Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 105 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH › Title 105 CMR 430.000 - Minimum Standards for Recreational Camps for Children (State Sanitary Code, Chapter IV) › Section 430.103 - Supervision and Operation of Specialized High Risk Activities

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Each recreational camp for children which conducts specialized
				high risk activities, either on or off-site, including, but not limited to,
				horseback riding, hiking, scuba diving, rock climbing, firearms, archery,
				challenge courses, climbing walls, watercraft and aquatic activities, shall
				conduct such activities only under the supervision of a counselor who has
				evidence of appropriate training, certification and experience in each activity
				under their supervision. Said counselor shall be present during periods of
				specialized high risk activity. All camps that provide on-site aquatics
				activities shall have an aquatics director. If 50 or more campers are in the
				water or near the water, the aquatics director must be present to directly
				supervise the activities and may be one of the on-duty lifeguards. The operator
				shall make adequate provisions to assure any special training necessary for
				camp personnel to protect the safety and health of campers with disabilities.
				Any recreational camp for children that operates specialized high risk
				activities outside of Massachusetts shall comply with all state and local laws
				or regulations for such activities in the state or local jurisdiction where the
				activity is held and ensure that facilities hold any required licenses or
				permits for the specialized high risk activity where they operate.
(A)
Swimming
.
			 Swimming shall be supervised by one counselor for every ten campers in the
			 water or near the water. For every 25 campers swimming, or portion thereof,
			 there shall also be at least one lifeguard. If swimming activities occur at a
			 location separate from the camp, the camp shall provide supervision by
			 lifeguards as required in 105 CMR 430.103 but is not required to provide an
			 aquatics director. Supervision of swimming, if not provided by camp staff, may
			 be allowed through a contractual agreement between the camp and the owner or
			 operator of the swimming venue to supply dedicated lifeguards at the required
			 ratio of one lifeguard for each 25 campers in or near the water.
(B)
Watercraft
.
(1) All watercraft activities shall be
			 supervised by a minimum of one counselor for every ten campers in watercraft.
			 For every 25 campers participating in watercraft activity, or portion thereof,
			 one counselor shall be a lifeguard. Each counselor operating or supervising
			 watercraft activities shall have documented in-person participatory training
			 specific to the watercraft activities being overseen.
(2) Each counselor operating or supervising
			 paddle sport watercraft activities shall hold a lifeguard certification or hold
			 certifications in American Red Cross Basic Water Rescue and either American Red
			 Cross Small Craft Safety or the American Canoe Association Paddle Sports
			 course, or an equivalent certification recognized in writing by the Department
			 that demonstrates water rescue procedures specific to the type of water and
			 activities conducted. (3) Each counselor operating or supervising sailing or
			 motor-powered watercraft activities shall:
(a)
			 obtain a Boater Safety Education Certificate issued by the Commonwealth of
			 Massachusetts or an equivalent recognized in writing by the Department;
			 and
(b) comply with all Federal and
			 Massachusetts Boating Laws including M.G.L. c. 90B,
			 323 CMR
			 2.00:
Use of Vessels
, and
			 323 CMR
			 4.00:
The Operation of Personal
			 Watercraft
.
(4)
			 All paddle sport watercraft activities carried out on white water regardless of
			 the number of campers, shall have a minimum of two counselors, each in separate
			 watercraft, supervising the activity. All white water activities must be
			 carried out on water determined to be no more difficult than Class III as
			 defined by the International Scale of River Difficulty. No trips shall be taken
			 on unclassified white water. In addition to the certification and training
			 required by 105 CMR 430.103(B)(2), each counselor shall have evidence of
			 previous training and experience with this type of water activity totaling at
			 least six hours on the water. Sailing and motor-powered watercraft activities
			 shall not be conducted in hazardous salt or freshwater conditions.
(5) Campers shall possess at least an
			 American Red Cross Level 4 or higher Program Certificate, or an equivalent
			 recognized by the Department, in swimming proficiency before being allowed to
			 participate in white water paddle sport watercraft activities.
(6) The operator of each recreational camp
			 conducting watercraft activities shall develop a written boating safety plan,
			 in consultation with the Aquatics Director. Such plan shall include procedures
			 for emergencies on the water and unexpected hazardous water
			 conditions.