Tips from a Camp Pro: The Questions to Ask About Camp Safety and Staff

Tips from a Camp Pro is an ongoing series from Camp Wildfolk founder and Executive Director Cassie Young — known at camp as "Goldie Fox." Cassie has worked in Los Angeles day camps for 25 years and holds an MSW from UCLA specializing in children and families. She is also an ACA-certified Camp Director.

What should I ask a camp about staff background checks and safety before signing up?

Choosing a camp comes down to trust, confidence, and a bit of gut feeling. Here's how to build all three before you commit — and the specific questions worth asking.

Building trust: what to ask about how a camp hires

Ideally, a camp's website already shares information about who they hire and how. If it doesn't, email the camp office and set up a call. A few questions worth asking directly:

• Are staff livescanned (fingerprinted)? Not every camp does this — it's costly, and independent or private camps don't receive the government subsidies that non-profit or publicly run camps do. Wildfolk employees are fingerprinted for DOJ and FBI clearance.

• Who handles injuries, and are they First Aid/CPR certified? Every camp should have at least one certified staff member for this. At Wildfolk, the entire Leadership Team is re-certified each summer and is the only staff authorized to handle first aid; Camp Guides bring injured campers to the office for a check-up and a call or email home.

• Has the Camp Director completed certified training? Look for American Camp Association (ACA) Camp Director certification or a related higher-ed degree. Wildfolk's directors have completed ACA trainings; Cassie is a former MSW social worker at DCFS, an ACA-certified Camp Director, and has trained with nationally recognized camp trainers including Michael Brandwein, Ruby Compton, and Jack Schott.

• Are the counselors supervising my child adults, and what's their background? Many camps hire teenagers as counselors — some are wonderful with kids, but they're often still developing leadership skills. At Wildfolk, Camp Guides start at age 21 with an average age of 30, and most work in education during the school year as teachers, enrichment leaders, instructional aides, or school counselors. Less experienced staff are hired as "Junior Leaders" in support roles rather than being placed directly in charge of kids.

• What are the communication protocols for both everyday and difficult moments? Ask not just about basic risk management, but how the camp responds when a child feels nervous or has a conflict with a friend — not just the fun parts of the day.

Building confidence: what to expect from communication

Once trust is established, confidence builds from early interactions — from a first hello to the clarity of pre-camp emails. At Wildfolk, the team's guiding mantra is "clear communication is strong leadership; clear is kind." That shows up in small details too, like a Day One walk-up check-in that gives families a chance to meet their camper's Guide, ask questions, and share important information before the day begins.

Trusting your gut

Finally, take the temperature yourself. Look for a camp tour or virtual video, and bring your child into the decision when you can — let them explore the website or social media and see how they feel about it. Wildfolk offers virtual tours on its website, staff introduction videos on Instagram, and in-person campus tours each spring.

Three things to check before you choose a camp

• Ask the questions that build trust about who a camp hires and how.

• Look for signs of a capable, well-trained staff and clear safety protocols.

• Check the vibes — does your gut feel good about them?

Have more questions about Camp Wildfolk's staff and safety protocols? See the Fall FAQ or Winter FAQ pages, or reach out directly.