Health & Safety

Before arriving at camp we make sure all families download our secure app (available to both android and apple users). Here you can get notified when photos or videos of your child are posted, communicate with directors and health staff, read camp updates and more. We know how important communication is and want to make sure you feel like you can reach us and are getting informed about your child throughout camp. Camp directors are also available by traditional means of communication as well (phone, text, email).

Amplify takes responsibility for your child’s care very seriously. The American Camp Association (ACA) offers a comprehensive camp-focused accreditation that is a parent’s best evidence of a camp’s commitment to health and safety.

ACA accreditation means that we voluntarily undergo a thorough third-party review of our operation, verifying that we have complied with 250+ standards for health, safety, and program quality. Accreditation standards cover all aspects of camp operation such as foodservice, healthcare, emergency procedures, transportation, management, waterfront activities, safety equipment, staff qualifications , and training. We choose to be accredited so that we can provide your child with the safest camp environment possible.

Amplify uses both our private vans and First Charter school busses to transport youth. All of our staff go through a rigorous van training and have certified clean driving records from the department of motor vehicles. In addition, anyone driving an Amplify van must be over the age of 25. Personal vehicles are never used to transport campers. All vehicles are insured by Amplify. When youth are traveling on First Charter busses Amplify staff is always with them on the bus.

Because you can never be too careful, we go above and beyond what is required to make sure your camper is safe in the water. Amplify’s pool is gated with a tall, steal locked fence. Amplify always has two of our full time lifeguards at the pool at all times (including a pool manager). In addition multiple staff accompany campers at the pool to be an extra set of eyes. On the first day of camp all campers must pass a swim test to be able to use the pool. We also have our own health center right on campus staffed with a full time health and wellness coordinator. The fire department is out our back gate and can be on campus in under 3 minutes. Ojai Community Hospital is a 12 minute drive away. Our counselors also make sure campers apply sunscreen multiple times a day and we keep big bottles of sunscreen at the pool and with us on outings.

Whenever we are off campus we have multiple directors accompanying our general staff. We break youth into small groups with multiple staff per group to keep to a ratio of 1:3. When we are visiting places with large bodies of water such as the beach or a water park we bring our Amplify lifeguards with us as well as our health and wellness team.

We run thorough background checks on all staff that include checking state, national and international databases, in addition staff are all live scanned. The background check also includes checking all sex offenders registries.

Since 2012.

Most of our staff work as teachers throughout the year or are college students studying music or the creative arts. All our staff have previous experience working with youth in various capacities. Over 75% of our staff have been working with us for 5+ years and we are happy to consider them some of the best in the biz.

Building trust with our families is paramount for us. Whether it is knowing that we voluntarily go through the American Camp Association Accreditation yearly which certifies us in over 250+ health and safety standards, the rigorous staff hiring process we’ve implanted, reading over 150 of our five star reviews on google and Facebook, seeing all the articles listing us as one of the best sleep away camps in the country online, joining us on the first Monday of each month for a parent / camper Q&A zoom, trying our program out at our Amplify Weekend, joining us for our Family Day in May each year at Griffith Park, or simply reaching out to us and talking with our directors to answer all of your questions – you can know that at Amplify we go above and beyond to protect your kids and make sure that all our families feel confidant leaving your camper with us.

We are pros at anxiety at Amplify. Many of our staff are certified in mental health first aid as well as always having a health and wellness staff member available. Our camp care specialist is an empathetic and supportive ear to help campers broaden brave space and identify the difference between being uncomfortable and unsafe. To learn more about some tips and tricks to calm anxiety read out blog post

It is totally understandable to be nervous about getting your period at camp. We provide free pads and heat packs. Check out this blog post for more helpful info!

We understand. This is probably the #1 reason teens feel resistant to sleep away camp and it makes perfect sense. It is also the #1 thing teens report being thankful for at the end of their summer with us. To learn more about ways to make your teen feel comfortable with being away from their devices during camp check out this helpful article.

Awww! We hear you. Homesickness is normal and usually passes quickly for kids once they begin engaging in camp. Our team are experts in supporting our youth to make sure they feel safe and comfortable. We define extreme homesickness as intense feelings that interfere with a camper’s ability to participate in daily activities by Wednesday morning. In cases like this, we will always reach out to you and thought partner to find the best way toward a successful camp experience for your camper. To learn more check out our blog post.

Our Health Center is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a team of health and wellness coordinators. Most health-related issues can be handled by our staff; however, should additional services be required, Ojai Community Hospital is just down the road.

For potential campers who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or require ASL interpreters, please reach out to our team so that we can work to make the necessary accommodations with the available resources.

If you have any questions for our team, please do not hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected]

Yes. We have our own wellness center. Health and wellness staff are on-site 24/7 to care for the daily needs of our campers, and we are fully prepared for any emergencies. Our wellness center is a warm and friendly infirmary staffed 24/7 by certified medical staff. There are comfortable beds and couches for kids who may not be feeling their best. We carry a full supply of basic over-the-counter medications (cough medicine, Pepto Bismol, cough drops, etc) and healthcare products like sunscreen and menstrual products – all free of charge for any kids who need them (with parent approval.) Our wellness staff are always on-site to care for children’s daily health needs and any emergencies. They administer all medication and store it safely in the wellness center.

Ojai Valley Community Hospital, 1306 Maricopa Hwy, Ojai, CA 93023, 15 minutes away.
The local fire station is across the street from our campus.

We can accommodate most health and wellness requests. Although music, art and positive mentorship is therapeutic, we are not a therapy facility.  Please contact a director to discuss if needed.

It is part of our mission to help campers learn how to compassionately encourage their peers to look out for one another, and that includes making sure health and safety protocols are met in all activities and environments.

Amplify takes place on a gated high school campus and provides well-organized and structured programming with 24/7 access to highly trained mentors. Each of our staff has completed at least 40 hours of training, which for most includes Mental Health First Aid. Our wellness, trips and lifeguard staff are certified in first aid and CPR. Everyone is required to follow safety guidelines in order to participate in each activity, including wearing hearing protection in loud environments. Campers are responsible for their own dorm rooms which are checked for cleanliness each morning and night. All buildings and facilities are maintained daily by Besant Hill housekeeping staff.

Our food is healthy, super delicious, and kid-friendly, and most is even made from scratch right here in our kitchen. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and other alternative choices are always available and labeled. Juice, water, tea, and hot chocolate are all included, and many dinners are served with a homemade dessert. Our chef always offers multiple hot entrees, at least one is a vegetarian dish. A full salad bar  is always available. We are also a nut and shellfish free camp.

We are happy to accommodate special dietary requests. Please be as thorough as possible when informing us of your/your camper’s needs. Our goal is to have everyone in the Amplify community raving about how much they loved the food! (So far, so good!)

We want every kid who comes to sleep away camp to feel safe and confidant. If you feel like a phone call home would help your child adjust to camp and have a successful summer we can work with you to create a schedule ahead of time. Please contact a director to learn more about this option.