Camper Health and Wellness

Health and wellness is our top priority in caring for your camper here at camp.

We work hard to make a space that feels safe and welcoming to you.

Our Health and Wellness Team for summer 2024

Erin Stokes - Health and Wellness Director- Erin is a year round staff member at Skyline who has been overseeing camper health and safety since 2015 alongside running programs for summer camp. This summer her role will solely focus on caring for the health and wellness of our staff and campers. Erin is a certified Wilderness First Responder and is trained in Adult, Teen, and Youth Mental Health First Aid.

Directors and Support Staff able to help when needed:

Rob Hoell - Rob will be maintaining our buildings and site, as well as helping everywhere this summer. He is a certified Lifeguard, so he can help out at the pond and pool. Rob was re-certified in 2023.

Matt Henry - Lifeguard Instructor (and guest musician). He trains and certifies a portion of our staff each summer to be lifeguards. Lifeguards are trained in CPR/First Aid as a part of their certification. Matt has had his LGI certification since 2016. 

FAQs

how do we approach & support your camper’s health & wellness at skyline? 

Do I need to get a physical for my camper before they go to camp?

No, you do not. We have a health form that parents are required to fill out and submit at minimum 2 weeks before the camp session begins. The form is to be filled out by a parent or guardian and can be found in your CampBrain Parent Portal. 

Who reads health forms? Who knows about my campers health information?

Our health and wellness team reads all the health forms about a week or so before the camp session begins. We share dietary needs and allergies with the kitchen staff, relevant health information with the campers counselors and directors. All staff are made aware of campers that use emergency medications such as inhalers and epi-pens. 

If your camper has health needs you believe we need awareness of more than a week before camp, please reach out as soon as possible.

How are medications at camp given?

Medications are collected at check in on Sundays. We put medications into a pillbox for the week. The health and wellness team works together to dispense medications at the time needed throughout the day. We need for families to bring the original pill container as we must follow the prescription information on the pill bottle. If the times given differ we will need a doctor's note to give at a different time. For more information you can review our medication policy below. 

What happens if my camper gets hurt at camp?

All counselors and program areas are stocked with basic first aid supplies- bandaid, alcohol swabs, ice pack, etc. If a camper gets hurt counselors will help the camper clean up any wounds, apply any needed bandaids, and record the treatment provided. Any documented treatments are given to the Health and Wellness assistant to be logged in our electronic records. If the counselors need additional supplies or help they use a walkie talkie to call the health and wellness team. Our Health and Wellness team has access to additional supplies such as tweezers, gauze, and over the counter medications. Our Health and Wellness team provides treatment in accordance with our Standing Orders which are reviewed annually by a licensed physician, Dr. Emily Soni. Our Health and Wellness team documents all treatments given electronically. 

If it is beyond the scope of our practice we will communicate with the parents about next steps and get the camper help as quickly as possible.

What happens if my camper gets sick at camp?

If your camper gets sick at camp we will assess their symptoms and communicate with parents as needed about our plans. We do have an infirmary where campers can go and rest during program hours. If your camper is in the infirmary we will call you to notify you.

How do you communicate with parents about injuries?

Minor injuries are communicated at the time of pickup. If the camper has been homesick for 24 hours or more, they sustain a head injury, are in the infirmary, or need additional care that we can provide, we will contact you via phone call. 

What happens if my camper needs to go to Urgent Care or the Emergency Room during camp?

If your camper needs to go to Urgent Care or the Emergency room we will contact you via phone call. If possible we will call you beforehand so that we can discuss with you the plan moving forward. If services are needed urgently we will have a Director call you as we are also calling 911. 

What if my campers use an Epi-pen, Inhaler, or another type of emergency medication?

If your camper uses emergency medication, we will collect that at the time of check in. We will then give the medication to the cabin counselor to carry in their backpack. If that counselor is not with your camper for the scatter time they will pass it along to the staff member going with that activity. 

Does the camp accommodate dietary restrictions and food allergies?

Yes we do. We can accommodate a wide range of dietary needs. For your specific camper please note any restrictions and/or allergies on the health form or contact us directly to discuss in greater detail. 

When the kitchen makes that camper's food they will do their best to keep it as similar as possible to what the other campers are eating. We will serve the food from a separate counter. Cabin/Group Counselors will be made aware of the restrictions and dietary needs of their campers so they can ensure the camper knows where to get their food and to make sure they are getting enough to eat. 

Please help your camper understand beforehand that they can discuss their food needs with their counselor as a way to help them self-advocate while here at camp.

How do you support campers’ mental health?

We are here to listen, to discuss what accommodations can be made to help here at camp, and we can talk about who they can reach out to for additional support. Our Directors who are trained in Mental Health First Aid:

Erin Stokes- Adult, Youth, and Teen Mental Health First Aid

Rob Hoell- Youth Mental Health First Aid

Matt Henry- Teen Mental Health First Aid

If your camper has a history with mental health challenges and/or is receiving care from a mental health professional please let us know. This will allow us to create a plan beforehand to set up your camper for a successful week. 

What if my camper experiences a mental health challenge while at camp?

If your camper is having a mental health challenge we will speak with them one on one and offer reassurance, validation, and discuss with them where they can get additional support outside of camp. We will share these conversations with you and reach out to you via phone call.