Code of Maine Rules
10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL
Chapter 208 - RULES RELATING TO BOYS, GIRLS, BOYS AND GIRLS, DAY CAMPS AND PRIMITIVE AND TRIP CAMPING
Section 144-208-7 - PROGRAMS AND PROGRAM STAFF REQUIREMENTS
Universal Citation: 10 ME Code Rules ยง 144-208-7
Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024
7.A. GENERAL PROGRAMS:
7.A.1. The instructor in
charge of a program including those listed below shall be mature
and competent in the skills
specific to the activity. S
7.B. AQUATICS PROGRAM.
7.B.1. Aquatics shall include but not be
limited to the activities listed in 7.B.
7.B.1.a. All docks, floats and other aquatic
activity areas shall be maintained safe and in good repair. S
7.B.2. AQUATICS STAFF The aquatics
director shall be in charge and oversee all aspects of the aquatics program and
shall be at least 21 years of age and hold or have evidence of having held
within the last 5 years one of the following certifications: C
1. Lifeguard training from a NRCB;
or
2. Swim Instructor certification
from a NRCB; or
3. Instructor or
Instructor Trainer rating from a NRCB; or
4. Equivalent certification
7.B.2.a. When aquatic activities are
occurring, at least one LIFEGUARD shall be present on the waterfront and
readily accessible to each activity area. C
7.B.3. SWIMMING
7.B.3.a. The construction, modification,
maintenance and operation of any artificial bathing place in a youth camp shall
be subject to Department of Health and Human Services Rules Relating to Public
Swimming Pools and Spas, 10-144 C.M.R. Ch. 202. NC
7.B.3.b. All designated swimming areas at
camp shall be clearly marked. S
7.B.3.c. Any person who wishes to go swimming
shall be classified according to ability in swimming, and shall be supervised
according to this classification. C
7.B3.
d. A system of checking persons in and out of the water for
swimming shall be used. C
7.B.3.e.
Swimming after dark shall be prohibited unless adequate artificial lighting is
provided. C
7.B.3.f. All swimming
areas shall be provided with an adequate number of lifesaving devices that are
positioned to be readily accessible to all swimming areas. The life saving
equipment shall be kept in working order. C
7.B.3.g. Swimming rules shall be posted on
the waterfront. S
7.B.4.
SWIMMING STAFF
7.B.4.a. There shall be at
least one adult swimming instructor for instructional swimming activities who
shall have swim instructor or swim instructor trainer certification from a NRCB
or equivalent certification. Additional swim instructors may be non-certified
instructional assistants who are under the immediate supervision and direction
of the certified instructor and have demonstrated elementary rescue skills.
C
7.B.4.b. For all instructional
swimming there shall be swim instructors in a ratio to participants appropriate
to the conditions under which swim instruction occurs. C
7.B.4.c. For all swimming activities the
youth camp shall provide at least one LIFEGUARD for every 20 persons in the
water. C
7.B.5.
WATERCRAFT
7.B.5.b. All watercraft activities
shall have a suitably equipped rescue boat appropriately located to promptly
respond to emergencies. C
7.B.5.c.
All watercraft shall be equipped with one wearable type I, II or III personal
floatation device (PFD) for each person in the boat. Campers shall wear PFDs at
all times while in watercraft, except as specified under Maine Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Watercraft Regulations, 09-137 C.M.R. Ch. 13. C
7.B.5.d. All watercraft with an
electric starting gasoline motor shall be equipped with a B-1 hand portable
fire extinguisher. C
7.B.5.e. All
motorized watercraft shall be equipped with a throwable type, Coast Guard
approved PFD (Professional Flotation Device). C
7.B.5.f. Watercraft rules shall be posted at
boating areas. S
7.B.5.g. Camps
with watercraft programs shall instruct all watercraft program participants
including staff and campers in Maine basic boating laws. S
7.B.6. WATERCRAFT STAFF
7.B.6.a The watercraft director shall be an
ADULT who holds one of the following: C
1.
Instructor rating in the appropriate craft from a NRCB, or
2. Lifeguard training from a NRCB, or
3 Other appropriate certification or license, or
4. Other appropriate documented
training or experience.
