Safety at Anothen
At Camp Anothen, we know your child is a precious gift, and we’re honored that you entrust them to us. We understand the weight of that responsibility and have an unwavering commitment to safety and accountability. In fact, your camper’s safety is one of the foundations our camp is built on: FUN. SAFE. GOSPEL.
That commitment begins long before your camper arrives. It shapes how we screen our staff, prepare them through MinistrySafe abuse-prevention training, and put our own safety protocols into practice. It extends to medical care, emergency planning, weather safety, and the activities your child enjoys throughout the day.
Your Camper’s Safety Comes First
Called to serve. Committed to protect.
Every staff member has a part in honoring the trust you place in us. We want the people encouraging your camper and sharing the love of Jesus to understand that protecting children is part of that calling, too. That’s why we’re intentional about who we hire and how we prepare them.
Our selection process includes applications, interviews, and reference checks. All staff undergo background screening, with Level 4 or Level 7 background checks based on age. Every staff member also completes MinistrySafe abuse-prevention training and testing before arriving for a full week of Camp Anothen’s policies and procedures training.
During that week, we spend extensive time teaching staff their roles and responsibilities. We walk through appropriate language and boundaries with campers, water and activity safety, life-jacket requirements, and weather and emergency procedures. We want our staff to understand not only what we expect of them, but how those expectations apply throughout a camper’s day.
Our Never Alone / Rule of Three policy is an important part of that preparation. Staff, volunteers, and leaders-in-training may not be alone with a camper. At least three people must be present—typically one staff member with two campers, or two staff members with one camper. This applies during activity transitions, restroom breaks, and other moments throughout the day.
Ministry Safe
Protecting campers calls for more than good intentions—it calls for informed preparation. MinistrySafe was founded by attorneys with decades of experience addressing child sexual abuse. Their work with survivors shaped a mission to equip churches and ministries to better protect children.
Their resources are used by many other camps, too. We chose MinistrySafe for that specialized experience and its practical approach to prevention: helping staff recognize warning signs, understand how abuse happens, and respond to concerns. Their expertise supports a commitment that is deeply personal to us—protecting the children you entrust to Camp Anothen.
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We have zero tolerance for child abuse or bullying. Our staff are mandated reporters under Texas law and receive training in reporting suspected abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities. Notifying camp leadership does not replace that responsibility.
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American Red Cross–certified lifeguards oversee water activities, with counselors in the water alongside their campers. All campers and staff must wear life jackets in and around the pond. Day Campers must pass a swim test before swimming in the pool without a life jacket. Discovery Campers swim only in the pool and always wear one.
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Our leadership team monitors National Weather Service (NWS) alerts through NOAA Weather Radio. During lightning storms, activities stop, and campers leave the water and move to shelter. Our Emergency Action Plan outlines sheltering, evacuation, headcounts, and family communication. A portion of our property lies within a designated floodplain, and the plan includes flood evacuation procedures.
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When your child needs help, we want them to feel heard and cared for. Our nurse’s station provides a dedicated space for campers who are hurt or feeling unwell. Staff are trained to recognize illness, injury, heat stress, and allergic reactions. Medical visits are documented and communicated to parents, because keeping you informed is part of caring for your child.
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From morning drop-off to afternoon pickup, knowing who is on campus matters. Our property is fenced, with monitored gates and visitor check-in requirements. Families receive a pickup code, and early pickup requires advance notice, a driver’s license, and that code.
Our Commitment
Safety, Transparency & Preparedness
We want families to feel confident not only in the care we provide, but also in the plans and accountability behind it. Camp Anothen maintains a comprehensive emergency plan designed to guide our team through severe weather, medical situations, evacuations, and other unexpected emergencies.
We also operate in accordance with the health and safety requirements established for Texas youth camps and believe families should always have access to the resources available to them.