Safety First:
Safety First:
Ensuring an Enjoyable and Safe Camp Experience at Camp Zenith
Ensuring an Enjoyable and Safe Camp Experience at Camp Zenith
At Camp Zenith, we believe that a safe camp is a happy camp. Let’s delve into the essential topic of camp safety. Discover the measures we take to ensure a secure environment and gain insights into what camp organisers can do to prioritise the well-being of their campers.
Use the list below to jump to the section you are most interested in reading about, or scroll through and read about all of our safety protols.
Comprehensive Staff Training:
We have a team that is passionate about the dream. This passion drives us to take all measures available to us to ensure that the risk of injury is minimised. Our management staff and facilitators are trained in first aid and we always have a stocked first aid kit on hand. Before each facilitated camp, facilitators check that the first aid kit is stocked. Our facilitators are trained that our first aid supplies are packed in specific places, and this ensures that if there is an injury, time isn’t wasted finding the right supplies. Our facilitators are also trained to keep a first aid kit within easy reach at any activity so if help is needed, it’s available.
Facilitators are trained on how to run the activities on our site for maximum safety and fun.
This passion drives us to take all measures available to us to ensure that the risk of injury is minimised.
For the non facilitated camps, we do have a first aid kit available in the office, however, in the interests of getting help sooner, groups who run their own programmes are advised to also bring their own first aid kit and first aider.
Thorough Facility Inspections:
Annually, we are inspected to ensure that our facility minimises the risk to any camper. Recommendations are then taken seriously and receive action and attention. Our current Health and Safety certificate is available here.
Additionally, we are annually inspected for fire safety by the local fire chief and we have the certificates of compliance available here.
Emergency Response Plans:
Our emergency plan is published around the facility in every building. This plan includes:
- Maps to the closest emergency point,
- Contact number of who to call as per the emergency (fire, medical, police, as well as site managers).
Additionally, we prepare a welcome pack for Campers before arrival and this is sent to Camp organizers with the request to send this to parents/campers. Part of this welcome pack include:
- Campsite’s contact details,
- GPS locations/QR code to find us with Google maps. This we have added in case of any emergency where parents need to come to their kids.
Campers are required to fill out the online indemnity form before arrival. This form includes vital information for safety (such as medical conditions/allergies) as well as emergency contacts. Our management staff check the list before the arrival of each group.
Counselor-to-Facilitator Ratio:
On our facilitated camps, Camp Zenith works on a 15:1 ratio. This allows enough camp facilitators to:
- Run activities,
- Crowd control,
- Keep the energy high,
- Identify problems
- Keep the programme running as safely as possible.
Health and Medical Support:
As part of our emergencies procedures, all local hospitals’ contact details and distances are easily available and published throughout the facility.
As mentioned, we request the medically significant information from campers before arrival and this is made available to the relevant persons of authority on the camp.
As mentioned, we request the medically significant information from campers before arrival and this is made available to the relevant persons of authority on the camp.
Pool Safety:
At Camp Zenith we have an amazing and inviting pool.
Our pool is 1 meter deep in the shallow ends and 1.5m deep in the deep end, this means that most people can stand in most of the pool and this help keep the pool safe.
Additionally, we have a fence around the pool and gates are kept locked when not in use.
We have a life ring attached to the nearby pump house and this is easily visible for emergencies.
For our facilitated camps, our online indemnity form asks parents of children if they want their children to swim with a life jacket. These are then dished out as per the parents’ wishes.
Our pool is 1 meter deep in the shallow ends and 1.5m deep in the deep end, this means that most people can stand in most of the pool and this help keep the pool safe.
Fire Preparedness:
Camp Zenith undergoes safety inspections annually as well as the testing of our fire extinguishers.
Additionally, we are part of the local fire-fighting neighbour farms group. Our membership certificate is available here.
Camp Organizer Safety Checklist:
We have put together a comprehensive Safety Checklist for you. Download the checklist and work through each of the items, ensuring all of your group’s safety needs are met.
Camp safety plays a vital role in your camp’s success. You can prepare the most life-changing programme, the campers can develop the most meaningful friendships, the activities can be the most exhilirating and full of fun, and all of that can be compromised should there be an emergency that you are not prepared for. Accident’s happen, unfortunately thats life. You can make sure these accidents don’t become tragedies by being prepared for the worst.
Our safety checklist helps you to do just that. Ensure that you are prepared for anything.
All this being said and done, we at Camp Zenith hope that there are no accidents and tragedies for the groups that visit our premesis. And so, we too are prepared for possible accidents. Your camp’s safety is a top concern for our team.
Weather Preparedness:
While the weather is predictable as well, the weather, we take all precautions to watch the weather and plan any facilitation adjustments accordingly.
But one of the many beauties of Camp Zenith is that we have an abundance of indoor halls and if the weather changes suddenly, there is cover and in many cases, the programme can still go on.
