Get Ready for Summer Camp

It might still be spring, but now is the time to think about summer camp! If you have a child with food allergies, you’ll want to do some homework before registering him or her for summer camp. Given that spaces in the most popular camps can fill up fast, you’ll want to get started on this research, and we’ve got some tips to help you out.

•    Identify the type of camp that you would like your child to attend – half-days, full-days, or sleep-away camp? Sports, educational, or art? There are more than 12,000 day and residential camps in the U.S.

•    Once you have identified the camp, find out whether it is accredited by the American Camp Association, which indicates that it complies with mandatory standards in health, safety, and program quality.

•    Select a camp with a low camper-to-camp counselor ratio, to help ensure that your child would get immediate attention, if necessary.

•    If the camp has an open house session during spring, stop by for a visit to observe how the camp operates.

•    Meet with the camp director or senior staff member to discuss how food allergies are managed and to get your questions answered. Find out how many counselors are trained in first aid and CPR, and whether they have any experience with campers who have food allergies.

•    Review the camp’s curriculum and work with the camp director to develop alternate plans if foods are used for activities or art projects.

•    If your child will be staying for meals, make an appointment to meet with the camp’s cook to review menu items and ingredients.  

•    Find out where medication is stored, who administers it, and whether there is a camp nurse.

•    If your child has a history of severe reactions, take note of where the nearest hospital is located, and the expected response time for an ambulance to arrive onsite if called.

•    Go over your child’s Food Allergy Action Plan with camp staff to ensure they understand symptoms and what actions to take if a reaction occurs. Plan a “food allergy drill” so that everyone can run through the plan and know how to respond to an allergic emergency.

Camps are a great way for children to meet new friends and gain new experiences. For more information, FAAN’s Preparing for Camp and Overnight School Trips with Food Allergies is a comprehensive guide with additional tips to help make the camp experience fun and safe. Additionally, guidelines for managing food allergies at camp have been developed by FAAN and the Association of Camp Nurses.

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