Camp Staff Training: A Day-by-Day Orientation Schedule (Overnight + Day Camp)
September 14, 2026
Good camp staff training is a written, day-by-day plan: about a week for an overnight camp and two to three days for a day camp, with child protection, supervision, emergency drills and the waterfront scheduled before program skills. This walkthrough covers sample schedules for both, and what state camp rules expect.
In this video
- How long staff week should run: about a week on site for overnight camps, two to three days for day camps
- The topics ACA guidance and state camp codes expect, with examples from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas and more
- A sample 7-day overnight orientation schedule and a condensed day camp schedule, with time blocks
- Child abuse prevention and mandated reporting, and why "tell the director" often can't replace a staff member's own report
- Supervision, headcounts and camper-to-camper harm
- Behavior management, de-escalation and homesickness
- Emergency drills: a step-by-step lost-camper drill, lightning and heat
- Waterfront training: counselors as lookouts and buddy-check callers, not lifeguards
- Role-play scenarios for staff week
- How to document who completed what, and refreshers once campers arrive
Resources from this video
What's covered:
Free resources:
VolunteerBadge runs staff and volunteer background checks for $5 each, with ID-and-selfie verification on applications. Where your state names its own check, you must run that check too.
These schedules are examples to adapt, not a checklist that satisfies any regulator, and nothing here is legal or medical advice. Training topics, hours and reporting duties vary by state and change. Confirm yours with your state licensing office or attorney, and have your health and aquatics directors approve those blocks.
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