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The 4-H YDP camp draft risk management workbook is intended to help prevent problems and emergencies and to prepare to handle incidents that may happen anyway in an effective and professional manner. The workbook offers a set of tools to make it easy to develop risk management plans.  Worksheets cover 62 critical areas related to crisis and risk management planning in categories such as site and facilities, administration, camp program operation, personnel, and health and safety. Camp planners and directors can utilize the these worksheets to develop comprehensive 4-H YDP camp risk management plans and plan for staff training needs to assure healthy, safe, high quality, well-run, educational and fun camping programs. Some worksheets may not apply to all 4-H YDP camp programs, e.g. 4-H YDP managed/operated camp facilities vs. leased/rented facilities, etc. In the Table of Contents the first category, Crisis Management Worksheets, includes all (1-21) of the worksheets that may be needed during a crisis and should be easily accessible on the site during the program. The remaining Worksheets are grouped by the following sections including Site & Facilities (Worksheets 22-33), Risk Documentation (Worksheets 34-40), Program Administration (Worksheets 41-47) and Staff Development & Training (Worksheets 48-63) that cover other aspects of camp planning and operation.

This workbook is based on and modeled after accepted and tested comprehensive group camp risk management planning materials and camp standards including Camp Fire USA's Managing Risks and Emergencies in Camp Programs and the American Camp Association (ACA) Camp Standards. The materials have been adapted for use in California 4-H YDP camps and have been revised to be compatible with the UCCE-4-H Policies in Section 800 - Health and Safety revised and released in March 2005.

A risk is an uncertainty or probability concerning the potential for injury or loss of resources. The purpose of risk management planning and the aim of this workbook are to help:

• Provide for the safety of 4H members, volunteers and staff.
  
• Protect 4-H YDP, including ANR, and the UCCE system in California and the directors, staff and volunteer resources.
  
• Support continued operation of California 4-H YDP camp programs.

Risk management plans are systems to identify, evaluate, reduce, prevent or control loss of resources associated with 4-H YDP or the operation of a camp program on managed/operated camp facilities or those on leased/rented facilities. Most importantly risk management plans are designed to provide for a safe experience for youth and volunteers. Risk Management plans are also intended to reduce or prevent legal and public relations problems.

We are grateful for and indebted to Connie Coutellier, Camp Fire USA, for providing the foundation and starting point for the enormous task of developing this workbook and fine set of tools.  We also acknowledge the dedicated efforts of members of the 4-H YDP Camping Task Force Risk Management sub-team including Marianne Bird, Jim Brenner, Connie Coutellier, Ginny Houtz and Ed Larimer who were instrumental in developing this document.

If you would like to receive a copy of the workbook or if you have any questions please contact Marianne Bird mbird@ucdavis.edu chair of the California 4-H YDP Camping Task Force or Mignonne Pollard mypollard@ucdavis.edu, Assistant Director, California State 4-H Office.