Preparing Your Child for a Healthy Camp Experience

Ask our expert about preparing your child for a healthy camp experience

About Our Experts

Kimberly Legg Corba, D.O., is a family medicine physician with Lehigh Valley Health Network

Moshe Markowitz, M.D., is a pediatrician with Lehigh Valley Health Network

• What should I do ahead of time to keep my child healthy at summer camp?
• My child has a chronic health condition. How can I prepare her for camp?
• What if my child needs to take medication?
• How do I prevent my child from getting homesick?

Q: What should I do ahead of time to keep my child healthy at summer camp?

A: Be sure your child is up to date on vaccinations. For children age 11 or older, include a vaccination against meningitis.

If your child is attending a day camp, apply sunscreen daily before he leaves home. Some camps supply their own sunscreen, but you'll be asked to sign a form declaring whether or not your child has any sunscreen allergies.

Q. My child has a chronic health condition. How can I prepare her for camp?

A. It's vital that you tell camp supervisors ahead of time about any condition, from ADHD to food allergies to learning disabilities. You also should check on the type of medical care available at the camp. Are the counselors educated in CPR and other lifesaving techniques? Are there doctors or nurses on staff? Is medical care available 24/7? Is the camp prepared to care for things like allergic reactions to bee stings? What kind of care is available in emergencies? What is the closest hospital or ambulance corps?

Q. What if my child needs to take medication?

A. Make sure your child goes to camp with any and all medication he may need. If he has asthma or diabetes, for example, he'll need to take his inhaler, or enough insulin to get him through the day. If he'll be at overnight camp for several weeks, you may need to order longer-thanusual supplies of his regular medicines and any prescription drugs he may need. Ask the camp about their policies for keeping prescription medications on-site.

Q: How do I prevent my child from getting homesick?

A: If your child is attending a sleepover camp, homesickness is a valid concern. Most camps allow children to bring a few comforts from home—a teddy bear, a family picture, notes from Mom and Dad—to help ease any feelings of missing family.

Ask your camp director about its rules for children and parents (and make sure you're comfortable with those regulations) before enrolling. Almost all overnight camps encourage children to write home once or twice a week; others allow weekly parent visits. Calling too often can sometimes make a child more homesick, which is one reason why some camps now ban devices like computers and cell phones.

It's normal to worry about your child while he's away at camp, but it's also important to allow the camp to follow its rules so your child can make his own decisions and have the most enriching experience possible.

This page last updated 10/29/10 09:44 AM