As the school year comes to a close, the Coalition for the Protection of Children is issuing a warning to parents over the lack of a formal licensing regime for the Island’s summer camps.

“Many parents don’t know that there is no legislation governing the establishment and operation of these camps,” said the organisation’s founder, Sheelagh Cooper.

“We have been very fortunate over the past few years that nothing has happened of any magnitude. But clearly this is an accident waiting to happen.”

Problematic scenarios observed in recent years included “long lines of children being escorted by teenagers to go swimming”, or having too many children at once in a vehicle without seat belts.

“I have spoken to the Government over the need for regulations on things like safety and background checks,” Ms Cooper said. However, she said that there had been no response to the group’s concerns.

“In a way, it’s more important to regulate summer camps than it is nursery schools because of so many children moving around so much in locations that can be potentially life-threatening, such as the beach.

“We decided to set up our own set of guidelines for parents to do their due diligence for the safety of their children’s camps.” Camp operators should be at least 21 years old, she said, with two years of experience of working with children.

Staff should be a minimum of 16 years old with first aid and child-minding training, which is available through the Bermuda Red Cross.

The Coalition recommended a maximum of ten children per supervisor for children between the ages of 5 and 8, and 12 children per supervisor for those aged 9 to 14.

In particular, Ms Cooper said water activities needed to be set for “designated areas at stated times”, with a ratio of six children over the age of 5 per staff member.

Camp locations should come with sufficient shade, drinking water and food, plus a fully stocked first aid box, adequate sanitary accommodations and both indoor and outdoor space provided.

“We’re encouraging people to ask these questions when they’re choosing a camp for their child,” Ms Cooper said.

She added that the Coalition could assist with certification or subsidise camp counsellors in receiving CPR training.

“Unfortunately, virtually anyone can open a camp, take in as many children of any age and supervise them with young, inexperienced teenagers taking them swimming, driving around too many in a car or, for that matter, spending the day in a virtual parking lot, with no water or shade if they so choose.”