Summer Camp Health and Safety

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Lifeguards will administer a swim test to all campers prior to entering the pool on their own at the General Burns pool. Zen staff will administer a swim test to all campers prior to entering the water on their own at Mooney's Bay.  All swims take place at the General Burns Outdoor Public Pool and Mooney's Bay under the supervision of city lifeguards.  At Mooney's Bay we keep the campers in a confined area when in the water and we have counselors positioned at different points of depth at all times.

The following City of Ottawa rules apply to all campers:

Ages 5-7  - A Zen Counselor must be actively participating in the pool within arms reach at all  times and a life jacket must be worn.

Ages 8-10 - Campers that do not pass the swim test must always be accompanied in the water by a Zen Counselor and a life jacket must be worn.

Ages 8-10 - Campers that successfully complete the facility swim test must always be accompanied by a Zen Counselor.

Ages 11+ - No life jacket or swim test is required.  Campers must be accompanied by a Zen Counselor

The reception of children in the morning will be in the form of a car service.  The counselor will meet parents at the car to take your child and make sure they do not display symptoms of covid-19. If the child has a fever or seems to have symptoms of COVID-19, he/she will unfortunately have to stay in the car. If all goes well, the child will be taken by the counselor into the facility.

No parents will be allowed on site.

If you wish, or if it becomes compulsory, your children can/will wear a mask during the day when indoors.

Children must bring their own water bottle since it will not be possible to drink directly from the fountains. We have a water bottle filling station, so children will be able to fill their bottles at zen.

Children will have their temperature checked by a staff member as required.  They will also wash their hands before eating, before and after an activity requiring the handling of equipment, before and after the toilet and finally before leaving for home.

All our counselors will undergo special training concerning the measures to be taken with COVID-19, in order to ensure the safety of all children.

We take summer camp safety very seriously when allergies are a concern.e allergies.  We strive to work in partnership with a camper, his/her family and medical providers to develop a plan that provides a safe camp environment for the camper. 

We work to increase  awareness as well as minimize a camper’s potential exposure to  allergens, and are prepared to respond in the event that a camper has an  adverse reaction.

Some of the allergies of greatest concern to parents relate to peanuts and tree nuts. We are a nut free camp.   We pay close attention to a camper’s particular allergies and have a  management plan to meet his/her needs.  Whereas it would be impossible  to ensure that campers never come into contact with food residue or a  food item of concern we make every effort to keep the two apart. 

Campers who suffer from  severe allergies as reported on their health forms will be asked to  complete and submit an allergy management plan in consultation with  their parent. and any medication that their child requires for emergency  treatment (i.e. Benadryl, EpiPen, asthma inhaler) in a clearly marked  container. The student’s health form and Allergy Management Plan is  provided to the program director and counselor. Middle and high School  campers for whom an EpiPen is prescribed are expected to carry the  EpiPen with them at all times. All elementary school campers for whom an  EpiPen is prescribed must keep an EpiPen with the program director at  all times. All staff are trained to recognize an allergic reaction,  administer an EpiPen, and contact emergency response personnel. There is  an emergency EpiPen in the camp office and in first aid kit carried on  field trips.

Campers are not allowed to  share food from home and no food is provided by the camp. If a camper  has a severe food allergy, the program directors will institute  practices and cleaning routines in order to minimize exposure. For  example if a camper has a food allergy the instructors will ensure that  the child does not sit with or near a student eating that food, and  require all students to wash their hands after eating.

If your child has a minor accident, the  staff will take such actions to comfort your child (for example,  cleaning a wound, applying a bandage, etc.). If your child has an  accident that results in an injury that requires professional medical  treatment (for example large bumps, head injuries, uncontrollable nose  bleeds, cuts that may require stitches, or possible fractures), the  parent, guardian, or parentally-designated emergency contact person will  be called. You will receive an Incident Report for any injuries, which  will outline the steps that were taken.

In obvious emergency situations, emergency services will be called.

In the event of inclement weather (i.e.  thunderstorms, lightning, extreme heat etc...) during camp activities,  the camp will move all programs indoors.

Reliability checks are done on all staff.  In addition, we strive  to choose camp staff  that teach classes in our other programs  throughout the year to ensure they are well know to management.

Our Program Director, who is with the  campers at all times, is professionally trained in group dynamics,  conflict resolution and bullying/abuse awareness and prevention, and  provides the same training to our Counsellors prior to the start of  camp.  Staff also receive first-aid and CPR training.