Health & Safety

Medical Dome & Staff

Our Medical Dome is centrally located in Camp, and there is at least one trained or certified Medical Staff (RN, Nurse Practitioner, or MD) on site 24-hours a day while camp is in session. 

The Medical Dome provides routine health and wellness services, including access to sunscreen, Band-Aids, Vaseline, Q-tips, etc. for campers to provide their own self-care. 

The Medical Staff dispense prescribed and over-the-counter medications according to the instructions that are on the medication bottle.

We do not provide medical treatments or perform medical procedures at Camp. When necessary, we transport campers to the local clinic or dentist, to the hospital or ER – all in consultation with camper caregivers.

COVID-19 Policies

The health and safety of each member of our community is central to our program and critical to providing a fun and immersive experience for all Campers. For the 2025 season, Camp Winnarainbow will highly encourage, but not require, vaccination against COVID-19 for all campers. As in years past, additional mitigation measures (including pre-arrival testing) for the protection of all campers and staff may be announced in the spring. We work carefully with a team of medical experts to manage the risk of transmissible diseases and develop appropriate risk mitigation strategies. Because of our process of continuous review, all COVID-19 policies are subject to change at any time.

Safety & Mental Health

We are proud to offer focused safety strategies for campers’ physical and mental well-being. 

The vast majority of our counselors and staff are certified in first aid and CPR. There are first-aid kits in each tipi, in the Medical Dome, and in other key areas of Camp. All of our circus skills instructors are experienced in teaching skills to children and employ appropriate and certified safety techniques. Staff are trained to keep all Campers safe during emergencies, and CWR’s emergency plans are updated annually. Our lake has a Waterfront Director and certified lifeguards on duty whenever the lake is open. Camp Administrators attend local emergency preparedness meetings to coordinate plans with local authorities.

Safety guidelines and camper/staff supervision ratios have been established for all areas of camp including the lake as well as other specialized activities (such as stilts, gymnastics, aerials, unicycle, etc.). All teachers (as well additional staff) monitor classes to ensure camper safety. Specialized activities must always be done with supervision of an Adult Staff member authorized to lead that activity. 

In addition to physical care, we have trained Camper Advocates on staff every session. The role of Camper Advocates is to support any high-needs campers and the staff who work with them; Camper Advocates may focus on campers experiencing home sickness, overcoming shyness, navigating conflicts, or struggling to adhere to Camp’s rules and expectations. We also work with licensed social workers to develop policies for camper care and support. Camper Advocates are supervised by and work closely with the Director and Camp’s mental health supervisors to achieve successful and positive camp experiences. 

Please note that Camp Winnarainbow does not and cannot provide mental health services or treatment. Campers who start, stop, or change psychiatric medications within 3 months prior to Camp, or who have been hospitalized for mental health treatment within 3 months prior to Camp, or who are actively engaged in self-harm or experiencing an active eating disorder require a level of support and monitoring that Camp Winnarainbow is not able to provide. If you have questions about how your camper’s needs would be supported while at Camp, please call our office (510-525-4304). We have these conversations with many families.

Restorative Process

The Camp Winnarainbow community uses restorative community practices to engage staff and campers in healing approaches to conflict and harm. Conflict on any level is inevitable when we work and live together. Camp is a community that strives to include all people from all walks of life, identities, socio-economic status, cultural and racial backgrounds in an equitable way. Restorative practices teach holistic skills to resolve differences and guide us to take responsibility and be accountable for our actions, in relation to our community and environment.

Restorative processes value healing and growth by attending to the needs and wishes of those harmed, and by providing an opportunity for individuals to take responsibility for behavior. All of our staff are trained in conflict mediation and actively work to support all Campers’ needs before challenges might arise. Our framework of Camper support comes from skilled social workers, years of experience working with Campers, detailed staff training, and ACA guidelines.