Our Dedication to Safety at Liberty Lake Day Camp

 

When parents send their child to camp, they are doing more than signing them up for summer fun. They are trusting another community to protect, guide, challenge, and care for the most important treasure in their world. That level of trust must be earned – not assumed.

At Liberty Lake, safety is not a department, a binder, or a checklist. It is the foundation of our culture. For 25 years, every decision that’s made – from staff hiring and daily supervision to emergency planning – has been based on a single commitment:

Kids can only grow when they feel safe – physically, emotionally, and socially.

Here’s the building blocks that make safety feel real – every day.

Licensed, Inspected, ACA Accredited, and State-Compliant – Every Season

Liberty Lake is a fully licensed New Jersey Youth Camp, accredited by the American Camp Association. It is inspected annually and required to meet state health and safety standards, which we often exceed. They undergo:

• State of NJ Youth Camp Certification through Dept. of Health inspections
• American Camp Association (ACA) accredited – Liberty Lake’s owner, Andy Pritikin is the past president
• Full insurance + risk management compliance from the top camp insurer in the USA
• Documented emergency plans on file

Many camps meet the minimum requirements; Liberty Lake Day Camp seeks to exceed them – not because the state demands it, but because camper families deserve it. 

Selected Staff Are Mentors – Not Babysitters

We do not hire “whomever applies.” We recruit role models.

✔ Background checks AND fingerprinting (not required) on ALL adult staff
✔ Reference-verified, through rigorous interview and on-boarding process
✔ High standards on those staff chosen to return at the end of every summer

✔ More than half of the staff are former campers – whose families we know well
✔ Specialists in high ropes, archery, and aquatics must pass additional certifications trainings as well as annual inspections
✔ Counselors chosen for emotional intelligence, not just personality

Kids don’t just remember what they did at camp. They remember who believed in them through it all.

Training includes:

✔ Youth development understanding and techniques

✔ Positive behavior management

✔ Mental health awareness

✔ Child abuse awareness

✔ Emergency procedures

✔ Basic medical care

Hours of Pre-Season Staff Training

Before campers arrive, our staff have already gone through extensive PAID training based on their roles and experience at Liberty Lake. 

Training Includes:

Safety Area	Training Components
Supervision & Ratios	Group management, transitions, buddy checks, attendance
Aquatics First Aid & CPR	Red Cross–lifeguard certification courses
Behavioral Support	Conflict resolution, inclusion, neurodiversity awareness
Emergency Readiness	Drills for weather, evacuation, medical response
Child Protection	Reporting protocols, boundary training, mandatory reporter law

Supervision Ratios That Exceed NJ Requirements

The State of New Jersey requires 1 staff member per 10 campers.
Our average ratio is 1:6 – and even lower for younger divisions and waterfront areas.

Age Group	NJ Requirement	Liberty Lake Ratio
4–6 yrs	1:8	1:4
7–9 yrs	1:10	1:7
10–13 yrs	1:10	1:8
Teens	1:12	1:10
Waterfront	1 Lifeguard: 25 swimmers	1 Lifeguard: 15 swimmers + lookouts

• Every activity has two-deep supervision
• No child is ever alone with a single adult
• Radio-based communication connects all division leaders instantly

Medical + Emergency Preparedness

Every camp season includes:

✔ Three registered nurses, on-site everyday

✔ Clear procedures for managing allergies and medications

✔ Staff including 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.

✔AED units at the pool, lake, and office

✔To keep campers hydrated, there are multiple water bottle filling stations, water fountains, and giant ‘water monster’ jugs located throughout the camp.
✔ Working closely with the Township and County Office of Emergency Management to have comprehensive emergency preparedness procedures in place.
✔ An emergency communication plan in place for communicating with parents

Emotional Safety Is Just as Important as Physical Safety

Kids cannot learn, play, or thrive if they feel ignored, embarrassed, or alone. That is why our Five Star-Points of Character are woven into every group, at every activity, every day.

Liberty Lake Families value character and community for their children in an outdoor and screen-free setting. Campers love the freedom to grow their imagination, talents, and friendships in a safe, vibrant environment. 

Emotional safety means:

✔ Every camper is greeted by name
✔ Counselors are trained to read body language and mood shifts
✔ Peer conflict is coached –  not punished or ignored
✔ Older campers mentor younger ones
✔ Staff are instructed to “see every child” – not just the loudest or easiest ones

Communication With Parents Is Clear, Frequent, and Transparent

Some camps operate like a black box – you drop your child off and hope for the best.

Liberty Lake over-communicates on purpose:

✔ Parent Resource Guide

✔ Partnering with Parents webinars

✔ Meet ‘n’ Greet evening for parents + campers

✔ Family Night BBQ 

✔ CampMinder online dashboard

✔ Campanion smartphone app

✔ Direct access and communication with our office and leadership team all summer long
✔ Weekly divisional email recaps

✔ Daily online photo galleries and social media posts
✔ Nurse communication for medical incidents

You are not “sending your child away.” You are partnering with us.

Physical & Emotional Safety Makes Growth Possible

When children know they are safe:

• They take healthy risks
• They try new activities
• They speak up, lead, and collaborate
• They learn resilience instead of fear
• They show their real personality
• They come home proud, not stressed

Safety without adventure is boring. Adventure without safety is reckless. Liberty Lake Day Camp has the balance.

The Liberty Lake Safety Promise

• Every camper is seen.
• Every camper is supervised.
• Every camper is protected.
• Every camper is valued.

If a camp cannot say that confidently, they are not ready for your child.

Next Step: See Safety in Action

✔ Schedule a behind-the-scenes tour
✔ Ask anything – no question is ‘too overprotective’
✔ Speak to returning families about their experience