Thinking of sending your child to a camp this summer? See below for some tips from our staff at DeF2F:
Tips for Camps
- If this is the first time you are planning on sending your child to a summer camp, you want to be prepared. You will need current medical information for your child including medications and dosage.
- If you choose a camp whose primary campers are children with special health concerns, there may be someone onsite who can administer medications during the day. Contact this person prior to the first day of camp.
- If you choose a more inclusive camping environment, you need to know who administers medications and can monitor changes in your child’s health. Contact this person to discuss medical concerns prior to the beginning of camp.
- Searching for a Camp? Even though the name of a camp may be disability specific, children with different diagnoses may also attend.
Questions to ask any camp or summer care setting:
- Who administers my child’s medications?
- Where and how will my child’s medication be stored?
- Who monitors my child’s health changes?
- How do I share a new health issue or concern with staff?
- Do you have cooling stations or inside cooled areas?
- If my child is transported by the program, is the vehicle cool even when children are loading and unloading?
- If my child can’t participate in an activity because of the heat or other health related concern, will there be another activity available with a staff member aware of the medical issues present?
- Can I conduct a short pre camp meeting to educate the staff on my child’s special health issues? You can do this in person or over the phone.
- What happens if there is an emergency with my child?
- Do you have all the medical information they will need for 911?