Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Children and Families
DCF 201-252 - Early Care and Education
Chapter DCF 252 - Day Camps For Children
Section DCF 252.43 - Base camp and facilities

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง DCF 252.43

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) SITE AND BUILDING.

(a) The licensee shall identify a base camp that provides an environment that allows the program to be oriented to the out-of-doors. The base camp shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.

(b) The base camp shall have a building or shelter for use by the camp during inclement weather. If the shelter is not enclosed, the camp shall implement a procedure for ensuring that children are protected from the elements.

(c) The base camp shall be located on a well-drained site not subject to flooding. The premises shall be properly graded to prevent the accumulation of storm or other waters that may create hazards to the property or to the health or safety of the occupants. No camp may be located in an area that is situated so that drainage for any source of filth, such as garbage or animal waste disposal, can be deposited on the site.

Note: Local authorities should be consulted to obtain any required zoning clearances or building permits. Chapter NR 115 and s. NR 116.12 (2) (b) may affect the camp's location with regard to flood plains and shore land areas.

(d) Buildings and shelters on sites used or constructed primarily for day camp purposes shall comply with the applicable Wisconsin Commercial Building Code and applicable local ordinances. A copy of the building inspection report shall be on file with the department.

Note: Local authorities should be consulted to obtain any required zoning clearances or building permits.

(e) All buildings and structures used by children for day camp purposes shall have not less than 2 plainly marked exits that are free of obstruction.

(f) The base camp premises and any structures used by children on the premises shall be free of litter, safe, well maintained, in good repair, and clean.

(g) If the base camp includes an enclosed building used by children, the inside temperature of the building may not be less than 67 degrees Fahrenheit. If the inside temperature exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the licensee shall provide for air circulation with fans or by other means.

(h) Painted exterior and interior surfaces accessible to children shall be free of flaking or deteriorating paint and finished with lead-free paint or other non-toxic material.

(i) Garbage and refuse at the base camp shall be kept in rigid, watertight, and leak-proof containers with tight-fitting covers and disposed of as necessary to prevent decomposition and overflow.

(j) The areas around garbage and refuse containers shall be clean and dry.

(k) Solid waste disposal sites on the premises must be licensed by the department of natural resources.

(l) The growth of brush, weeds, grass, and plants shall be controlled in the base camp area to prevent the harborage of noxious insects, rodents, and any other animals.

(m) Chemical and other insect, weed, and rodent control measures shall be used in accordance with label instructions.

(2) EMERGENCY PLANS AND DRILLS AND OPEN FIRES.

(a) Children shall be protected from indoor and outdoor hazards, including any recalled products.

Note: Lists of recalled products are available on the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection website at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Publications/KeepYourKidsSafeNewsletter.aspx or by contacting the U.S. consumer products safety commission (US CPSC) at 1-800-638-2772.

(b) Materials harmful to children, including drugs, pesticides, flammable or combustible materials, insecticides, matches, cleaning supplies, bleaches, and other hazardous, toxic, or poisonous materials shall be stored in the original, covered, and labeled container in areas not accessible to children. Power tools shall be stored so they are inaccessible to children.

(c) A motor vehicle shall be immediately available at the camp in case of emergency if a public or private rescue or emergency vehicle cannot arrive at the camp within 10 minutes of a phone call.

(d) Smoking is prohibited anywhere on the premises or in a vehicle used to transport children when children are in care.

(e) The camp shall have a working telephone at the camp during the hours of operation. A list of emergency telephone numbers, including fire, law enforcement, and poison control shall be in a location known to all camp counselors. In this paragraph, "telephone" does not include a pay telephone requiring payment to reach the operator or a telephone in a locked room.

(3) Emergency plans and drills.

(a) Each camp shall have a written plan for taking appropriate action in the event of an emergency situation, including a fire, tornado, or natural disaster, extreme heat or cold, lost or missing children, a missing swimmer, an accident, an illness, allergic reactions, human-caused events, such as threats to the premises or its occupants, or other circumstances requiring immediate attention. The plan shall include specific procedures that address all of the following:
1. Evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place, and lockdown.

2. Procedures for ensuring that the needs of children with disabilities are met.

3. Communication with parents.

4. Connecting children with their parents if the camp is required to evacuate the premises.

(b) Each staff member shall be informed of and knowledgeable about his or her duties in the event of an emergency and appropriate evacuation routes.

(c) All fire protection facilities and equipment, including fire extinguishers, shall be operable and maintained in working order by a qualified person. Each fire extinguisher shall be inspected once per year by a qualified person and have a label indicating its present condition and the date of the last inspection.

(d) Before camp opens, written notification of the camp operation shall be given to the nearest fire department or forest ranger service for protection in case of fire. The notification shall include the dates the camp will be operational and the number and ages of children in care.

(e) Any necessary permits required for operation of incinerators or for open fires shall be secured and available for review by a licensing representative.

Note: The department recommends that the licensee contact the local municipality and the Department of Natural Resources prior to the camp opening to determine what permits are required.

(f) The clearing around open fires shall be free of burnable materials for a radius of 6 feet.

(3m) FOOD PREPARATION, SERVICE, AND STORAGE.

(a) When meals are prepared or heated on the premises, the kitchen area shall be equipped with a microwave or stove, a refrigerator, a sink, and utensils that are necessary to prepare and serve meals. The sink shall be used exclusively for food preparation and dishwashing.

