Safety and Security
Keeping our campers safe is our number one priority at camp. Our goal is to be a loving, transparent community that honors the Lord. We create this type of environment with intentional planning, awareness, and training.
We see safety and security as a multi-faceted focus that involves both our staff and our campers. We work to create a trusting and tight-knit community that is pure delight!
Staff Hiring:
Our staff go through a rigorous hiring process in order to become a Greystone employee. All staff must:
- Complete a detailed application explaining their beliefs and qualifications
- Interview with our Directors
- Provide at least three references
- Submit information for a background check and nationwide criminal and sex offender search
Staff Training:
Prior to the summer, our Directors and staff complete a Sexual Abuse Awareness Training through MinistrySafe, an industry leader in educating staff on abuse risk management and prevention. Once at camp, staff then participate in a week-long Orientation where they hear from a certified mental health counselor and a pediatrician about child development and age-appropriate behaviors for each camper group. A lawyer then educates staff on North Carolina’s mandatory reporting of child abuse policies and explains appropriate and inappropriate discussion topics with minors.
Staff also receive training on many other aspects of camp, some of which include:
- Creating a safe environment in the day-to-day life of camp
- Following our supervision standards, including never being alone with a camper (our “rule of 3”)
- Using appropriate discipline strategies with campers
- Recognizing bullying and knowing how to respond
- Understanding appropriate and inappropriate touch and maintaining clear boundaries
- Risk management across activities and cabin life
- Knowing what to do in an emergency, including how to communicate and respond in a wide range of situations (such as seeing an unknown person on property, injuries, missing campers, weather emergencies, fire, evacuations, and more)
Part of this staff training includes running through drills and practicing these scenarios to ensure all staff understand what to do if an emergency were to occur.
Camper Training:
It is not enough for our staff to be trained; we also want our campers to feel confident, safe, and cared for each summer. Our camper training is age-appropriate and practical. On Opening Day, we start each session with a camp-wide meeting to explain the type of community we want to create:
- Campers learn who to go to if they need something. We also have a comment box on our Office porch where girls can leave a note anonymously if they don’t feel comfortable talking to someone.
- We explain our no-tolerance policy for bullying, inappropriate talk or topics, gossip, or cussing. We remind girls that they cannot go into another camper’s cabin and should not take pictures or videos of girls in the shower or while changing.
- Counselors then review Greystone’s Honor Code with their campers, as we work to be a community that is kind and loving, seeing the good in others.
In addition to expectations regarding kindness and behavior, we also cover topics such as being mindful of others’ belongings and personal space, the camp dress code, respecting camp property, and appropriate and inappropriate touch. We also go over specific safety measures such as fire drills, weather safety, and lock down scenarios.
The HEART of Greystone
Our goal at camp is simple: to glorify God in all that we do. In order to do this, we encourage girls to live out the HEART of Greystone:
H: Hear something, say something We do not keep secrets. If you hear something, say something - to your counselor, Group Leader, or a Director. Greystone Girls use their voices to help each other. Phillipians 2:4; Romans 12:5
E: Encourage others with your words We are a community that supports each other with our words. We do not want to hurt others or bring them down. We speak positively about others. 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Ephesians 4:29
A: Advocate for yourself and others If you need help, speak up and tell someone. If you see something wrong with a friend, tell someone or encourage that friend to speak up for herself. Camp is full of people that can help. Romans 12:5; Hebrews 12:1
R: Respect privacy and space We respect each other’s privacy when someone is showering, changing, or just needs space. We do not touch, use, or borrow our friend’s things without asking. We show love by respecting each other. Matthew 7:12; Mark 12:31
T: Treat others with kindness We see the good in others and are slow to make judgements. We do not tolerate bullying. We include others so that no one feels left out. Ephesians 4:32; Psalm 133:1
ACA Accreditation and Best Practices
Camp Greystone is a member of the American Camp Association and has achieved accreditation status for many years. During the last accreditation process, Greystone received a perfect 100 score.
We meet regularly with local camps and other professionals in our area, including the fire chief and law enforcement. Greystone attends all NCYCA meetings (the association of North Carolina camps), and one of our Directors serves on its board.
Emergency Communication
If an emergency were to occur on property, we would contact parents as quickly as possible with clear, timely information. All parents are automatically enrolled in our emergency texting and calling system, and we have back-up internet, power, and phone capabilities should our normal infrastructure be interrupted.
On property, Greystone has a camp-wide PA system that can be used in an emergency, along with two-way radios placed strategically around camp and within our cabin area, bells, and an emergency warning alarm. Our cabins are located together in one central area, which helps with communication and supervision. Many members of our Director and Head Staff teams, as well as our nurses and camp doctor, live in the camper cabin area, providing quick support if it is needed.
Weather Emergencies
Our Greystone cabins are not located in a floodplain. For many years, we have trained staff and campers on what to do during severe weather, and we monitor conditions closely throughout the summer. We use multiple tools to stay aware and respond appropriately, including our lightning detection system, NOAA weather monitoring, and local partnerships supported through our StormReady Supporter certification. Our cabins are located uphill and away from lake water, which provides an added layer of protection in heavy rain events.
Security
Camp Greystone is a gated community with access to our facility strictly limited and monitored. Once the campers arrive, we embrace the “bubble” of camp life with a Visitor-Free policy; anyone within the gates of camp is specifically admitted and is under the supervision of one of our staff members.
There are many benefits to this arrangement, one of which is enhanced security. The tight knit community which results from this camp environment is what we call the Greystone Bubble!
We want Greystone to be a safe and secure environment, and to reach that goal, we update our systems as needed. Most recently, we hired a top-level security firm to perform a multi-day, on-site assessment of Greystone including evaluating our facility, as well as our policies and procedures.
There are many details that go into our comprehensive security plan, including locked gates, security cameras, a security guard who patrols the campus, and much more. The Deputy Chief of the local fire department works here at Greystone, and we also employ many law enforcement officers who patrol Greystone’s property at night.
We continually improve this “unseen” aspect of the camp experience and are confident that Greystone provides the highest standard of safety and security for our campers, meeting, and often exceeding, the standards set by ACA and the state of North Carolina.
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