- Temperature: 62.0°
- Wind: From the West at 6 mph (290° at 6 knots)
- Condition: Fair
- Visibility: 10 miles
Safety Features
Camp Big Sky is committed to conducting its recreation programs and activities in a safe manner and holds the safety of participants in high regard. Camp Big Sky continually strives to reduce such risks and asks that all participants follow safety rules and instructions that are designed to protect the participants’ safety. However, participants must recognize that there is an inherent risk of injury when choosing to participate in any outdoor recreational activity or program.
Camp Big Sky will not be responsible for any accidents or injuries which may be incurred, and participants are urged to review their own health insurance policy for coverage. Additionally, each participant is solely responsible for determining if he/she is physically fit and/or properly skilled for any activity. It is always advisable, especially if the participant is pregnant, disabled in any way or recently suffered from an illness, injury or impairment, to consult a physician before undertaking any physical activity.
We strongly recommend that you bring a cell phone with you to our camp. In the event of an emergency dial 911 and you will be connected to the Fairview Fire and Rescue Squad. This response team has been to our camp and they have a key for access. They are located in Fairview, just minutes from our camp. The Fulton County Ambulance Service is also familiar with our location. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PAVILION/FISHING PIER AREA HAS THE WORST RECEPTION FOR CELL PHONES AND THE CABIN CAMPSITE HAS THE BEST RECEPTION.
A large first aid kit is located in the cabin and a smaller first aid kit at the fishing pier. We also have a poison ivy kit at the cabin. Each boat is equipped with a small first aid kit.
Warning of Risk:
Despite careful and proper preparation, instruction, medical advice, conditioning and equipment, there is still a risk of serious injury when participating in any recreational activity/program. Understandably, not all hazards and dangers can be foreseen. Participants must understand that depending upon the activity, certain risks, dangers and injuries due to acts of God, inclement weather, slipping, falling, inadequate or defective equipment, failure in supervision or instruction, premises defects, horseplay, carelessness, lack of skill or technique, and all other circumstances inherent to outdoor recreational activities/programs exist. Outdoor activities at Camp Big Sky may bring participants into contact with water, wildlife, plants and weeds and the risks inherent therewith. In this regard, it must be recognized that it is impossible for Camp Big Sky to guarantee absolute safety.
Emergency Services:
In conjunction with the Fulton County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, Camp Big Sky conducted a search and rescue drill at the camp, Sept. 15, 2007. Thirty five personnel from 10 different agencies participated in the lost camper drill. We hid a dummy at the camp and then brought in the various agencies to gather information and search the camp for the lost camper. We had a state of the art communications trailer and they contacted the Illinois State Police search and rescue plane, which flew to the camp with GPS coordinates radioed to them. We also had several people conducting a walking search. The plane found the dummy within 20 minutes after arriving at the camp.
Fairview Fire and Rescue and Farmington Fire and Rescue both know our location and have keys to the gate. Fairview Fire and Rescue has been to the camp and knows the terrain and the locations of the activity centers. We have taken GPS coordinates and have them available for some landing zones for the OSF Life Flight helicopter.
The Fairview Fire and Rescue Squad held a Polar Plunge fundraiser last January 5th at Lakeland Park in Canton and raised some $1300 for Camp Big Sky. On August 16th two of their members did a scuba dive at Bruce’s Lake with one of our Board Members, Jerry Quintiliani.