Our facilitators are also trained on how to deal with sudden severe weather changes to keep calm and control/
Our facilitators are also trained on how to deal with sudden severe weather changes to keep calm and control/
Safety Tips for Campers:
Here are some extra safety measures campers can take to reduce risks.
- Bring a torch. While we have some lights in the dark, there is still load shedding and some places have low light, keeping a torch on hand at night is a great way to ensure you can see well in the dark.
- Never pretend to have an emergency. Our team is trained to respond to all reports of emergence quickly and seriously. But pretending to have an emergency isn’t funny and can lead to an actual emergency.
- Have a buddy system. Have a friend or group of friends that you are constantly with. This can help prevent an emergency but if one happened, there would be friends to help or call for help.
- Don’t play with the fire extinguishers. This isn’t a funny prank and can lead to damage or death in the event of an actual fire and no equipment available to fight it.
Communication Protocols:
Clear communication between campsite, organisers, campers and parents goes a long way to assist with safe and fun camp experiences. It is for this reason, that Camp Zenith provides a welcome letter to the camp organisers for each confirmed booking. This welcome letter provides parents with the location of the campsite (so parents know exactly where their children are) as well as the contact details of the Camp Zenith manager, in case parents should need to contact the campsite. For camp organisers to simply distribute this welcome letter to all their campers, aids in a great way for parents’ peace-of-mind and provides the appropriate communication channels.
Post-Camp Safety Feedback:
And lastly, we receive feedback incredibly well, in fact we ask for it. Campers are invited to fill out our online 5-question survey and this allows us to see where we can improve to ensure that camper experiences are continually better and safer.
At the time of writing this article, all attached certificates are up-to-date. Should you be reading this after some of them have expired and you require an up-to-date certifacte, please feel free to reach out to us and we will gladly send you these.
Frequently Asked Questions
How safe is Camp Zenith?
Safety is built into how we run camp. Our facilitators are trained to prioritise risk reduction, keep first-aid kits within easy reach during activities, and follow site-specific operating procedures at all times. For self-run (DIY) camps, a first-aid kit is available on site and we advise schools to bring their own qualified first aider too.
Read more about how important safety is to us here.
Read more about how important safety is to us here.
Can the camp programme be tailored to our school’s needs?
Absolutely! We work with you to create a programme that meets your objectives – whether that’s more study time, extra sports, or even a talent show.
What about the food? What are your catering options?
Our catering team knows how to please! We provide balanced meals that are nutritious and (most importantly) tasty, with options for dietary requirements too
What risk management steps do you take?
We combine trained staff with regular facility inspections and clearly posted emergency plans. Camp buildings display the emergency procedures and key numbers for medical, fire, police, and site managers. We maintain current health and safety and fire compliance certificates.
What is your emergency response plan?
Emergency maps and contact details are posted in every building. Before arrival, organisers receive a welcome pack that includes campsite contacts and GPS or QR location so parents and staff can reach us quickly if needed. We have the emergency contacts provided on the indemnity forms easily available should they be needed.
What first-aid cover do you provide?
Our management team and facilitators are first-aid trained. Kits are stocked, checked ahead of facilitated programmes, and kept on hand at activities. For non-facilitated camps we keep a kit in the office and recommend schools also bring their own kit and first aider for faster response. Local hospital contacts and distances are readily available around the site.
How do you handle pool and swimming safety?
The pool is fenced with locked gates when not in use. A life ring is mounted nearby. Depths range from 1.0 m at the shallow ends to 1.5 m at the deep end, so most students can stand in much of the pool. Parents can authorise life jackets for their children via our online indemnity form for facilitated camps.
What are your bad-weather contingencies?
If weather turns, your programme can continue indoors. We have multiple halls, including a large indoor sports hall, that allow for safe, supervised activities under cover. Facilitators are trained to adjust plans calmly.
How do you keep boys and girls separate at night?
We have separate accommodation and ablutions for boys and girls. We can house larger groups separately using our two villages on opposite sides of the property. Hillside Haven and Valley View are roughly 500 metres apart. Teachers also have dedicated leaders’ houses close to student accommodation for duty of care and easy night rounds.
What about general site security and night-time procedures?
Quiet hours, village separation, and teacher accommodation near students support calm, secure nights. Our team remains reachable via the on-site contact numbers published in buildings and provided in the welcome pack.
Do you have fire-safety measures?
Yes. We undergo annual fire-safety inspections, maintain tested extinguishers, and participate in the local farm-neighbour firefighting network.
What supervision ratios do you use for facilitated activities?
For facilitated camps we operate on a 15:1 facilitator-to-camper ratio. This keeps activities safe, maintains crowd control, and helps us spot issues early while keeping energy high.
Do you provide a safety checklist for organisers?
Yes. Download our camp organiser Safety Checklist to work through risk areas before arrival and brief your team. It is a practical way to make sure nothing gets missed.
Have any safety-related questions?
Concerned about camp safety?
We are here to serve. Please feel free to call us on 064 842 4508 or email info@campzenith.co.za.
We're here to ensure your campers have a secure and enjoyable experience.
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