Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Children and Families
DCF 201-252 - Early Care and Education
Chapter DCF 252 - Day Camps For Children
Section DCF 252.425 - Supervision and grouping of children
Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง DCF 252.425
Current through August 26, 2024
(1) SUPERVISION.
(a) Each child shall be supervised at all
times to guide the child's behavior and activities, prevent harm, and ensure
safety.
(b) All children in care
shall be assigned to a counselor. The camp shall implement a procedure to
ensure that the number, names, and whereabouts of children in care are known to
the assigned camp counselor at all times.
(c)
1.
Counselors who are included for meeting the required counselor-to-child ratio
may not provide care to children more than 12 hours in any 24-hour
period.
2. Notwithstanding subd.
1., camps that provide an occasional overnight activity for children enrolled
in the camp may allow a counselor to provide care for children for more than 12
hours in the 24-hour period to permit the counselor to remain with the children
during the overnight session.
(d) No licensee, employee, volunteer, or
other individual in contact with children may consume alcoholic beverages or
any non-prescribed controlled substance specified in ch. 961 Stats., on the
premises of the camp or be under the influence of any alcohol or non-prescribed
controlled substance, during the hours of the camp's operation.
(e) A child may not be released to any person
who has not been previously authorized by the parent.
(f) The camp shall implement a procedure to
contact a parent if a child is absent from the camp without prior notification
from the parent.
(g) A child may
not be in care for more than 14 hours in any 24-hour period.
(h) The camp director shall be at the camp
during the hours of operation, except if any of the following conditions are
met:
1. The camp director is on a field trip
with all of the children.
2. The
camp director is on a field trip with some of the children and has a reliable
method of communicating easily with the camp.
3. Another qualified person that is
identified in the written delegation of administrative authority under s. DCF 252.41 (1) (p) is present at the camp and is authorized to make decisions for
the camp.
(i) When 9 or
more children are present at the camp, there shall be at least 2 adults
available at all times and at least one of the adults shall be a
counselor.
(2) GROUPING OF CHILDREN.
(a)
1. Except as provided in subds. 2. and 4.,
the ratio of counselors to children may not be less than the minimum number of
counselors to children specified in Table DCF 252.425.
TABLE DCF 252.425
COUNSELOR-TO-CHILD RATIO FOR CHILDREN IN A DAY CAMP
| Age of Children | Minimum Number of Counselors to Children |
| 3 Years to 4 Years | 1:4 |
| 4 Years to 5 Years | 1:6 |
| 5 Years and 6 Years | 1:12 |
| 7 Years and Over | 1:18 |
2.
When there is a mixed-age group, the counselor-to-child ratio shall be adjusted
on a pro rata basis, according to age.
Note: The department's form, Counselor-to-Child Ratio Worksheet may be used to prorate the staff-to-child ratio for mixed age groups. Information on how to obtain forms is available on the department's website, https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.
4. When 9 or more children are on
a field trip, at least 2 adults shall accompany the children. The
counselor-to-child ratios in Table DCF 252.425 shall be met on field
trips.
(b) Support staff,
such as maintenance, clerical, housekeeping, and food service staff, may only
be considered in determining counselor-to-child ratios if the support staff
meet the qualifications of a camp counselor and are giving full attention to
the care and supervision of children.
(c) A camp counselor may not engage in any
duties that are not related to caring for children while he or she is counted
in meeting the required counselor-to-child ratios.
(d) Children of staff who attend the camp and
who are on the premises for supervision and care shall be counted in the
determination of counselor-to-child ratios.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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