EOPs, EAPs, SOPs, huh??
Greetings from Basecamp.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your camp needs an EOP, an EAP, or an SOP, or if you don’t have a clue which is which, you’re in good company. Even professional emergency managers get tripped up by all the acronyms. The truth is, they’re all part of the same safety ecosystem. They just serve different purposes. Let’s break it down in plain English.
The EOP
The Big Picture Plan
Your Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is the camp’s master playbook. It explains how leadership will manage an emergency from start to finish. It covers the big-picture stuff: who’s in charge, how decisions are made, how you’ll communicate with parents, and how you’ll coordinate with local responders.
Think of it as the plan your leadership team opens when something serious happens and you need to steer the ship.
The EAP
The “What Do We Do Right Now?” Plan
Your Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) are the step-by-step instructions your staff use in the moment. They’re short, direct, and action-oriented. You might have one for fire, one for severe weather, one for a missing camper – each with clear, simple guidance like where to go, who to call, and how to account for everyone. If the EOP is the playbook, the EAP is what happens on the field.
The SOP
The Everyday Plan
Then there are your Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These are the routine processes and protocols that keep camp safe before an emergency ever starts.
They outline the daily details: cabin checks, first aid kit inspections, medication protocols, and so on. SOPs are how you keep things consistent and prevent small problems from turning into big ones.
How It All Fits Together
Here’s the easy way to remember it: SOPs keep you safe every day. EAPs help you respond to a specific incident quickly and effectively in the moment. Your EOP is a more comprehensive document that helps you stay organized during a major incident.
They don’t replace each other; they support each other. Together, they create a structure that provides confidence and clarity to you and your staff.
At Basecamp, we help camps build all three but without all the confusing jargon. Because preparedness shouldn’t be confusing.
Until next time, keep your lamps lit,
Patrick