Safety is our top priority.

Fun. Safe. Gospel. is more than a motto—it’s our daily mission.

Every activity we design is grounded in joy, structure, and purpose.

Our Campus is intentionally built for both excitement and safety: physically through thoughtful supervision and policies, emotionally through respectful relationships and clear boundaries, and spiritually through a Christ-centered foundation.

Whether it’s a camper’s first time fishing, kayaking, or joining a Bible study under the trees, we want every child to encounter the love of Jesus in an environment that’s secure, meaningful, and unforgettable.

Every director, lead, counselor, and adult staff member is carefully selected through an application, interview, reference-check, and training process.

Before working at Camp, adult staff complete background screening before serving, including Third-Party background checks for County and Multi-Jurisdictional Database and Sex Offender Search with Identity Research.

All Staff are trained in child safety, emergency procedures, abuse prevention, camper supervision, and our Never Alone / Rule of Three policy.

Before serving with campers, staff must understand and agree to Camp Anothen’s standards of conduct, supervision rules, and mandatory reporting expectations.

Supervision is onging. At Camp Anothen, we take the safety of every camper seriously—and that starts with accountability.

Our “Never Alone” policy, also known as the Rule of Three, ensures that no staff member, volunteer, or leader-in-training is ever alone with a camper.

Whether walking to an activity, taking a restroom break, or helping with sunscreen, there must always be at least three people present—typically a staff member and two campers, or two staff with one camper.

This standard isn’t just a guideline; it’s a non-negotiable rule designed to protect campers and staff alike, support transparency, and build a culture of trust across our entire camp community.

Water activities are a highlight of the camp experience—and they demand our highest level of attention and care. At Camp Anothen, all swimming and pond activities are overseen by Third-Party certified lifeguards trained in emergency response, CPR, and aquatic safety.

We maintain a strict max 1:25 lifeguard-to-swimmer ratio and enforce clear rules around pool and waterfront conduct.

Lifeguards give a water safety presentation to campers before any water activity begins.

Coast Guard approved life vests are required by all persons when in any natural body of water.

Our Discovery campers are required to wear a life vest when entering all bodies of water and do not receive a swim test.

Swim tests are administered at the start of each pool session to determine pool readiness.

Counselors are in the water with their campers—not just watching from the sidelines— but ensuring supervision is constant, engaged, and hands-on.

Our Discovery Camp program is developmentally appropriate and created just for preschool-aged campers.

Expect smaller counselors to camper ratios 8:1 and sensory-friendly activities.

Discovery Campers enjoy slower paced activities and a more relaxed schedule, our littlest campers are nurtured in a calm, joyful, and fun environment that helps them experience nature in new whys and thrive.

Many of our counselors teach preschool during the school year and are very familiar with this age group.

Lets face it, Texas Summers are hot. We spend the entire day playing in the woods under the tress, swimming in the pool and ponds or runnig in our fields. Campers should arrive with sunscreen already applied and bring spray-on sunscreen for reapplication.

Staff are trained to assist younger children with reapplication—but only in the presence of another screened adult and only to appropriate areas like arms, legs, face, and neck.

Hydration is a priority: clearly marked water stations are placed throughout camp, and campers are encouraged to take water breaks often—especially after physical activity.

Shaded areas and water play are also built into the day to help campers stay cool, refreshed, and ready for fun. We also deliberately place each group in a water activity once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Campers’ physical well-being is closely monitored throughout the day.

All medications are stored securely and administered only by administered by our camp staff.

Staff are trained to recognize signs of illness, injury, heat-related stress, or allergic reactions and will respond immediately.

Medical visits are logged and reported to parents. Our goal is to provide a structured, attentive approach to every camper’s health and safety.

Campers are only released to parents or guardians in their camper application or to individuals that have the parent/guardian pick up code.

We uphold clear behavioral expectations to create a safe and respectful environment for all campers.

When disciplinary situations arise, our staff responds with consistent procedures that prioritize safety, accountability, and resolution.

Repeated or serious behavior concerns are documented and communicated with parents, and may result in dismissal from camp if warranted.

Our goal is not only to address the moment, but to guide children in making responsible, respectful choices moving forward.

Campers are expected to manage their belongings responsibly (with counselors help), and we provide designated areas for item storage throughout the day. Lost items are collected and stored in a central location, and families are encouraged to label everything clearly. While we are not responsible for lost or damaged personal items, we work with campers to minimize loss and teach responsibility in a shared space. Parents are always welcome to call us about any lost item!