10-144 C.M.R. ch. 208, § 7 - PROGRAMS AND PROGRAM STAFF REQUIREMENTS

7.A. GENERAL PROGRAMS:

7.A.1. The instructor in charge of a program including those listed below shall be mature an adult and competent in the skills specific to the activity. S

7.B. AQUATICS PROGRAM.

7.B.1. Aquatics shall include but not be limited to the activities listed in 7.B.

7.B.1.a. All docks, floats and other aquatic activity areas shall be maintained safe and in good repair. S

7.B.2. AQUATICS STAFF The aquatics director shall be in charge and oversee all aspects of the aquatics program and shall be at least 21 years of age and hold or have evidence of having held within the last 5 years one of the following certifications: C

1. Lifeguard training from a NRCB; or

2. Swim Instructor certification from a NRCB; or

3. Instructor or Instructor Trainer rating from a NRCB; or

4. Equivalent certification

7.B.2.a. When aquatic activities are occurring, at least one LIFEGUARD shall be present on the waterfront and readily accessible to each activity area. C

7.B.3. SWIMMING

7.B.3.a. The construction, modification, maintenance and operation of any artificial bathing place in a youth camp shall be subject to Department of Health and Human Services Rules Relating to Public Swimming Pools and Spas, 10-144 C.M.R. Ch. 202. NC

7.B.3.b. All designated swimming areas at camp shall be clearly marked. S

7.B.3.c. Any person who wishes to go swimming shall be classified according to ability in swimming, and shall be supervised according to this classification. C

7.B3. d. A system of checking persons in and out of the water for swimming shall be used. C

7.B.3.e. Swimming after dark shall be prohibited unless adequate artificial lighting is provided. C

7.B.3.f. All swimming areas shall be provided with an adequate number of lifesaving devices that are positioned to be readily accessible to all swimming areas. The life saving equipment shall be kept in working order. C

7.B.3.g. Swimming rules shall be posted on the waterfront. S

7.B.4. SWIMMING STAFF

7.B.4.a. There shall be at least one adult swimming instructor for instructional swimming activities who shall have swim instructor or swim instructor trainer certification from a NRCB or equivalent certification. Additional swim instructors may be non-certified instructional assistants who are under the immediate supervision and direction of the certified instructor and have demonstrated elementary rescue skills. C

7.B.4.b. For all instructional swimming there shall be swim instructors in a ratio to participants appropriate to the conditions under which swim instruction occurs. C

7.B.4.c. For all swimming activities the youth camp shall provide at least one LIFEGUARD for every 20 persons in the water. C

7.B.5. WATERCRAFT

7.B.5.b. All watercraft activities shall have a suitably equipped rescue boat appropriately located to promptly respond to emergencies. C

7.B.5.c. All watercraft shall be equipped with one wearable type I, II or III personal floatation device (PFD) for each person in the boat. Campers shall wear PFDs at all times while in watercraft, except as specified under Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Watercraft Regulations, 09-137 C.M.R. Ch. 13. C

7.B.5.d. All watercraft with an electric starting gasoline motor shall be equipped with a B-1 hand portable fire extinguisher. C

7.B.5.e. All motorized watercraft shall be equipped with a throwable type, Coast Guard approved PFD (Professional Flotation Device). C

7.B.5.f. Watercraft rules shall be posted at boating areas. S

7.B.5.g. Camps with watercraft programs shall instruct all watercraft program participants including staff and campers in Maine basic boating laws. S

7.B.6. WATERCRAFT STAFF

7.B.6.a The watercraft director shall be an ADULT who holds one of the following: C

1. Instructor rating in the appropriate craft from a NRCB, or

2. Lifeguard training from a NRCB, or

3 Other appropriate certification or license, or

4. Other appropriate documented training or experience.

7.B.6.b. All persons instructing watercraft activities shall be evaluated by the aquatics director or designee to determine qualification to be an instructor for the watercraft activities conducted. C