(b) Camps preparing or serving only snacks are not required to have a sink unless dishes or utensils requiring dishwashing are used. Camps preparing or serving only snacks are not required to have a microwave or stove unless the snacks require heating.

(c) All equipment and utensils used for preparing, serving, or storing food shall have smooth hard surfaces, be easily cleanable, in good repair, durable, non-toxic, and free of cracks, seams, chips, and roughened areas, and be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

(d) Single-service utensils and food containers may not be reused.

(e) Foods shall be stored at temperatures that protect against spoilage. Milk and other perishable food shall be maintained at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

(f) Food shall be protected from potential contamination and adulteration, including dirt, insects, rodents, or animals. Dry foods, such as cereals, crackers, and pasta shall be stored in bags with zip-type closures or metal, glass, or food-grade plastic containers with tight-fitting covers and shall be labeled and dated. In this paragraph, "food-grade plastic" means any plastic material used in the manufacture of dishes or utensils which has been found not harmful to human health by the national sanitation foundation.

(fm) Food shall be clean, wholesome, free from spoilage, free from adulteration or misbranding, and safe for human consumption. Meat, poultry, fish, molluscan shellfish, eggs, and dairy products shall be from an inspected source.

(g) Raw fruits and vegetables shall be washed before being served or cooked.

(h) Meals shall be prepared at the base camp in a central kitchen operated by the camp or in another location that has been inspected by a representative of a state agency. Food delivery vehicles shall be equipped with clean containers or cabinets to store food while in transit. Containers for cold food shall be capable of maintaining the temperature at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and containers for hot food shall be capable of maintaining the temperature at or above 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Note: The rules for retail food establishments are in ch. ATCP 75.

(i) Extra food that was prepared but not served shall be dated, refrigerated promptly, and used within 36 hours, or frozen immediately for use within 6 months.

(4) WATER.

(a) A safe supply of drinking water shall be available to children and staff at all times from a drinking fountain of the angle jet type or by use of a disposable or reusable cup or water bottle. Common use of drinkware is prohibited.

(b) If a camp gets its water from a private well, the camp shall comply with all of the following:
1.
a. At least 2 weeks prior to the camp opening each year, the camp shall have water samples from the well tested for total coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria using a laboratory certified by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection as specified in ch. ATCP 77. The laboratory report shall be available to the department upon request.

b. If the water test results indicate the presence of total coliform or E. coli bacteria, the water system shall be appropriately disinfected or treated and retested until it is determined to be free of bacteria. An alternative source of water shall be used for drinking and preparing food until the well is free from bacteria.

Note: A list of laboratories certified to test for bacteria can be found on the Department of Natural Resources website: www.dnr.wi.gov.

Note: Alternative sources of drinking water can include bottled water and water from a public water system that meets drinking water standards.

2.
a. At least 2 weeks prior to the camp opening each year, the camp shall have water samples from the well tested for nitrate using a laboratory certified under ch. NR 149. The laboratory report shall be available to the department upon request.

b. If water test results indicate nitrate levels are above 10 mg/L, an alternative source of water shall be used for drinking and preparing food until nitrate levels are below 10 mg/L.

Note: A list of laboratories certified to test for nitrate can be found on DNR's website: www.dnr.wi.gov.

Note: Alternative sources of drinking water include bottled water, water that has been treated with a device certified by the department of safety and professional services to remove nitrate, and water from a public water system that meets drinking water standards.

3.
a. The camp shall have the well tested for lead every five years using a laboratory certified by the department of natural resources under ch. NR 149. The laboratory report shall be available to the department upon request.

b. If water test results indicate lead levels are above 15 micrograms per liter (µg/L), an alternative source of water shall be used for drinking and preparing food until action is taken to reduce lead levels below 15 µg/L as confirmed by an additional water test.

Note: A list of laboratories certified to test for lead can be found on DNR's website: www.dnr.wi.gov.

Note: Alternative sources of drinking water include, but are not limited to, bottled water, and water from a source known to be low in lead, such as a public water system that meets drinking water standards.

Note: Camps that meet the definition of a "public water system" in s. NR 809.04 (67) are required to comply with ch. NR 809, Safe Drinking Water Act Standards. For further information, see https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/DrinkingWater.

(c)
1. When running water is not available, a camp shall use a covered drinking water container that is all of the following:
a. Easily distinguishable from other containers.

b. Constructed of a food grade material that does not permit the water to become contaminated by dirt, insects, or animals.

c. Suitable for pouring or equipped with a faucet.

2. No one may dip into the water in the water container.

3. The water container shall be cleaned and sanitized daily.

4. The water in the container shall meet the requirements under pars. (a) and (b).

(5) WASHROOMS AND TOILET FACILITIES.

(a) Handwashing and toileting facilities shall be provided and accessible to children.

(b) Single-use disposable towels shall be provided and accessible to children.

(c) Soap, toilet paper, and a wastepaper container shall be provided and accessible to children.

(d) Outdoor toilets, when used, shall be constructed according to the requirements of the applicable Wisconsin commercial building codes and maintained in good repair.

(e) A portable toilet shall be in compliance with s. SPS 391.13 and local ordinances.

(f) Plumbing shall comply with all applicable sections of Wisconsin plumbing codes.

(g) Liquid waste disposal shall be connected to a public sewer, if available. If not available, liquid waste disposal shall be in accordance with chs. SPS 382, 383, and 384.

(h) Handwashing and toilet facilities shall be in clean and sanitary condition.

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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