Staff checking for safety at ropes course

Behind the Magic Is a Commitment to Safety

Sending your child to camp means trusting us with the person who matters most to you, and we take that responsibility seriously. We work hard to create a camp that is safe, well supervised and prepared, while still giving kids the freedom to try new things, make decisions, take appropriate risks and become more independent. Good safety practices don’t get in the way of the camp experience - they make it possible.

We are licensed, inspected and accredited.

Camp Howe is inspected and licensed by the our local Board of Health to ensure we are meeting the regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. We also choose to be accredited by the American Camp Association. Accreditation means we voluntarily meet nationally recognized standards covering areas such as health care, staff qualifications and training, emergency procedures, program safety and camp operations.

Experienced people are leading the way.

Our Executive Director and Camp Director bring years of camp leadership, youth development and professional experience to their roles. They are supported by an experienced leadership team overseeing health care, food service, waterfront, adventure activities, inclusion and the day-to-day operation of camp.

Qualified staff where qualifications matter.

Some activities require more than enthusiasm. Our waterfront, climbing, archery and other specialized program areas are led by staff with the appropriate training, experience and/or certifications for their roles. Our food service program is also overseen by experienced staff trained in safe food handling and preparation and allergen awareness.

Registered nurses on site.

Our Health Center is staffed by registered nurses who oversee and manage medications, respond to illness and injury, communicate with families and provide plenty of the everyday TLC that comes with caring for kids away from home. Our health care policies are reviewed by our Health Care Consultant, and staff are trained to recognize when a camper needs additional medical attention.

We carefully select and train our staff.

Every staff member completes our screening process before arriving at camp. We typically interview 2 to 3 applicants for every staff hired. Once here, staff complete extensive preseason training covering supervision, camper care, behavior and group management, emergency procedures, health and safety, inclusion, homesickness, communication and the realities of living and working with children 24 hours a day.

Many staff hold First Aid, CPR and other certifications specific to their positions. Staff also receive additional training in areas such as concussion awareness, EpiPen use and emergency response.

We carefully screen our staff—and support them once they’re here.

Every staff member goes through a thorough screening process before working at Camp Howe, including background checks, sex offender registry checks and reference checks.

Once camp begins, our large leadership team provides ongoing supervision, guidance and support to staff throughout the summer. Safety isn’t just about hiring the right people - it’s making sure they have experienced leaders around them when they need help, advice or another set of eyes.

Our staff live with our campers.

Safety isn’t only about certifications and emergency plans. It is also about knowing our campers. Cabin staff live alongside them and are there for the everyday moments - meals, activities, bedtime, friendships, homesickness, disagreements and everything in between. That daily connection helps our staff notice when something doesn’t seem quite right and respond early.

Good supervision is intentional.

Keeping campers safe means knowing where they are, who is responsible for them and what is happening around them. From cabin life and activities to meals, waterfront and free time, we have clear expectations for camper supervision, staff coverage and accountability throughout the day.

Cabin group - small staff to camper ratio

We plan, practice and communicate.

We have procedures for the everyday things and plans for the things we hope never happen. Staff practice emergency procedures and know who is responsible for what when something comes up. And when there is something important that affects your child, we believe families should hear it directly from us.

We work closely with our local emergency services.

Camp Howe has relationships with local EMS, police and fire departments so the people who would respond in an emergency know our camp, our location and our property. We value these partnerships and include local emergency services in our planning and preparation.

Safe doesn’t mean removing every challenge.

Camp is active, adventurous and sometimes a little messy. Bumps, bruises, scraped knees and the occasional homesick or difficult moment are part of growing up and part of camp. Kids need opportunities to test themselves, try something new, climb a little higher, solve a problem, work through a disagreement and sometimes get things wrong.

Our goal isn’t to remove every risk or challenge. It is to manage risk thoughtfully so kids have the freedom to stretch themselves. That means trained staff, appropriate supervision, clear procedures and knowing when to step in and when to give a camper a little space to figure something out for themselves.

We want kids to run, climb, swim, explore, get dirty, make mistakes and come home tired.

Safety at Camp Howe isn’t about wrapping kids in bubble wrap. It’s about creating an environment where they can take appropriate risks, build confidence and discover just how capable they really are.

Group of children pushing a large boulder together in a forest.