7.B.6.c. Each watercraft activity shall be supervised by one or more qualified watercraft staff appropriate to the conditions under which watercraft activities occur. C

7.B.7. MOTORIZED WATERCRAFT OPERATORS

7.B.7.a. All persons who operate motorized watercraft shall have knowledge of Maine boating laws. S

7.B.8. SCUBA DIVING

7.B.8.a All scuba diving instructors shall be an adult and have a current SCUBA Instructor rating from a NRCB. C

7.C. ADVENTURE CHALLENGE (e.g. climbing, rappelling and ropes courses)

7.C.1. ADVENTURE CHALLENGE PROGRAM.

7.C.1.a. Prior to the seasonal operation of an adventure challenge course, the youth camp shall assess all course elements including all hardware, materials and equipment for safety and integrity. Camps operating adventure challenge courses containing both low and high or just high elements shall have an annual inspection of all course elements by qualified personnel for integrity of all hardware, materials and equipment. Camps with courses containing only low elements shall have this inspection biennially. The inspection shall include a written report detailing the condition of all equipment, materials and hardware and the corrective action and/or the corrective action plan taken by the camp. C

7.C.1.b. The operator or designee shall cause written records to be maintained for the maintenance of equipment and elements utilized in the Adventure Challenge program in accordance with the corrective actions taken and/or the corrective action plan. C

7.C.1.c. The adventure challenge staff shall assess the safety of all elements prior to each use. C

7.C.1.d. Adventure challenge regulations shall be posted at each adventure challenge area. S

7.C.2. ADVENTURE CHALLENGE STAFF

STAFF

7.C.2.a. The adventure challenge director shall be an adult with documented training from an authoritative source and experience, or documented experience appropriate to the program elements in adventure challenge activities. C

7.C.2.b. The operator or designee shall evaluate the qualifications of all persons instructing adventure challenge activities. C

7.C.2.c. The adventure challenge director or an adventure challenge instructor shall be present whenever campers are performing adventure challenge activities. This person shall be an adult when high elements are in use. C

7.D. EQUESTRIAN

7.D.1. EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES

7.D.1.a. Stables, corrals, paddocks and riding rings shall be clean, dry free from standing water, accumulation of manure, and provided with an adequate supply of fresh water. NC

7.D.1.b. Manure removed from stables, corrals paddocks or riding rings shall not be stored within 300 feet of potable water supply, sleeping and eating facilities and bodies of water. C

7.D.1.c. All self-watering water troughs without an air gap shall be equipped with backflow prevention. C

7.D.2. EQUESTRIAN PROGRAM

7.D.2.a. Access to stables, corrals, paddocks and riding rings shall be controlled. NC

7.D.2.b. Riding equipment shall be maintained in good repair. C

7.D.2.c. Riders shall be assessed for rider skill level and assigned to appropriate horses, equipment and activities. C

7.D.2.d. Riders shall wear appropriate apparel including helmets, boots or suitable shoes and long pants. C

7.D.2.e. Riding regulations shall be posted at each equestrian area. S

7.D.2.f. Equestrian staff shall assess the health and soundness of each horse daily. Lame horses shall not be ridden. C

7.D.2.g. Horses shall receive proper care and treatment. C

7.D.3. EQUESTRIAN STAFF

7.D.3.a. The equestrian director shall be an ADULT and hold at least one of the following: C

1. Certification as an instructor from a NRCB or riding school, or

2. Documented endorsements of successful experience in formal horseback riding instruction.

7.D.3.b. The operator or designee shall evaluate the qualifications of all persons instructing equestrian activities. C

7.E. TARGET SPORTS

7.E.1. TARGET SPORTS PROGRAM.

