Safety at Onset Bay Center

We are committed to providing quality programs this summer that are safe for all participants and their families. Our limited on-the-water programs ensure that we operate safely within guidelines set by the state and governing bodies dealing with the regulation of watersports and youth activities. Onset Bay Center is proud to be a registered recreational camp with the Town of Wareham, and adheres to the MA Board of Health regulations for summer camps.

The following measures are taken by the Onset Bay Center summer camp staff:

• 1:5 staff to child ratios, with no fewer than 2 staff members with the Bay Explorers, Young Explorers, and Sailing groups at all time, and a maximum of 10 participants per group. Children remain in their group for the majority of their week, excepting lunch times and elective activity times, where they may intermix with other groups. Waterfront Training Academy Year 1 participants operate with a staff to child ratio of 1:6.
• Groups are led by a team of highly trained and qualified staff members. Lead Instructors are a minimum of 18 years of age and have either their US Sailing Level 1 Instructor or American Canoe Association Level 1 or 2 Paddle Instructor course or Paddlesports Facilitator Certification, based on their program of focus. Those operating motorboats hold their Boating Safety Certifications, in keeping with MA law as of 2026. All instructors also hold current First Aid, CPR, and AED certifications, either American Red Cross Lifeguarding Certification or Basic Water Rescue Certification, and participate in in-house training prior to summer programs. All staff and volunteers undergo hiring screening, CORI checks and Child Protection training prior to hire with our organization, and are trained according to their in-program responsibilities.
• All participants, including staff, wear properly fitted PFDs (personal floating devices) at ALL times while on boats, on docks, or in water over 2ft in depth, unless actively engaged in swim instruction with trained Lifeguards and Water Safety Instructors (WSI). This is the law for anyone under the age of 12. Children only go in the water when supervised by appropriate staff. Certified lifeguards are present and on duty whenever swim programs are in session.  All participants wear appropriate footwear at ALL times while in program, limiting the risk of falls or injuries.
• All participants participate in water confidence and PFD checks on the first day of programs, as long as weather conditions are safe to do so. This consists of a safety brief and a check for water confidence, meaning verification that children are comfortable wearing an appropriately fitted PFD in the water. Bay Explorers, who participate in swim instruction and free swim periods during the week participate in a swim assessment, facilitated by and American Red Cross WSI. We ask that participants communicate personal limitations and let an OBC staff member know when they notice water hazards (hazardous underwater animals, natural features, etc.).
• Our team performs regular cleaning and maintenance procedures for our facility, boating equipment, and PFDs, daily and weekly.
  

  Health Care Consultant, Kayla!

• The Onset Bay Center is closed to the public during programs, and doors are locked and monitored by staff when children are present in the facility.
• Meet our Health Care Consultant for Summer 2026, Kayla Blount! Returning this summer, Kayla will be helping our team of instructors and on-site Health Care Supervisors throughout the summer! Kayla, a Wareham native, has been a nurse for 10 years and has held a pediatric nurse practitioner license for the past 8 years. Kayla currently spends her school year as a nurse at the Wareham Elementary School. Kayla loves this community and is so excited to be apart of this program this summer!