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It really is time to start preparing for summer camp adventures.
Preparing kids for summer camp includes more than packing lists and stocking up on sunscreen and bug spray. Campers’ health and well-being while away from home—at day or sleepaway camps—takes priority before they hop in the car or on the plane.
Starting points often include a visit to a health care professional for a camp physical and communication with a camp’s staff to get an overview of its health and wellness protocols. Knowing what to ask—and to whom—can be confusing. To clarify, we turned to Roger Aronson, M.D., a family medicine physician, pediatrician and medical director at HealthPartners Park Nicollet. He answers some important questions.
Are day camp physicals required?
Depending on the activities, some day camps will want proof of a recent physical exam to make sure the child is OK for full participation. That being said, not all camps require a physical examination.
Do camp physicals differ from sports or regular physicals?
[They do] not; most regular pediatric physicals will cover everything needed for a camp physical as well as a sports physical. (… in general, any physical done within one year of camp attendance will suffice.)
What should be evaluated?
It certainly makes sense to make sure the camper is healthy and doesn’t need to be evaluated for infections. It’s also good to make sure vaccines are current as some camp injuries would require proof of current tetanus vaccination. Being in a group setting, it’s good in general to have all your vaccines current to minimize the risk for infectious exposure and subsequent illness.
What about prescription medications?
Most camps will have a person who manages meds for campers, especially the younger campers. There generally are medications that should be taken on a daily basis or as needed. Most camps will allow campers ages 12 and older to administer their own albuterol. Epinephrine should always be given by camp staff in the event of an allergic reaction.
Let’s discuss dietary issues.
The biggest dietary concerns would involve allergic reactions to foods, such as peanuts or eggs. There would also be considerations for vegetarian or vegan diets. Notify camp staff of the need to avoid gluten if a child was diagnosed with celiac disease.
What about health and well-being?
I recommend starting with a conversation with your child to ask if there are any thoughts, feelings or concerns they have about going to camp … It’s good to acknowledge that it’s normal to have feelings and emotions at camp, such as homesickness, loneliness or not knowing how they fit in … It’s also important to remind them they should speak up if anything seems wrong or inappropriate. Encourage your child to speak with camp counselors at any point if they have concerns or are feeling uncomfortable, sad or lonely. It’s good to review general safety topics and peer pressure. It can be helpful to practice how to respond in a situation that feels uncomfortable or unsafe.
Are there clues that a child should be retrieved early?
Signs that a child may be struggling at camp may include difficulty regulating or expressing their emotions. Other signs include struggling with social interactions and a lack of resiliency related to stress, feeling unsafe, sad or lonely. You may see difficulty engaging or general fatigue as well as significant changes in appetite. Any of these may be an indication that your child may need additional support or to be picked up from camp.
HealthPartners (healthpartners.com) has locations throughout the Metro, including HealthPartners Clinic Woodbury.
Be Prepared
In light of headline-making news last summer, camp safety is receiving additional examinations. “Parents should ask if the camp is [American Camp Association (ACA)] accredited and talk with camp directors about any potential concerns they may have, especially about preparation and plans for extreme weather and natural disasters,” says Henry DeHart, ACA interim president and CEO. “Parents may want to ask about a camp’s proximity to first responders as well as the camp’s practices around communication and collaboration with their local emergency response providers prior to camp season.”
More to Know
For over 100 years, the American Camp Association (ACA), a community of camp professionals, has worked to ensure the quality of camp programs. Henry DeHart, ACA’s interim president/CEO, shares some insight, which begins with accreditation. “Accreditation is a voluntary process, separate from state licensing, through which camps agree to meet ACA’s national standards for health, safety and risk management,” he says. “Accreditation involves an in-depth review of policies and practices and an on-site visit by trained ACA volunteers. ACA does not operate camps and does not govern their licensing. Instead, we provide a framework of practices that often go beyond what the state laws require.”
Are camps required to have trained health care professionals on site? “Camps should look to federal, state and local laws and regulations for requirements,” DeHart says. “ACA accreditation is a voluntary educational process. ACA accreditation standards address the importance of camps having a designated health care provider and preparing for where health care will take place both at camp and in locations away from the main camp.”
Regarding prescription medications, DeHart says, “Ask where medications are stored, who will have access to them, how they will be distributed and if there are any that your camper is allowed to keep with them. You may also discuss your camper’s specific medication schedule.”
When it comes to food allergies and sensitivities, camps should be able to accommodate routine and less common dietary needs. “In both instances, a parent should ask about a camp’s practices related to food preparation, serving techniques, eating out of the dining area (such as at cookouts or on trips), impromptu snacks and food that arrive in care packages,” DeHart says. (ACA standards require camps to have a camper health history, which includes allergies and/or dietary restrictions.)
DeHart notes that parents should not hesitate to reach out with questions after reviewing the camp’s website and materials. “Open communication between parents, doctors and camp professionals is encouraged,” he says. “Parents should work with their doctor and the camp to be sure the child’s needs are being properly met.”
