The Importance Of Disclosing Allergies & Special Needs For Summer Camp
When school is out and summer is in, you are still your child’s most amazing advocate!
Disclosing your child’s allergies,
medical needs, or special needs to their summer camp is the best thing to do to
guarantee that your child has an exciting and memorable camp experience while
also ensuring that you have the peace of mind of knowing that they are safe and
fully supported by their camp teachers, directors, and counselors.
Disclosure ensures that the
adults who have the privilege of working with your child have the information
necessary to recognize any symptoms of distress as early on as possible. As we
know, everything ranging from diabetic or epileptic seizures, to difficulty
breathing due to allergen exposure, and even to sensory overload can be a
dramatically different experience for a child when caught and tended to as
early as possible. All reputable summer camps have protocols in place and ready
to implement in a moment’s notice if a child begins to experience an allergic
reaction, medical symptoms, or physical, mental, or emotional discomfort as it
pertains to a special or medical need.
When camp teachers and
counselors are in the dark about a child’s needs, in the event of a distressful
reaction, valuable time is wasted determining the root cause and appropriate
remedy. However, when your child’s needs are known by camp staff, quick,
informed action will go a long way in preventing the situation from escalating.
Taking the small yet essential step in disclosing your child’s needs to their
camp will allow everyone to focus on your child’s best summer ever!
Most camps have their own
practices and procedures regarding important health disclosures, but if you are
looking for a way to initiate communication around this topic with a
prospective summer program, here are our recommendations for getting the
conversation started:
1)
Research &
Make Contact:
When
thinking about signing your child up for a summer camp experience, the exciting
first step is deciding where to send them, and what activities they will enjoy!
While researching summer camp opportunities, keep an eye out for policy pages and/or
forms that may outline their protocol for children with allergies, medical
needs, or special needs.
If after a few minutes of poking around the website, you cannot seem to find
anything, don’t sweat it! Most camp offices can be contacted by phone and are
happy to answer any questions that you have about how the camp will support
your child’s well-being and meet their needs. You can even view this as your
opportunity to interview potential summer camps to ensure that they have a
policy and protocol in place and make sure that they are amazing enough for
your child to have a fun, safe, worry free summer!
2)
Disclose On
Camp Registration Forms:
Most camp
registration forms have a section for the parent to indicate that they agree to
disclose a child’s special needs or allergies if they have them. The parent will
then follow-up with the camp office via phone or email to formally disclose.
3)
Follow Up
With the Camp Office:
At the time
of disclosure, the camp office will ask for a detailed letter outlining the
nature of the child’s needs or allergies. In the case of an allergy, the letter
will explain the specific allergen, the severity of the allergy, any symptoms
of an allergic reaction, any other pertinent details, as well as step-by-step
instructions on the actions to be taken by staff in the event of an allergic
reaction. The letter does not have to be too long, but it should thoroughly
describe how to respond to any degree of distress at camp. In the case of campers
with special needs, a similar letter outlining their needs, in addition to a
doctor’s letter stating that the summer camp curriculum is appropriate and safe
for your child will be required. All required paperwork should be submitted at
least 2 weeks before the first day of camp because, in some cases, parents may
need to provide a nurse or an aide, which requires additional time to finalize.
These letters will be passed on to the on-site camp directors so that they are
aware of every camper’s unique needs.
4) First Day of Camp:
On the first
day of camp, arrive at least 15-20 minutes before the start of camp activities
to introduce yourself and your child to the on-site camp director and chat
about your child’s allergies, medical needs, or special needs. If your child will
need any sort of medication or Epi-Pen, give it to the director for safe
keeping—they’ll keep it in their easily accessible first aid kit for the duration
of camp. It’s also very helpful to review your child’s health plan with the
camp director once more to make sure that everyone is on the same page and is
prepared for any potential scenario.
Disclosing special needs or
allergies to your child’s summer camp makes sure that the safety of your child
and every child at camp are at the heart of all activities. Talking to the camp
office and camp director will allow you to work together to put a plan in place
for how to best serve your child at camp. At the end of the day, nothing is
more important than your child’s well-being, and sharing important health
information will not exclude your child but rather will ensure that your child is
immersed in the least restrictive and most inclusive environment possible!
PAW’s
award-winning camps for kids ages 5-14 include Musical
Theater, Filmmaking, Guitar, Magic, Photography, Rock The Mic, Stage F/X
Makeup, Debate Camp & Camp LOL!
Trusted
for over 30 years, PAW has 10 camp locations to choose from
including; Brentwood, West LA, Manhattan Beach, RPV, Redondo Beach, El Segundo,
East Pasadena, Old Town Pasadena, Northridge, and Studio City. For camp
information call us at (310) 827-8827
or check out our website at www.PerformingArtsWorkshops.com.
Performing Arts Workshops ~ the ultimate ARTS
experience.
Part Art…Part Play…ALL FUN!
Part Art…Part Play…ALL FUN!