7.B.6.b. All persons instructing watercraft
activities shall be evaluated by the aquatics director or designee to determine
qualification to be an instructor for the watercraft activities conducted.
C
7.B.6.c. Each watercraft activity
shall be supervised by one or more qualified watercraft staff appropriate to
the conditions under which watercraft activities occur. C
7.B.7. MOTORIZED WATERCRAFT OPERATORS
7.B.7.a. All persons who operate motorized
watercraft shall have knowledge of Maine boating laws. S
7.B.8. SCUBA DIVING
7.B.8.a All scuba diving instructors shall be
an adult and have a current SCUBA Instructor rating from a NRCB. C
7.C. ADVENTURE CHALLENGE (e.g. climbing, rappelling and ropes courses)
7.C.1. ADVENTURE CHALLENGE PROGRAM.
7.C.1.a. Prior to the seasonal operation of
an adventure challenge course, the youth camp shall assess all course elements
including all hardware, materials and equipment for safety and integrity. Camps
operating adventure challenge courses containing both low and high or just high
elements shall have an annual inspection of all course elements by qualified
personnel for integrity of all hardware, materials and equipment. Camps with
courses containing only low elements shall have this inspection biennially. The
inspection shall include a written report detailing the condition of all
equipment, materials and hardware and the corrective action and/or the
corrective action plan taken by the camp. C
7.C.1.b. The operator or designee shall cause
written records to be maintained for the maintenance of equipment and elements
utilized in the Adventure Challenge program in accordance with the corrective
actions taken and/or the corrective action plan. C
7.C.1.c. The adventure challenge staff shall
assess the safety of all elements prior to each use. C
7.C.1.d. Adventure challenge regulations
shall be posted at each adventure challenge area. S
7.C.2. ADVENTURE CHALLENGE STAFF
STAFF
7.C.2.a. The
adventure challenge director shall be an adult with documented training from an
authoritative source and experience, or documented experience appropriate to
the program elements in adventure challenge activities. C
7.C.2.b. The operator or designee shall
evaluate the qualifications of all persons instructing adventure challenge
activities. C
7.C.2.c. The
adventure challenge director or an adventure challenge instructor shall be
present whenever campers are performing adventure challenge activities. This
person shall be an adult when high elements are in use. C
7.D. EQUESTRIAN
7.D.1. EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES
7.D.1.a. Stables, corrals, paddocks and
riding rings shall be clean, free from
standing water, accumulation of manure, and provided with an adequate supply of
fresh water. NC
7.D.1.b. Manure
removed from stables, corrals paddocks or riding rings shall not be stored
within 300 feet of potable water supply, sleeping and eating facilities and
bodies of water. C
7.D.1.c. All
self-watering water troughs without an air gap shall be equipped with backflow
prevention. C
7.D.2.
EQUESTRIAN PROGRAM
7.D.2.a. Access to
stables, corrals, paddocks and riding rings shall be controlled. NC
7.D.2.b. Riding equipment shall be maintained
in good repair. C
7.D.2.c. Riders
shall be assessed for rider skill level and assigned to appropriate horses,
equipment and activities. C
7.D.2.d. Riders shall wear appropriate
apparel including helmets, boots or suitable shoes and long pants. C
7.D.2.e. Riding regulations shall be posted
at each equestrian area. S
7.D.2.f.
Equestrian staff shall assess the health and soundness of each horse daily.
Lame horses shall not be ridden. C
7.D.2.g. Horses shall receive proper care and
treatment. C
7.D.3.
EQUESTRIAN STAFF
7.D.3.a. The equestrian
director shall be an ADULT and hold at least one of the following: C
1. Certification as an instructor from a NRCB
or riding school, or
2. Documented
endorsements of successful experience in formal horseback riding
instruction.
7.D.3.b.
The operator or designee shall evaluate the qualifications of all persons
instructing equestrian activities. C
7.E. TARGET SPORTS
7.E.1.
TARGET SPORTS PROGRAM.