7.E.1.a Firearms, ammunition, archery equipment and other hazardous weapons shall be kept in locked compartments when not in use. C

7.E.1.b. Firearms and ammunition shall be stored in separate locked compartments. C

7.E.1.c. Overnight storage of firearms and ammunition shall be at a secure location and under double lock. C

7.E.1.d. Target sport activity locations shall be designed to prevent danger from fired bullets or arrows and maintained in a safe condition. C

7.E.1.e. Target sport regulations shall be posted at each separate target sport location. S

7.E.2. TARGET SPORT STAFF

7.E.2.a. The riflery director shall be an ADULTand have certification from a NRCB or other documented training or experience. C

7.E.2.b. The archery director shall be an ADULT and have certification from a NRCB or other documented training or experience. C

7.E.2.c. The operator or designee shall evaluate the qualifications of all persons instructing Target Sports. C

7.E.2.d. Adult target sport instructors shall be present whenever ranges are in use. C

7.F. TRIP CAMPING

7.F.1. PRIMITIVE FACILITIES. Primitive Facilities shall be operated so as to meet basic safety and public health requirements. C

7.F.2. TOILETS. Primitive Facilities and primitive camp sites not provided with privies should use the most environmentally appropriate method of disposing of solid human waste such as packing it out and cat hole disposal. Any disposal area shall be located at least 100 feet from any stream, lake, well, spring, or wetland and shall be at least 50 feet from any sleeping area .C

7.F.3. WATER SUPPLY. Drinking water used on trips away from camp, shall be known to be safe, or made safe before using. C

7.F.3.a Any of the following methods may be used for water purification. Each method shall be performed in accordance with the appropriate protocols. C

1. Halazone tablets;

2. Hypochlorite preparation;

3. Boiling water for 20 minutes;

4. Filter water with a filter capable of removing bacteria and viruses; or

5. Equivalent method meeting EPA disinfection standards for safe drinking water.

7.F.4. SOLID WASTE. At Primitive Facilities and primitive camp sites, all refuse shall be packed out to appropriate disposal facilities. No refuse shall be buried. C

7.F.5. FOOD. Only those foods capable of being maintained in a wholesome condition at proper temperatures with the equipment available shall be served on trips away from camp. C

7.F.5.a. The trip leader shall demonstrate knowledge of safe food handling practices and the prevention of cross contamination in accordance with Appendix A and shall be responsible that all food be handled properly. C

7.F.6. UTENSILS AND EQUIPMENT.

Utensils and equipment shall be washed in warm water with soap, rinsed, and sanitized by one of the following methods:

In boiling water;

In a warm chlorine solution that has between 50 and 100ppm available chlorine;

In a warm Quaternary Ammonium Compound solution used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions;

Or other sanitizing solutions listed in 21 CFR 178.1010. C

7.F.7. SAFETY.

7.F.7.a. Adequate instructions and supervision shall be provided for those campers using the primitive facilities. The experience of each camper shall beevaluated prior to Trip Camping. S

7.F.7.b. The trip staff members shall have specific information and training on how and where to obtain medical and emergency assistance on the trip. C

7.F.7.c. Campers and staff shall be instructed about how to protect themselves from the elements with proper shelters and appropriate clothing while trip camping. NC

7.F.7.d. The itinerary for trip camping shall be filed with the Camp Director or designee. S

7.E.7.e. Copies of health records shall be taken on trip camping. C

7.F.7.f. The trip leader shall keep a written record of medical treatments including medications dispensed during trip camping. C

7.F.7.g. A first aid kit, as specified in section 5.A.1 1., shall be available for trip camping. C

7.F.8 TRIP CAMPING STAFF.

7.F.8.a. The trip camping leader shall be an adult and possess skills in tripping, experience as a trip counselor, judgment and leadership. The trip camping leader shall have a valid Camp Trip Leaders Permit, if required by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. C

7.F.8.b At least one staff holding a valid Wilderness First Aid Certificate or equivalent NRCB training shall be present on all wilderness trip camping. C

7.F.8.c. A minimum ratio of one staff member to six (6) campers shall accompany campers on trip camping. C

Notes

10-144 C.M.R. ch. 208, § 7