PO- Policies and Systems

• ckPO-1: Camp Kesem must be provided free of charge to families served.

• ckPO-2: Camp Kesem’s regular camp program participants must be age 6-16 as of the first day of camp.

• ckPO-3: Camper Forms: All camper forms must be completed using the online application and/or Active database system

• ckPO-4: Counselor-Camper Communication:
  • Campers and counselors must abide by the guidelines set forth in the Camper Honor Code and the Counselor Staff Policy when communicating both at camp and after the camp session is over.
  • A camper and a counselor are never allowed to be alone together, both at camp and after the camp session is over.
  • If a counselor or a camper ever feels uncomfortable about his/her relationship or communication with another camper or counselor he/she should notify the leadership team. The leadership team should then notify a National Program Director.
  • Counselor Training must include a session on appropriate communication with campers, appropriate methods of communication, and how counselors can protect themselves from liability exposure when communicating with campers outside of camp.

• ckPO-5:  Personal Relationships: Personal Relationships are prohibited between Campers and Campers.  Personal Relationships are also prohibited between Campers and Counselors.
  • A Personal Relationship is defined as a consensual relationship between individuals who have or have had a continuing relationship of a romantic or intimate nature such as dating; or engaging in intimate displays of affection.
  • This policy must be communicated clearly with campers, both in writing and in a rules discussion
  • Counselors must be trained on this policy, preventative measures, and action measures.

• ckPO-6:  Anti-Harassment Policy:  Any offensive physical, written or spoken conduct, including conduct of a sexual nature is prohibited at Camp.  It is a violation of Camp Kesem policy for any camper or camp staff member to engage in the acts or behaviors defined as harassment.
  • Counselors must be trained on this policy, preventative measures, and action measures as discussed in the

• ckPO-7:  Anti-Drug Policy:  The presence or use of alcohol, tobacco, any illegal drugs, or overuse of prescription or non-prescription medications will not be tolerated at camp. 
  • Counselors must be trained on this policy, preventative measures, and action measures as discussed in the

• ckPO-8: Camper Screenings:  When campers apply to come to camp, any camper with known behavioral challenges must be reviewed with the National Program Director.  The National Program Director, in conjunction with the student leaders and Professional staff, will make the determination if Camp Kesem can safely provide a secure environment for that camper without putting others at risk.

• ckPO-9: Camp Advisor
  • A Camp Kesem Camp Advisor will be connected with each Camp Kesem camp. The Camp Advisor is an agent of Camp Kesem’s National Board of Directors during the week of camp. The primary role of the Camp Advisor is to ensure safety.  Camp Advisors are also a valuable resource for programmatic, organizational, and logistic advice due to their Camp Kesem experience.
  • Please see the manual for a Camp Advisor position description.

• ck-PO-10: Alcohol Policy: At times alcohol may be involved in campus fundraising efforts.  All campuses must adhere to the following rules, in addition to any University alcohol policies::
  • All fundraising events that are held at third-party locations (bar, restaurant, etc.) and include alcohol are acceptable.  It is the responsibility of the third-party to maintain local alcohol laws.
  • Any official Camp Kesem fundraising events that are held at a private location (home, dorm, etc.) cannot include alcohol.

• ckPO-11: Phone Meetings:
  • Co-Chair Agreement forms must be filled out by co-chairs and discussed with the appropriate National Program Director.

• ckPO-12: Student Leadership Trainings:
  • The second part of the Camp Kesem mission states the following:
  • To empower college students to make a difference and build invaluable leadership skills by developing and managing every aspect of their Camp Kesem chapter. In order to achieve this part of the Camp Kesem mission we engage students in various types of leadership training. The first of these trainings occurs when a National Program Director visits the campus of a Camp Kesem program to do Fall Training and Planning sessions. At these sessions the entire coordinator team is given the opportunity to learn more about Camp Kesem as an organization, participate in team-building exercises, learn about social styles, and understand the importance of each of their positions within the coordinator team. During this visit the Program Director will meet with each committee’s coordinators separately to ensure that they have the tools to run a successful committee.
  • In addition to on-site trainings, students are invited to attend The Camp Kesem National Leadership Summit once a school year.  Both Co-Chairs and at least one coordinator from each committee are expected to attend. National Program Directors lead the summit with the assistance of Conference Coordinators and outside guest speakers. These conferences enable regional networking to occur, as students meet other leaders in their area who are working towards the same goal. Students are asked to participate in sessions in order to share best practices. Speakers are invited to share their expertise with students on different topics, and students are encouraged to ask questions and gather insight on any issues they may be having. The summit is a way to continue to develop leadership skills and create a national Camp Kesem community.

• ckPO-13: Storage of Required Documents
  • In order to ensure quality in each of our camp programs it is required that certain documents be submitted to a Program Director for review. These documents must uploaded to the appropriate Dropbox folder by the agreed upon dates set between Co-Chairs and Program Directors. The campus must also maintain the following documents in their yearly standards binder for final review.  The following is a list of those documents:
    • Coordinator Roster
    • Signed Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement
    • Co-Chair Agreement
    • Revenue Tracking Spreadsheet
    • Bus proof of licensure (if applicable)
    • Additional insured certificate from bus company (if applicable)
    • Nurse and Mental Health Professional Information and Licensure
    • Counselor Training Schedules
    • Counselor Debriefing Schedule
    • Camp Daily Schedule
    • Empowerment Schedule
    • CPR/First Aid Certification Card Copies
    • Menu (if no food service) (if applicable)
    • Any trip details (overnight, field trip, etc.) (if applicable)
    • Pre-Camp Medical Resources (completed by student leaders)
    • Campsite Emergency Procedures (from campsite)
    • Organized camper and staff files
    • Any activity certifications held by CK staff (i.e. lifeguard, archery, etc.) (if applicable)

List of documents is subject to change.

• ckPO-14: Fiduciary Sponsorship:
  • Student leaders should be familiar with the overall structure of Camp Kesem to understand their role and the role of others within the organization.