a waterfront coordinator, and team of certified lifeguards, whenever it is open. When the waterfront is closed, the area is roped off and campers are not permitted on the beach.
Lifeguards
  • Lifeguards are certified in American Red Cross lifeguarding and waterfront procedures, and have access to all necessary emergency equipment at the waterfront, including CPR masks, rescue tubes, backboards, first aid kits, and an AED.
  • Lifeguards rotate through stations every 5-15 minutes to ensure alertness to all campers in the water
  • Lifeguards are stationed on the sand, fitting life jackets, supervising the shallow end, the deep end, and trampolines, as well as on the boat, supervising tubing.
Swimming Safety
  • All campers are given the opportunity to take a swim test on the first day of camp. This consists of jumping into the water with head submerged, swimming around the roped off deep end of the waterfront (approximately 25 yards/the length of a standard YMCA pool), and treading water for two minutes. 
  • All campers are highly encouraged to attempt the swim test, though non-swimmers are not required. Lifeguards are present in the water during the swim test.
  • Campers that pass the swim test will be given a colored wrist band which they must wear for the duration of the camp session, and show upon entering the waterfront. Campers who do not pass the swim test are permitted to play on the sand, or in the shallow end (up to 3ft of water). They may not use the canoes, water trampolines, or go tubing.
Procedures
  • All campers must wear a lifejacket for trampolines, canoes, or tubing, no exceptions. Lifejackets will be fitted by a lifeguard to ensure appropriate sizing.
  • There is one point of entry and exit from the waterfront. Campers must check in and out with the staff member at the entrance before entering or leaving the waterfront.
  • Campers entering the waterfront must have a "buddy". The buddy pair will identify where they will be (sand, shallow, deep, canoes, trampoline, tubing) and it will be marked on the "buddy board" by staff. If campers wish to change locations, the buddy pair must come back to the buddy board and change their designation. 
  • Campers must remain with their buddies at all times. Approximately every 5 minutes, lifeguards will call for a buddy check. All activity pauses while the buddy board manager and lead lifeguard ensure that the number of buddies on the board, and the number of groups in the water match.
  • In the unlikely event of a mismatch, lifeguards respond as in an emergency. The waterfront is cleared and water search procedures begin immediately, with medical staff coming directly to the waterfront to respond as needed.

mental  health  &  Wellbeing
MBC provides care for the entire camper; body, mind, and soul. In addition to our medical staff and clergy, we host camper support professionals (mental health/allied health providers and educators) at each session to provide additional support. See our Camper Support page for additional details. In the event that concerns arise while campers are at camp, families will be notified as soon as possible. We do our best to connect families with referrals to our network of resources as needed.

Staff working directly with campers receive extensive training throughout the year, as well as a week of intensive training prior to the start of camp. In addition to basics of camp operations and programming, topics addressed include:
  • Theological background and catechism related to the theme
  • Instruction in facilitating large and small group activities
  • Direction in creating and leading meaningful group discussions
  • Best practices for universal design and access in cabins
  • Basics of ADHD, sensory supports, and universal design for access
  • Basics of behavior support
Interested staff with educational backgrounds in relevant areas (education, psychology, medicine, etc.) are given further training  to learn to provide more intensive support to campers with additional needs.

Cabins will work together to establish a list of norms, rules, or guidelines to direct their time at camp. We take the Pillars of our camp very seriously, and except all members of the camp community to uphold them.
Metropolis of Boston Camp Office | 162 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445 |
The Metropolis of Boston Camp is a ministry of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston
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