Safety

At Liberty Lake Day Camp, we believe that in order for kids to thrive, they need to feel safe, supported, and cared for. It’s a simple truth in child development – and it’s one we take to heart every single day.

We’ve built a culture of safety that goes beyond basic requirements. As an industry leader, we lead by example, striving to exceed required safety standards, to ensure that every camper can enjoy a positive experience from start to finish. Our small groups, great ratios, experienced leadership, and safety expertise sets a high standard of quality. Liberty Lake is proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), and annually approved by the NJ State Board of Health.

Our commitment to safety shone through when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Liberty Lake was the only camp in the Greater Philadelphia area to fully open its doors in the summer of 2020. This dedication allowed 1,000 campers to enjoy a safe, fun, and magical summer, while strengthening the safety protocols we already had in place, and creating a baseline of national camp safety standards, for future summers.

Behind the Scenes at Liberty Lake

Behind the beautiful grounds, endless activities, and carefree fun that your child experiences each day is a team of dedicated professionals working tirelessly to ensure everything runs smoothly. We follow high standards and safety policies to make sure Liberty Lake Day Camp is a place where your child can have the best time possible – while staying safe and supported every step of the way.

Program and Facilities Guidelines

Liberty Lake is a nut-free camp, and we are able to accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions, including gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher-style, and vegetarian options. Our food service team follows strict food preparation and hygiene practices, ensuring meals are safe, nutritious, and delicious. Our dietary specialist works hand-in-hand with the catering team and frontline staff to ensure that children with dietary needs are accommodated appropriately.

To keep campers hydrated, we have multiple water bottle filling stations, water fountains, and giant “water monster” jugs located throughout the camp. There’s plenty of shady areas throughout our 60 acres, plus irrigation systems we turn on – for cooling off!

Entrance & Exit Security
Safety starts at the front gate! The sole public entrance and exit to the camp is professionally staffed and guarded. Any visitors must show identification and wear a visitor pass while escorted through the camp, and we do not allow early pick-ups or visitors between 3-4pm, while preparing for bus dismissal.

Activity Supervision
Our activity program is designed with safety at the forefront, beginning with our famously low camper-to-staff ratios which ensure that all campers get the personal attention they deserve. Every camper group and activity is led by adult staff members. Campers spend their days in divisions, with kids no more than a year younger or older, which helps foster comfort, connections and camaraderie.

Safety Leadership
Our team is led by experienced experts who are committed to ensuring your child’s safety every step of the way:

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director, is the Past President of the American Camp Association, featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and countless other media outlets. Andy is one of the leading voices for the camp industry, and gives lectures and workshops about best practices at conferences around the world, as well as on his popular “Day Camp Podcast.”
• Rob Swantek, Assistant Director of Operations, oversees all safety operations. Rob is a decorated U.S. Air Force Special Ops veteran, bringing his experience and leadership to our camp’s safety protocols.
• There are three registered nurses on-site every day, ready to handle everything from minor cuts and scrapes to more serious situations. Our close relationship with Mansfield First Aid Squad, located just a mile away, ensures we’re never far from outside support if needed.
• Our Aquatics Director is a certified Red Cross trainer, ensuring all waterfront staff are fully trained in water safety and emergency response.
• Our behavioral support team provide a significant level of emotional and behavioral support to campers, while providing high-level staff training in a positive, caring environment.
• Our high ropes and archery courses are staffed by employees with additional certifications and trainings, as well as annual inspections.
• We work closely with the Township and County Office of Emergency Management to have comprehensive emergency preparedness procedures in place.

Staff Training
All staff undergo thorough training in the following areas to ensure a safe and supportive environment for every camper:

• Youth development understanding and techniques
• Positive behavior management
• Mental health awareness
• Child abuse awareness
• Emergency procedures
• Basic medical care

All adult staff are subject to full background checks and fingerprinting to ensure your child’s safety.

Aquatics & Waterfront 
At Liberty Lake we go above and beyond the standard rules and regulations in regard to Lifeguards, Trainings, and Safety Protocols.

• Our staff includes Red Cross Aquatic trainers, Certified Pool Supervisors, Certified Pool Operators, Red Cross Water Safety Instructors, and two dozen Red Cross Certified Lifeguards- trained for both swimming pools and open water.
• Lifeguard staff goes through a multi-day extensive training each Spring, to prepare them for any scenario.
• We train our swim instructors on how to teach swim to children. The team of instructors goes beyond our lifeguard team to include counselors, group leaders, and specialists as well.
• Our youngest lifeguards are turning 16 years old, a year older than allowed by the state of NJ.
• Equipment at our two pools and two lakefront swim areas are inspected daily and replaced as needed.
• Both the pool and lake have AED units conveniently located if need.
• Liberty Lake is actually a shallow pond, but regardless- all campers and staff boating and using the water trampoline must wear a life-vest (PFD)
• Campers must pass a “deep water test” for both the pool and lake if they wish to swim in more than 4ft. of water.
• Ropes with well-marked floating markers separate deep water areas, and are supervised by lifeguard staff.
• We stay far below the maximum bathing loads allowed in any of our swim areas, as safety is our highest priority.

Communication with Parents
We strive to keep our camp families fully informed, from enrollment through the last day of camp. Standard communication with parents is by email, but depending on urgency, we may choose text notifications, and if you have the “Campanion” app, you may receive push notifications as well. Besides important onboarding information and general camp updates, we may contact you for the following reasons:

• If your child was involved in something at camp that we feel you’d like to know about.
• If your child visits the health center for anything more than a slight bump or bruise.
• Weekly divisional updates from your children’s division leaders.
• Text notification if buses are running late.
• When we need your help for behavioral situations that may arise.
• Liberty Lake is set up with a middle management “Leadership Team” of experienced division leaders and office staff whose job is to be responsive to the needs of our camp families- use them as much as needed!

Medication and Health Monitoring
Many children take daily medications for a variety of health conditions. Our goal is to ensure that your child can participate in all activities safely while receiving the proper care and support they need. Clear procedures are put in place to manage allergies, medications, and to support your child’s health and well-being throughout the camp season. If your child requires medication for a chronic condition, or any other health-related need, we do our best to work with you to manage this during camp hours.

While we hope that your child enjoys a fun and injury-free summer, we know that accidents can happen. We have trained staff and procedures in place to manage and communicate all situations promptly and professionally.

Safety Policies and Procedures
Emergency plans are reviewed by experienced emergency professionals, and medical protocols are reviewed regularly by medical professionals. Our leadership team is trained for emergency protocols, and we conduct periodic unannounced emergency drills throughout the camp season. We have plans in place for weather emergencies and have an emergency communication plan in place to keep parents informed if any unexpected situations arise.

How Parents Can Help

We know that you, as parents, are the experts when it comes to your child. To help us provide the best care and attention, we ask that you:

• Provide accurate and up-to-date information on your camper’s medical and personal history when filling out the registration application, and summer forms.
• Keep your emergency contact information current, including any changes to cell phone numbers and the list of adults authorized to pick up your camper.

We look forward to welcoming your family to our Liberty Lake community!