In my recent blog, “Why Trust Camp Alleghany?,” I shared how trust is at the heart of everything we do, from how we care for campers to how we communicate with families. But trust doesn’t exist in theory, it’s built through action. At Alleghany, that action begins with safety.
Safety is the foundation of trust at camp. It’s the promise we make to every parent and camper: that our environment is not only fun and adventurous but also intentional, prepared, and caring. True safety isn’t about saying “be careful,” it’s about creating systems and a culture that allow campers to stretch, explore, and grow while knowing they’re supported every step of the way.
From the riverbank to the campfire, from tents to canoe trips, every decision we make begins with one question: Is this safe for our campers, for our staff, and for our community as a whole? Because when children feel safe, they don’t just attend camp, they thrive at camp.
Safety as a Core Value
When families send their children to camp, they are entrusting us with their most precious thing. That’s a responsibility we take seriously every single day. Safety isn’t one department’s job, it’s everyone’s. It starts with our hiring and training, continues through daily supervision and ongoing evaluation, and touches every corner of camp life.
This commitment is also what allows us to uphold one of camp’s greatest gifts: independence. We want campers to feel brave enough to try new things such as learning to shoot an arrow, leading a song, or swimming in the river, knowing that there are caring adults, solid systems, and proven safety measures supporting them at every turn.
As Stephanie, our Program Director, emphasizes to staff each summer, safety is the foundation of every activity at camp.
“During staff training, we start with safety in every program area, before the fun, the achievement, or the success, because none of those things can happen unless we first know our campers are safe.”
Her perspective captures what we all believe: safety isn’t the opposite of fun—it’s what makes fun possible. When campers know they are secure and cared for, they can take healthy risks, try new things, and discover their confidence.
Physical, Emotional, and Social Safety
At Alleghany, we define safety in three interconnected ways:
- Physical safety means keeping our campers and staff healthy and protected through training, maintenance, and planning. That includes everything from lifeguard certifications and daily tent inspections to emergency procedures and medical care.
- Emotional safety means creating a culture of kindness, empathy, and respect. Policies like our No Gossip Policy might sound simple, but they’re powerful. When campers know that unkind talk won’t be tolerated, they learn to resolve conflicts directly and support one another.
- Social safety means belonging, feeling known, accepted, and part of something larger than yourself. Through tent living, group meals, and shared traditions, campers learn that Alleghany is a place where everyone has a role and every voice matters.
Each of these forms of safety supports the others. A camper who feels emotionally secure is more likely to take a physical challenge like trying the Ropes Course; a camper who feels physically safe is more willing to open up socially.
Tradition and Structure as Safety Systems
Camp Alleghany’s traditions aren’t just nostalgic, they’re strategic. The structure and rituals that shape our days are part of what keeps campers safe.
The buddy system at the river, the tent-living model that fosters close supervision and peer accountability, and the structured counselor downtime periods that allow staff to recharge and return with fresh energy are all woven into the daily fabric of camp.
Even our simple community routines, like “LUTAT” (Lunch Under the Apple Tree), Campfires, or Blues & Whites build predictability and connection. That rhythm gives campers a sense of security: they know what to expect, and they know they’re part of something steady and caring.
Safety, in other words, is built into our culture, not layered on top of it.
Accredited. Accountable. Always Improving.
Camp Alleghany is proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), a distinction that fewer than 25 percent of camps nationwide hold. ACA accreditation means we voluntarily meet and regularly review hundreds of nationally recognized standards for health, safety, and program quality.
Every five years, we participate in a detailed accreditation visit with ACA-trained reviewers who assess our practices in key areas such as program design, staff training, aquatics, emergency management, health and wellness, and food service. Between visits, we are required to continue to meet the standards and prove it through a paperwork process each year. We also use the ACA standards as a guide for growth, constantly reviewing our systems and identifying areas for improvement.
For families, ACA accreditation provides an added layer of reassurance: it’s a public commitment that we not only meet but exceed the minimum requirements for youth safety and development. For our team, it’s a roadmap that keeps us accountable, informed, and aligned with the highest industry standards.
Did You Know?
Each blog in this series will have a Did You Know section dedicated to the ACA standards. This week, our focus area is: Staff Qualifications, Training, and Supervision.
Did you know?
Before assuming any job responsibilities, all Camp Alleghany staff directly involved in camp programming and camper supervision complete an extensive, ACA-standard training that covers:
- Our mission and philosophy, and how these guide daily activities and decisions;
- The developmental needs of campers, and how programs adapt for different ages;
- Safety procedures and skill progression in every activity area;
- Positive behavior management techniques that foster emotional safety;
- Clear expectations for staff conduct and professionalism;
- The recognition and reporting of child abuse; and
- Detailed emergency procedures and each staff member’s role in carrying them out.
At Camp Alleghany, these standards aren’t a once-a-year checklist, they’re woven into our culture. Our staff training extends over two weeks and includes certifications, scenario-based learning, and hands-on skill practice. When camp opens, every counselor knows exactly how to keep campers safe, supported, and seen because preparation creates peace of mind for everyone.
Looking Ahead
This is just the beginning of our Safety Series. In upcoming posts, we’ll take you behind the scenes to explore:
- How our staff training and emergency preparedness keep camp ready for anything,
- How we partner with healthcare professionals and local agencies to protect camper wellbeing, and
- How our culture of care and connection turns safety from a rulebook into a way of life.
Because at Camp Alleghany, safety isn’t something we talk about once—it’s something we practice every single day.
We hope you’ll follow along as this series continues over the coming months. Each post will take a deeper look into the systems, training, and values that keep Camp Alleghany safe, prepared, and thriving. Whether you’re a current parent, future family, or lifelong Ghany alum, we invite you to join us in learning how safety, and the trust it creates, shapes every experience at camp.
