Health & Safety
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The importance of health & safety
The health and safety of each camper is of utmost importance to the directors and counselors. Every safety and health precaution is taken to protect campers from sickness or accident. A person trained in first aid is on duty at all times, and emergency care is available a short distance away.
During camper check-in (Sundays 1 – 5 pm), all parents meet with the designated counselor to discuss health concerns and medications. All medications must be in a bag with instructions. The Wisconsin Law does not allow any medications of any type to be kept in the cabins by the campers and they must be locked up in a secure location.
We always seek medical treatment if there is the slightest question as to whether or not a child is ill or injured, and the parent will be contacted immediately. The camp complies with all local and state health and safety requirements.
Cabin Life
Much of the growth and development children experience at camp comes through the experience of living together in a camp setting with their counselor. Camp allows children to develop newly found confidence in dealing with real-life situations including camper health and safety.
Living in a cabin with children of different backgrounds encourages campers to work together as a team. Early in the camp session, all counselors meet with the cabin members to establishing rules of cabin conduct (each camper participates and gives input at every cabin meeting). Campers take turns sweeping, and doing cabin chores, striving to have the cleanest cabin at inspection time. Each camper is reminded to maintain personal hygiene daily.
Campers are assigned cabins by age. There are two pods each for boys and girls. Each camper selects a bunk bed. Each pod houses 15 campers. All counselors also lives and sleeps in the cabin with the campers. All cabins have electricity and is air conditioned.
Each night, counselors lead informal “rap” discussions with their cabins. Campers love the sense of validation, belonging, and self-respect they gain from living together in their own cabin group. Counselors may read bedtime stories and have special group sharing time each night in the cabin prior to lights out.
Meal Times
During mealtime, campers enjoy A LOT of talking or singing, mail call and well-balanced nutritious, delicious meals. Our nourishing and creative meals are served buffet-style with counselors seated at each table to assist with proper meal-time etiquette. Campers are encouraged to try new foods.
If your child has an allergy or medical condition requiring special foods, our kitchen staff is happy to accommodate your requests (please let us know in advance of your arrival).
Snack time is held each afternoon at the camp. Campers are encouraged to return for many water refills to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Weather Management
Severe Weather (Storms/Tornados)
Our staff continuously monitors weather forecasts to stay ahead of any potential threats. Our camp is equipped with a basement. Our staff is trained to swiftly and safely move campers to the location if needed, minimizing any risk.
Heat Stroke/Heat Exhaustion
The staff takes steps to ensure the campers do not develop these symptoms during the hot weather. It does get hot at the camp. Steps included to make sure the campers are hydrated by drinking water bottle frequently, take breaks from the intense activities, schedule activities in the shade, as well as put on sunscreen lotion.
Sun Blisters
It can happen to the fair skinned campers. The counselors asked all the campers to put on sunscreen lotion each time an activity takes place outside. Should the sun blisters developed, the blisters will be left alone and treated appropriately.
Air Quality
The air quality in Wisconsin is very clear. The only time the air quality is affected is when the Canadian wildfires is occurring. During that time, the campers are kept inside the lodge during the peak times.
JEDI Social Justice Practices
Justice
KODA Camp Midwest will critically examine its own structures and practices proactively, particularly when a new structure or practice is established and whenever injustice occurs, and dismantle the structures and practices that led to injustice.
Equity
Equity recognizes that we do not all start from the same place and acknowledges and addresses historical and current imbalances.
Dignity
Representation of all the characteristics that make up human differences, including but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, class, physical and mental ability, religion, political belief, national origin, and other social identities represented in a space, community, institution, or society.
Inclusion
Ensuring differences are welcomed, different perspectives are respectfully heard, and every individual, especially those who have been historically excluded because of their identities, feels a sense of belonging.
Find out more here: JEDI
Camper Standard of Conduct
Camp is a place where children can be free to have a good time in an un-regimented atmosphere and enjoy many activities with others. We do not expect any discipline problems; however, if a camper’s behavior creates a situation which is detrimental to the other campers, the staff, or the camp program or property, the parents will be notified to pick that camper up immediately. No offensive language or behavior, no pranks, no bullying or intimidation of others, no smoking or tobacco use, no weapons, no cell phones or electronic devices, no alcohol, no drugs or inappropriate reading materials are allowed at KODA Camp. (Please discuss this with your camper).
Visit Us
MacKenzie Center Camp Address:
W7303 County Rd CS-Q Poynette, WI 53955
To get to the camp, you must be on County CS, NOT the King Road that GPS might tell you. CS runs between Hwy 51 and Hwy 22 north of Hwy 60. Sometimes GPS DOES NOT work.