7.E.1.a Firearms, ammunition, archery
equipment and other hazardous weapons shall be kept in locked compartments when
not in use. C
7.E.1.b. Firearms and
ammunition shall be stored in separate locked compartments. C
7.E.1.c. Overnight storage of firearms and
ammunition shall be at a secure location and under double lock. C
7.E.1.d. Target sport activity locations
shall be designed to prevent danger from fired bullets or arrows and maintained
in a safe condition. C
7.E.1.e.
Target sport regulations shall be posted at each separate target sport
location. S
7.E.2. TARGET
SPORT STAFF
7.E.2.a. The riflery director
shall be an ADULTand have certification from a NRCB or other documented
training or experience. C
7.E.2.b.
The archery director shall be an ADULT and have certification from a NRCB or
other documented training or experience. C
7.E.2.c. The operator or designee shall
evaluate the qualifications of all persons instructing Target Sports.
C
7.E.2.d. Adult target sport
instructors shall be present whenever ranges are in use. C
7.F. TRIP CAMPING
7.F.1. PRIMITIVE FACILITIES. Primitive
Facilities shall be operated so as to meet basic safety and public health
requirements. C
7.F.2. TOILETS.
Primitive Facilities and primitive camp sites not provided with privies should
use the most environmentally appropriate method of disposing of solid human
waste such as packing it out and cat hole disposal. Any disposal area shall be
located at least 100 feet from any stream, lake, well, spring, or wetland and
shall be at least 50 feet from any sleeping area .C
7.F.3. WATER SUPPLY. Drinking water used on
trips away from camp, shall be known to be safe, or made safe before using. C
7.F.3.a Any of the following methods may be
used for water purification. Each method shall be performed in accordance with
the appropriate protocols. C
1. Halazone
tablets;
2. Hypochlorite
preparation;
3. Boiling water for
20 minutes;
4. Filter water with a
filter capable of removing bacteria and viruses; or
5. Equivalent method meeting EPA disinfection
standards for safe drinking water.
7.F.4. SOLID WASTE. At Primitive Facilities
and primitive camp sites, all refuse shall be packed out to appropriate
disposal facilities. No refuse shall be buried. C
7.F.5. FOOD. Only those foods capable of
being maintained in a wholesome condition at proper temperatures with the
equipment available shall be served on trips away from camp. C
7.F.5.a. The trip leader shall demonstrate
knowledge of safe food handling practices and the prevention of cross
contamination in accordance with Appendix A and shall be responsible that all
food be handled properly. C
7.F.6. UTENSILS AND EQUIPMENT.
Utensils and equipment shall be washed in warm water with soap, rinsed, and sanitized by one of the following methods:
In boiling water;
In a warm chlorine solution that has between 50 and 100ppm available chlorine;
In a warm Quaternary Ammonium Compound solution used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions;
Or other sanitizing solutions listed in 21 CFR 178.1010. C
7.F.7. SAFETY.
7.F.7.a. Adequate instructions and
supervision shall be provided for those campers using the primitive facilities.
The experience of each camper shall beevaluated prior to Trip Camping.
S
7.F.7.b. The trip staff members
shall have specific information and training on how and where to obtain medical
and emergency assistance on the trip. C
7.F.7.c. Campers and staff shall be
instructed about how to protect themselves from the elements with proper
shelters and appropriate clothing while trip camping. NC
7.F.7.d. The itinerary for trip camping shall
be filed with the Camp Director or designee. S
7.E.7.e. Copies of health records shall be
taken on trip camping. C
7.F.7.f.
The trip leader shall keep a written record of medical treatments including
medications dispensed during trip camping. C
7.F.7.g. A first aid kit, as specified in
section 5.A.1 1., shall be available for trip camping. C
7.F.8 TRIP CAMPING STAFF.
7.F.8.a. The trip camping leader shall be an
adult and possess skills in tripping, experience as a trip counselor, judgment
and leadership. The trip camping leader shall have a valid Camp Trip Leaders
Permit, if required by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
C
7.F.8.b At least one staff
holding a valid Wilderness First Aid Certificate or equivalent NRCB training
shall be present on all wilderness trip camping. C
7.F.8.c. A minimum ratio of one staff member
to six (6) campers shall accompany campers on trip camping.
C
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