Wisconsin Legislature: DCF 252.44(1)(a)4.

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 (mg/L), an alternative source of water shall be used for drinking and preparing food until action is taken to reduce lead levels below 15 mg/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.

(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.

History: Cr. Register, October, 1984, No. 346, eff. 11-1-84; corrections in (1) (d) and (3) (e) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, July, 1999, No. 523; CR 04-040: am. (1) (d) and cr. (2) (a) 8. Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05; correction in (3) (c) 1. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635; CR 07-102: r. and recr. (1) (a) to (c), (2) (a) 4., 5. and (3) (c) 1., am. (1) (d), (e), (2) (a) 3., 6., 7., (b) 1. to 4., (3) (a) 1., 2., 4., 5., (b) 1. to 3., (c) 2., 5., (d) 1., 2., 3., (e) 2., 4., 6. and 7., cr. (1) (f), (g), (2) (a) 9., (3) (c) 6. to 8. and (d) 2m., r. (2) (a) 2. c. and (3) (c) 3. Register December 2008 No. 636, eff. 1-1-09; correction in (3) (d) 2. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2008 No. 636; correction in (3) (d) 2. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register August 2011 No. 668; correction in (3) (e) 7. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2012 No. 673; EmR1918: emerg. r. and recr. (1) (f), cr. (1) (h) to (m), r. and recr. (2), (3), cr. (3m), (4), (5), eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: r. and recr. (1) (f), cr. (1) (h) to (m), r. and recr. (2), (3), cr. (3m), (4), (5) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; correction in (2) (title) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 2., Stats., Register 2020 No. 771; CR 21-100: cr. (3) (fm), r. and recr. (4) Register February 2023 No. 806, eff. 3-1-23; correction in (4) (c) 4. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register January 2024 No. 817.

DCF 252.44 Program.

(1) Program planning and implementation.

(a) Each day camp shall have a written program of activities that shall be planned according to the developmental level of each child and each group of children and intended to expose children to a variety of cultures. The needs of children with disabilities shall be considered when planning the programming and activities for enrolled children. The program of activities shall focus on the outdoors and the natural environment and shall reflect the camp’s written policies. The program shall provide each child with experiences that will promote all of the following:

1. An appreciation and understanding of the natural environment.

2. Large and small muscle development.

3. Intellectual growth.

4. Self-esteem and positive self-image.

5. Opportunities for recreation.

6. Social interaction.

7. Creative expression.

8. Self-expression and communication skills.

9. Literacy skills.

Note: With parental consent and consultation, it is recommended that camps who care for children who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) coordinate programming activities with the local school district.

(b) The program shall:

1. Protect the children from excessive fatigue and from overstimulation.

2. Encourage spontaneous activities.

3. Be planned to provide a flexible balance each day of:

a. Active and quiet activities.

b. Individual and group activities.

4. Provide daily opportunities for children to play outdoors except during inclement weather or when not advisable for health reasons.

5. Provide reasonable regularity in eating, resting and other routines.

6. Provide daily periods when a variety of experiences are concurrently available for the children to select their own activities.

7. Limit the amount of time that children are kept waiting in lines or assembled in large groups during routines such as toileting and eating and intervals between activities.

(2) Child guidance.

(a) Each day camp shall have a written policy on guiding children’s behavior which provides for positive guidance, redirection and the setting of clear-cut limits. The policy shall be designed to help each child develop self-control, self-esteem, and respect for the rights of others.

(b)

1. In this paragraph, “time-out period” means a break from the large group that a counselor offers a child to provide the child an opportunity to calm and regain composure while being supported by the counselor.

2. A camp may use a time-out period to handle a child’s unacceptable behavior only if all of the following conditions are met:

a. The counselor offers the child the time-out period in a non-humiliating manner.

b. The time-out period does not exceed 3 minutes.

c. The child is not isolated.

d. The child is not removed from the group location.

3. The procedures for a time-out period shall be included in the camp guidance policy under par. (a).

(c) Actions that may be psychologically, emotionally or physically painful, discomforting, dangerous or potentially injurious are prohibited. Examples of prohibited actions include:

1. Spanking, hitting, pinching, shaking, slapping, twisting, throwing or inflicting any other form of corporal punishment.

2. Verbal abuse, threats or derogatory remarks about the child or the child’s family.

3. Physical restraint, binding or tying to restrict movement or enclosing in a confined space such as a closet, locked room, box or similar cubicle.

4. Withholding or forcing meals, snacks or naps.

5. Actions that are aversive, cruel, frightening or humiliating.

(d) Children shall not be punished for lapses in toilet training.

(3) Equipment and furnishings.

(a) The camp shall provide program equipment and furnishings in a variety and quantity that allows staff to implement activities outlined in the written policy on program objectives and activities required under s. DCF 252.41 (1) (f) 5. and meets all of the following criteria:

1. Provides for large muscle development.

2. Provides construction activities and for the development of manipulative skills.

3. Encourages social interaction.

4. Provides intellectual stimulation.

5. Encourages creative expression.

(b) All equipment and furnishings, whether or not owned by the camp, shall be:

1. Scaled to the developmental level, size and ability of the children.

2. Safe, durable, of sturdy construction with no sharp, rough, loose, protruding, pinching or pointed edges, or areas of entrapment, in good operating condition, and anchored when necessary.

3. Placed to avoid danger of accident and collision and to permit freedom of action.

4. Used in accordance with all manufacturer’s instructions and any manufacturer’s recommendations that may affect the safety of children in care.

(d) No trampolines or inflatable bounce surfaces on the premises may be accessible to children or used by children in care.

(4) Rest. When a session is more than 4 hours in length, there shall be a rest period or period of quiet activities of at least 30 minutes for all children under 5 years of age.

(5) Meals, snacks, and food service.

(a) Food shall be provided in accordance with Table DCF 252.44 which is based on the amount of time children are present. Food may be served at flexible intervals, but no child may go without nourishment for longer than 3 hours.

(b) Camp-provided transportation time shall be included in determining the total number of hours a child is present for the purpose of par. (a).

(c) Food allergies of specific children shall be reported to cooks, counselors and substitutes having direct contact with children.

(d) Menus for meals and snacks provided by the camp shall:

1. Be posted in the kitchen and in a conspicuous place accessible to parents.

2. Be planned at least one week in advance, dated and kept on file for 3 months.

3. Be available for review by the department.

4. Include diverse types of food.

(e) At a minimum, each meal and snack provided to children shall meet the U.S. department of agriculture child and adult care food program minimum meal requirements for amounts and types of food. Additional portions of vegetables, fruits, bread, and milk shall be available.

Note: The USDA meal program requirements may be found on the website, http://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/meals-and-snacks.