Do’s and Don’ts for Camp Staff

By COLlive reporter

A suggested conduct policy for staff members of Jewish overnight summer camps was released in an effort to prevent and crack down on child abuse while children are away from home.

The “Child Safety Agreement” is meant to be signed by adults working in camps, reminding and committing them to the spiritual, mental and physical well-being of campers.

It was composed by Project E.M.E.S. (Educating Mosdos on Eradicating S. Abuse) in conjunction with the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council and the Jewish Community Watch in an effort to address the myriad of potential issues that a camp may encounter.

Typically, summer camps hire young adults and bochurim with the intention that they organize and direct many of the camp’s activities. And while an emphasis is put on their organizational skills and chassidishkeit, many are untrained and ill-prepared to handle issues relating to abuse.

And while the parents might get to know the counselors and learning teachers, their child will on every given day interact with the rest of the camp staff, ranging from life guards to kitchen staff and waiters, activity coordinators and more.

The new policy clearly spells out what is or isn’t appropriate and permissible physically and verbally, as research has shown the most abuse cases stem from the people regularly interacting with the child.

Brief hugs, ‘high fives’, a pat or putting a hand on a child’s shoulder are labeled “appropriate.” But lengthy embraces, kissing and obviously, any form of wanted affection or touching any otherwise covered body parts are forbidden.

Also labeled “inappropriate” is being alone with a child in isolated areas, pinching, hitting, spanking, and “touching of undergarments being worn by children (i.e. wedgies).”

It also puts on the ramifications of verbal interaction, warning against name-calling, cursing, vulgar language or insulting a child. The same is with comments or compliments that relate to “physical appearance or body development.”

The people behind the project say these guidelines have been endorsed by members of the Crown Heights Bais Din (they didn’t name which of the three), as well as Rabbis YY Jacobson, Levi Kaplan, Abba Paltiel, Yossi Paltiel, Avraham Zajac, Elchonon Tauber and Doctors Chaim Drizin (MA, LMFT), Norman Goldwasser (PhD), Asher Lipner (PhD) and Michael Salamon (PhD).

Project E.M.E.S. is hoping that camps adapt these guidelines and say they will be updating the public about which camps have agreed to implement them.

They call on parents to take action as well by teach children about the “No-Touch-Zone,” and not feel embarrassed to talk to when something suspicious happens.

They said that campers might feel embarrassed to spell out what is happening to them, especially on the phone with others around. They recommend agreeing on a code word that when said, can alert the parents.

Read the new agreement