CISF is committed to providing a safe & fun environment for everyone at Sea Adventure Camp

Pursuant to this, here are some things to do before your child comes to camp:

☐ Complete any missing forms on registration site

☐ Review what to bring to camp

☐ Review Camp Safety Plan below:

Jamestown Sea Adventure Camp Safety Plan

The Jamestown Sea Adventure staff operates as a team. Ultimately, the Program Director is the Chief Safety Officer for Camp and all associated activities. Instructors are responsible for providing a safe and healthy environment during camp. Instructors are empowered to enforce all the Camp rules and regulations, and to make other decisions necessary to ensure the safety of our students. While each instructor in the group has her/her own responsibilities, the group works as a team and is responsible for the Program as a group. Fort Getty and camp rules, as well as weekly camp goals, are discussed and created as a group during the first classes each week. Students are reminded of these rules and goals throughout each week. Questions and concerns can be directed to the Executive Director and Camp Coordinator, Meg Myles.

[ DOWNLOAD SAFETY PLAN PDF ]

Orientation

Jim Bryer and Meg Myles conduct a staff orientation with the instructors prior to the beginning of each season.

All policies, procedures, facilities, and equipment are reviewed at the time of orientation.  All Emergency Procedures are discussed and practiced.

Instructors

All full-time instructors must be US SAILING Level I certified.  This includes holding a current First Aid and CPR certification. All instructors must hold a RI Safe Boater’s License or the NASBLA equivalent. All staff members will participate in power boat training, including capsize rescue during the Staff Orientation and Training days. A review of first aid protocols and responses is also conducted at this time.

The average student to instructor ratio for each camp week is as follows:
• 1 powerboat for every 6 sailboats on the water
• 1 instructor for every 4 sailors on a boat
• 1 instructor for every 10 campers on land

Injury

Procedures are in place to deal with any injury.  Our staff is trained to react to different situations and whom to contact.  A medical form for every student with allergy information and reaction plans is kept in a binder on site. There is a dedicated binder for each week of camp. The staff is able to administer to minor cuts and bruises. If an injury is more serious, 911 will be called immediately, as well as emergency contacts as indicated on the medical forms. All minor injuries (cuts, bruises, etc..) that are handled by staff will be reported to parents at the end of the day, and an in-house Accident Report will be filled out.

Any injury to a sailor or instructor and any damage to the Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation powerboats and/or sailboats and other property or equipment will be reported in writing on the appropriate Accident Report or Maintenance Report Form. Forms are to be completed by the instructor involved in the incident and filed in the appropriate logbook. Depending upon the severity of the accident or incident, Jim Bryer and the Executive Director, Meg Myles, will be immediately contacted at the time of the occurrence.

Swim Check

All students (ages 8-16) in Jamestown Sea Adventure Camp are required to have a swim check on the first day of class. Swim checks allow children to become accustomed to being in the water with their life jackets on. Also, instructors can get an idea of the individual’s swimming ability, as well as their comfort level in the water.

Any children in land-based camps are exempt from a swim check. Additionally, Marine Adventurers will perform a swim check with their life jackets on in a relaxed manner. Our goal with younger age groups is to ensure a fun, non-stressful experience on, in, and around the water.

Life Jackets

Life jackets MUST be worn and zipped AT ALL TIMES when the student is on the pier, in a boat, near the water, or swimming. Life jackets must be U. S. Coast Guard approved (Type III) and must be properly fitted to an individual’s size and weight. How to get a life jacket to fit properly will be taught (or reviewed) on the first day of class for all classes. Life jackets must be worn by students and staff when participating in any activity that takes a person into a boat, on a dock, ramp, sea wall or launch area adjacent to, or leads alongside of or over water. Life jackets must be properly identified with the owner’s name and should be inspected regularly to ensure that it is in good functioning condition (no missing straps, isn’t torn, zipper(s) works, no exposed or waterlogged flotation). It is recommended that a whistle on a lanyard (string) be attached to the lifejacket. If a lifejacket is unsafe it must be discarded and replaced immediately. Life jackets will be provided for all students who need one.

Footwear 

Closed-toe shoes are required at Sea Adventure Camp when launching, sailing, and coming in at the end of the day. Shoes may be either boat shoes, dinghy boots or regular sneakers that can get wet. Shoes must cover the toes and encircle the foot. Shoes should not have black soles since these leave marks on boats.

Eye & Skin Protection

Students should have and wear sun block and sunglasses daily. A lanyard can be attached to sunglasses to keep them from dropping in the water or being lost. Students are responsible for providing and applying their own sun block. Instructors will remind campers to reapply throughout the day, but it is each child’s responsibility to ensure that he/she is properly protected from the sun. Hats, buffs, and/or bandanas can offer further protection from the sun and are recommended.

It is also necessary to drink adequate water to prevent dehydration. Children should bring a refillable water bottle to use during their camp. Sea Adventure Camp will provide a cooler of water to refill their bottles. Instructors will monitor children for signs of dehydration, sunburn, and heat exhaustion.

Inclement Weather

Meg Myles and staff monitor the weather throughout the day and are aware of visual storm signs. On rainy days, if the wind is not too strong, classes will go sailing. In the case of foul weather due to fog, wind, or heavy rain and thunderstorms, the final decision on whether or not the students sail will be made by the Head Instructor in conjunction with the Executive Director, Meg Myles when necessary. Camp will still be held if it is decided that it is unsafe to go out on the water.  Children will do arts and crafts and more marine education on these days.

