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.

2024 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. Camp Winnarainbow will continue to require that all Campers be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to arrival at Camp. Camp Winnarainbow and the CDC strongly recommend that everyone receive the 2023-2024 updated vaccine, but we will accept the primary series plus a booster. Medical exemptions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, please contact the Office for a medical exemption request form. 
*All COVID-19 policies are continually under review and subject to change at any time.*

Click here for ACA Camp specific COVID Information

Vaccination Information Resources:

For more information about being up-to-date on the COVID-19 vaccines, refer to the CDC information here.

If your camper is not yet vaccinated:

  1. Speak to your child’s healthcare provider
  2. Contact your local pharmacy for an appointment
  3. Go to vaccines.gov or myturn.ca.gov to find a vaccination appointment near you. You can also call My Turn at 833-422-4255, they offer translation services in multiple languages.

If you still have concerns about vaccinating your child:

  1. Speak to your child’s healthcare provider
  2. Benefits of Getting A COVID-19 Vaccine
  3. Frequently Asked Questions From Parents/Guardians
  4. Preguntas frecuentes de padres y tutores legales
  5. Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
  6. First 5 California’s COVID Vaccine Resources
  7. Recursos durante el COVID-19
  8. COVID-19: Questions & Answers About Vaccines from Nemours Kids Health
  9. COVID-19: Preguntas y respuestas sobre las vacunas
  10. Vaccine Safety: Get the Facts from the American Academy of Pediatrics
  11. Kids and the COVID-19 Vaccine from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Safety & Mental Health

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

The vast majority of our counselors are certified in first aid and CPR. There are first-aid kits in each tipi and in the Medical Dome. 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 any emergency, and CWR’s emergency plans  are updated annually. Our waterfront has a Waterfront Director and at least four certified lifeguards on duty at all times that 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 special activities (such as  stilts, gymnastics, trapeze, cloud-swing, Spanish Web,  martial arts, unicycle, wrist rockets, etc.). All teachers as well as the Performance Coordinators will monitor classes being taught. Safety guidelines must be strictly enforced with no exceptions. Specialized activities must always be done with supervision of an Adult Staff member authorized to lead that activity. 

In addition to physical care we offer mental health support through our everyday focus on inclusion. Each session we have trained Camper Advocates, whose role is to support staff who are caring for high needs campers. Camper Advocates are supervised by and work closely with the Director to achieve successful and positive camp experiences. 

If you have questions about how your camper’s needs would be supported at Winnarainbow, please call the office to speak with the Director prior to arriving at Camp.

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.