ACA Home Forums 2014 The Good the Bad

From your summer 2014, what was good and what was bad about your job, camp and other experiences? Are you going to return or look elsewhere?

I gained some great experience in my job this summer. I learned I can be a great leader. I also learned it's difficult to deal with other staff sometimes. I learned a lot about how to take care of other people, how to deal with issues, and why it's important to maintain your cool even when you'd rather scream. I enjoyed some of it and hated some of it and wished some of it could have been different. I'm glad I did it, don't regret that. But, I'd like to try something new next summer. I'm not sure where or what, but I want a new camp experience to add to my list of camp things I've done.

For the most part my camp was great, and I learned that my camp does not do a background checks or they do not care if certain volunteers have been in jail or prison before-- or they just take peoples word when they check the No box about ever being arrested or convicted of a crime. I had someone in my cabin (a volunteer who was in jail/prison for drugs and possible violent issues)

Wow thats scary. I think a lot of camps basically do a google search when checking someones background. One of the issues is that with staff so young 18-20 most of them if they have done anything had it sealed as a juvenile offender.

That is scary! I hope that's not the case PsyGuy, but I'm sure for some camps it possibly is. I know my camp does fingerprints and background checks, so that's good! :)

The volunteer is not in the 18-20 year old range-- he is around his late 20's and whats scary is the camp does not do any type of background check, just a question asking if the volunteer has been in jail within the past 3 years, so I guess anyone would qulaify for my camp after 3 years after being in jail.

WOW no back ground checks? What........... Even our kitchen staff gets back ground checks and CPR, First Aid etc...

I can't remember the last camp I talked to who didn't do back ground checks. Heck even my church dose back ground checks.

Yeah, our whole staff gets CPR, either because they have it or are trained at camp for free but first aid is not required. I know other camps I've worked at have required 1st aid. Background checks are required for everything these days, except apparently marty's camp. :(

There is technically an ACA standard where a background check has to be completed for each staff member, including volunteers. I also think it's one of the required standards. Though as far as the type of background check, it doesn't really matter, it more depends on what the state requires for people working with children. For example, my camp in OH required finger-print forms for their background check because that's what OH expected at the time. Though, my camp in NC didn't required finger-print forms, we had to fill out some forms and those were registered with the state.

- Teenster

The question then is whether the camp marty volunteered at last year was an ACA accredited camp.

The real issue is how you define background check, many states require nothing more than a name database search (not just name, but basically means not using fingerprints).

I think in marty's case, it depends on what the state requires. In addition, it could also depend on if his camp is part of a larger organization, like YMCA or Scouts. Depending on the state, a background check might not be required. The camp might be able to take a "no" on that standard if the state or organization requires something different.

- Teenster

Let me clear up some questions, the organization that operates the camp rents the camp from Easter Seals and the camp serves campers that are adults 18 and older with physical disabilities. The Easter Seals campsite is ACA accredited, but the camp is not, but they do get ACA funding for campers who get Medicaid.