Health & Safety
There is no greater responsibility than caring for another person’s child and the health and safety of our campers is always our top priority. This at the forefront of our messaging during our thorough, nine-day, staff orientation and training. Countless hours of meetings, training sessions, and role-play scenarios are complemented by a comprehensive Staff Handbook, detailed practices within our Health Center, strict procedures for out of camp trips, and a Food Allergy Management & Prevention Plan.
Additional training is required for staff working at archery, the ropes and adventure course, and at the waterfront and pool. All waterfront staff, not just swim instructors, are certified lifeguards.
FOOD ALLERGIES
We understand the commonality and incredible danger that food allergies pose to many members of our community, both in and out of camp. We also believe that a child’s food allergy should never be an impediment to her feeling physically and emotionally safe at camp.
Our Food Allergy Management & Prevention Plan is reviewed in detail with every Somerset staff member and family of a camper with a food allergy. This plan defines Somerset’s operating procedures as it pertains to:
- Understanding common allergens.
- The physical and emotional impact of food allergies on a camper.
- Recognizing the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
- Treating an allergic reaction and proper usage of an EpiPen.
- Ensuring the daily management of food allergies within the dining hall.
- Maintaining a healthy and safe environment in and out of camp.
Somerset is a 100% nut free facility. We also have non-dairy milk and cheese as well as gluten-free bread and pasta. Our menu is posted daily in the dining hall and the accompanying allergy chart will clearly mark what is safe to eat. Should your child need specific foods or snacks, you may send these items in advance and they can be safely stored in the kitchen or Kate’s office.
During the week of staff orientation, we have a dedicated meeting focused entirely on food allergies comprising a review of our Food Allergy Management & Prevention Plan. Both Josh and Chef Dakota are licensed ServSafe Food Managers and Josh has been licensed as a Food Safety Manager by the Washington D.C. Department of Health for 15 years. Somerset is also one of only a handful of camps that is a member of FARE, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and health of individuals with food allergies.
In the spring, Kate and Josh will conduct an allergy intake call, as needed, with any family and camper with a known food allergy so that we may best understand the allergy, severity, history, prior reactions, and treatment plan. This information will be clearly communicated to our medical staff, food service staff, and all counselors. If you have further questions or concerns surrounding food allergies or wish to discuss our Food Allergy Management & Prevention Plan, please contact .
HEALTH CENTER
Somerset’s health center is located in the center of camp and connected to the main office. This air-conditioned facility is staffed 24 hours a day by one of our seven nurses. There are two private triage rooms and four private bedrooms in case anyone needs to spend the night. All camper and any over the counter medications are safely stored in our locked med room. Somerset has two AEDs and 12 Epi Pens positioned around camp at all times, along with one on every motor boat.
Two hospitals along with an urgent care facility are all less than 15 minutes from camp. A resident camp doctor lives one mile away at our brother camp, Manitou, and visits Somerset once a day and is always on call, if needed. We also have existing relationships with a local dentist, orthodontist, and various other specialists. Parents will be contacted by a director or the head nurse or doctor should your daughter need to see the doctor, be taken to the hospital, or require an overnight stay in the health center.
All staff and campers receive both medical and lice checks upon arrival.
To prevent against ticks, we partner with Ivy Oaks Analytics, a public health company based out of Virginia that specializes in the control of ticks, mosquitoes, and poison ivy at large campgrounds, parks and summer camps. Although this has never been a major issue at Somerset, we feel very strongly that we have an obligation to our camp community to do everything in our power to reduce the risks associated with ticks, mosquitoes and poison ivy. Their process includes ongoing tick population measurements, landscape modification, natural control methods and more. Somerset is proud to be one of the few camps nationally with an advanced public health standards certification by implementing this program.
MEET THE TEAM
Andi Freedman, Head Nurse
Andi has been a practicing nurse for 14 years, 12 of which have been spent in pediatrics.
She currently works at an all-boys private school and is a nurse and nursing supervisor at Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts.
Andi has a bachelor’s in exercise science and worked as a personal trainer and pilates instructor for many years before becoming a nurse. She knows the camp world well having grown up at camp in Maine and now with two campers of her own.
Andi lives in Framingham, Massachusetts, with her husband Matt, her two sons Colby and Shane (both Manitou campers).
Dr. Matt
Dr. Matt has been at Somerset since 2019. He is a pediatric emergency physician at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school. He lives outside Boston with his wife Samantha, daughter Emma (current Somerset camper), son Noah (Manitou camper), and dog Teddy.
Dr. Rachel & Dr. Josh
Dr. Rachel and Dr. Josh can’t wait for their first year at Somerset. They live in Philadelphia with their son James (first year camper at Manitou) and daughter Mackenzie (future Somerset camper). Dr. Rachel is a pediatric emergency medicine doctor at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. When not working, she loves cheering on the Phillies and coaching tee ball. Dr. Josh is a general emergency medicine doctor at Cooper Medical Center. He is looking forward to being in Maine amongst fellow Red Sox fans and escaping the Philly summer heat.
Dr. Susie
Dr. Susie has been at Somerset since 2019, and loves every minute of her time there! When not at camp, she is a med/peds primary care doctor in Westborough, MA, working for UMass Medical Center. She lives in Hopkinton, MA with her husband Dave, son Alex (Manitou camper), and daughter Emily (Somerset camper).
SUPERVISION
Campers are never away from the watchful eye of a staff member. Cabins are staffed with a 3:1 camper to counselor ratio and all activities are supervised by at least one counselor for every six campers, and more for activities such as waterskiing or the adventure course. Prospective staff members are interviewed by both Kate and Josh and require three references. Applicant backgrounds are checked through both state and national criminal databases as well as the national sex offender registry.
The camp PA system broadcasts important announcements both externally and within all buildings. Directors and senior staff along with office and medical staff communicate throughout camp via walkie. Emergency call boxes are located throughout camp with a direct line to the director walkie talkies.
All entrance gates are locked 24 hours a day and a security guard monitors the gates and grounds every day from 9:30 pm until 6:00 am. As a precaution, a mass texting alert will be sent to all parent cell phones should any situation require immediate and widespread communication.