We make every effort to avoid having kids on the water during thunderstorms. Kids will not go sailing if it appears that there is a storm approaching. Occasionally, storms pop up and do not appear on radar however. In that case, all classes are immediately cleared from the water. In some cases, putting boats on a tow line and dropping sails will allow the most control in the increased winds that occur with sudden storms. Controlling a sailing class in inclement weather is reviewed during staff training.

General Safety Rules

The following are some general safety rules that are to be followed by everyone in the program:

1. No student is allowed on the Pier or in the water without supervision.
2. Life Jackets must be worn and secured at all times when on the pier, any docks, in a motorboat, in a sailboat, or in the water.
3. Wear proper footwear at all times.
4. No running on the rocks or pier.
5. No jumping off of boats without an instructor’s permission.
6. No abandoning a sailboat while sailing.
7. No swimming (except with the permission of the instructors).
8. No pushing, shoving, running, or hitting.
9. No smoking.
10. No drugs or alcohol.
11. No playing on or near the launch ramp.
12. No pirating of boats
13. Watch fingers and feet between boats, docks, and moving parts.
14. Stay in the area where the instructors and other students are, unless you have permission from the Camp Coordinator or Instructor.
15. No foul or inappropriate language.
16. No roughhousing/horseplay/fighting.

Radios

Our radio system is an integral part of the Sea Adventure Camp Safety Plan.  Radios provide a means of communication between the safety boats and a link to the land base.  The procedures for proper use are reviewed with the staff during orientation.  Every instructor carries a waterproof, floating VHF marine radio. Instructors are also asked to bring their cell phones on the water and to periodically check them.

  
Miscellaneous

– Any and all questions regarding a student’s progress should be directed to the Program Director, Haley Barber, who will contact the appropriate instructor to be included in this discussion.

– Children are to be picked up promptly as soon as their class is over by their parent or designated substitute. There is a daily sign in/out sheet on the iPad. Individuals not on a child’s approved list of pick-up persons will be asked to show identification before they will be allowed to leave. If no identification is shown, a child/children will not be released.

– Children may not leave Fort Getty and/or the lunch area by the tent during lunch if they are in a full-day class.

– When on the water, no sailors will be left unattended. All sailors will sail out of and return together as a group.  All boats must stay within hailing distance of one another and/or the coach boat.

– Sailors will exercise great care in the use of Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation sailboats and equipment.  Sailors shall make every possible effort to avoid any collisions between boats and/or other obstructions.

Jamestown Sea Adventure Rules & Expected Behavior

1. NO CAMPER IS ALLOWED ON THE PIER OR BOATS WITHOUT A LIFE JACKET ON, ZIPPED AND PROPERLY FITTED.
2. All sailors must wear closed toed shoes when participating in CISF’S Jamestown Sea Adventure Camp.
3. No littering on land or water.
4. Personal property is the responsibility of the student and not Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation or the Instructors.  No electronic devices are allowed, i.e. CD, Gameboys, Walkman’s, iPods, etc.
5. No pushing, shoving, hitting, or use of profanity.  No disruptive behavior, disrespectful gestures, actions or language.
6. No jumping off boats without instructor’s permission.  If they say you can swim, it is important to stay near your boat so you can easily get back in and so that it doesn’t drift away or go up on the rocks.
7. Students are NEVER allowed to jump off out of their boats during a tow!
8. Stay in the area where the instructors and other students are, unless you ask the instructor’s permission to leave.

First violation of Rules: Child will be reprimanded privately whenever possible.

Second violation of Rules: The Head Instructor and/or Camp Coordinator, Meg Myles, will speak to the child and potentially the parents as well.

Third violation of Rules: The offending child will be suspended for one day.

Continued abuse of the rules by the participant after a parent is notified will result in expulsion from the program (fee will not be refunded).

Jamestown Sea Adventure Camp Discipline Policy

CISF’s discipline policy maintains that each child will have three chances to correct any poor behavior or rule transgression. Below are our three steps in order:

1. If there is a problem, depending on the severity, the Instructor will try to manage the problem on his or her own.
2. If a problem persists with the same student, or the problem is or becomes more severe, the Head Instructor and Executive Director (Meg Myles) will be brought in to handle the situation.
3. The Executive Director (Meg Myles) will contact the student’s parents if the problem persists.
4. Incidents that persist after parents have been notified will result in one of the following: • The child will be required to not attend one or more classes • The child will be removed from the program for the duration of the week or weeks. No refunds will be given in this situation.

Behavior problems include, but are not limited to, inappropriate language, destruction of property, physical abuse to another student or instructor, and bullying.

Under no circumstances will an instructor leave the water for a discipline problem and leave the rest of the class on the water unsupervised.

Jamestown Sea Adventure Camp Emergency Procedure

In the event of an emergency or incident, the Instructor involved in the situation will:

1. GET HELP

FIRE: Get children and staff out of the area

INJURY: Provide immediate first aid

• Call 911
• Disburse onlookers

INCIDENT: Robbery, collision (boat/car), trespasser, stolen property/boat, …

• Call Police: 423-1212

For less serious incidents (i.e. Coast Guard/Harbor Police stop, etc…) contact Executive Director, Meg Myles – 401-855-6643; or Board member, Jim Bryer 401-226-1684 

For more serious incidents:

2. THEN CALL:

• Parents of Individual Injured

1. THE ABOVE WILL CONTACT:

• CISF Board
• Crisis Counselor

Accidents, injuries, and incidents MUST be reported in writing as soon as possible after their occurrence to the CISF Executive Director and Camp Coordinator, Meg Myles.

[ DOWNLOAD SAFETY PLAN PDF ]