Health & Safety

The health, safety, and well-being of campers and staff is Camp Pemigewassett's foremost priority. As an accredited member of the American Camp Association, Pemi undergoes rigorous assessment every three years and consistently meets—and in most cases exceeds—all ACA standards for every aspect of camp administration, which includes criminal and sex offender background checks on all employees. The camp is also inspected and licensed by the state of New Hampshire for compliance with strict health and safety standards.

Staff Training

Pemi staff gathers twelve days before our campers arrive for comprehensive training. In addition to instruction from professional educators in lesson planning and teaching skills, all staff members discuss and practice conflict management skills, learn about characteristics and needs of camp-age boys, and are certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR. Pemi's philosophy is for all members of the community to be inclusive, respectful, and nurturing.

Medical Care

Two qualified nurses are on-site at Pemi's Health Center. Our nurses dispense medications (supplied by CampMeds) at mealtime and look after the daily medical needs of an active camp community. Emergencies and severe illnesses are cared for at either Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth (twenty minutes away) or at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical center in Hanover/Lebanon, only forty minutes away and with emergency helicopter service. In case of serious illness or injury, parents will be notified immediately.

Medication

All campers and staff who take pills on a daily basis are required to enroll with CampMeds to have their medications dispensed and shipped to Pemi. This includes prescription and non-prescription pills (such as Claritin or Zyrtec for allergies, vitamins, and fish oil). Our Health Center stocks as-needed over-the-counter medication such as Tums, Tylenol, Benadryl, and Nyquil. Medications are dispensed at mealtimes. Only if it is medically necessary and if a specific time is written on the prescription will the meds be dispensed at a different time of day. Campmeds is an American Camp Association business affiliate, has been successfully providing service to over 100 camps throughout the US for the past seven summers, and comes highly recommended by our own camp families. For extensive details, deadlines, fees and insurance information as well as Q and A's on CampMeds, please click here. Please visit www.campmeds.com for more information and to enroll.

Water Safety

Swimming is allowed only at certain specified times in designated swimming areas and is always closely supervised, with trained counselors on duty. Pemi uses the Red Cross “buddy” system, and certified Lifeguards supervise all swimming activity.

Drivers

Drivers of camp vehicles are age 21 or older and are trained and authorized by camp directors.