YOUR IN-DEPTH GUIDE TO MEDICATION AT SUMMER CAMP

When your camper is spending a week away from home, medication questions come up fast. How do I make sure they get their prescription? Do I need to send Tylenol? Where does it all go?

Our health clinic staff handles hundreds of medications each summer and puts serious time into training to make sure every camper gets the right medication at the right time. We also operate under Michigan state regulations that shape how we store and administer medication, so some of our policies aren’t optional.

TYPES OF MEDS

We break medication into four categories:

Prescription medication, Over-the-counter medication, Vitamins and supplements, and essential oils.

You might wonder why vitamins, supplements, and essential oils are on the list. Out of an abundance of caution, and to keep medications secure and out of reach of other campers, we treat vitamins, supplements, and essential oils the same as everything else.

PACKING MEDS

No meds in luggage

No matter what type of medication you’re sending, all medication must be kept securely in our health clinic. This is a legal requirement we strictly enforce, and we extend it to vitamins, supplements and essential oils as well.

Do not pack any medication in your camper’s luggage. If our staff finds medication during check-in, it will be collected. If it has a prescription label or doctor’s note, it goes straight to the clinic, and a nurse will call you before it’s administered. If it doesn’t have a prescription label or doctor’s note, it will be stored in our camp office for the duration of the week.

Use original containers

All medication must arrive in its original container with the dosage instructions clearly visible. State regulations require this. We know it’s tempting to consolidate everything into a pill organizer or ziplock bag, but please don’t. It creates problems at check-in and slows things down for everyone.

This applies to boxed medications too, including inhalers, epi-pens, and prescription creams. Either pack the full box or ask your pharmacy for an extra label to attach to the item.

Only send what your camper needs

If your camper is here for five nights and takes an evening medication, send five doses and leave the rest at home. We can’t mail prescription medication, so anything left behind at pickup either needs to be retrieved in person or disposed of. Don’t send a full bottle if you don’t have to.

If your camper takes a daily morning medication, remember to give it to them after pickup on Saturday. The last time we administer medication is Friday night.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION

All of these requirements exist for legal and safety reasons. Medications must be listed on your camper’s medical form before we can accept them at check-in. If you make any changes to your camper’s medications before arrival, update the medical form first.

OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION

Here’s the thing most parents don’t expect: you probably don’t need to send any over-the-counter medication. Our clinic is fully stocked with everything we’d need for a typical week, including medications for bug bites, headaches, stomachaches, and most common issues. Campers can visit the clinic whenever they need something.

A few things worth knowing:

The most common OTC medication parents send is a daily allergy med. If your camper needs one, individually packaged allergy pills are the easiest option. Remove the ones they won’t need and send only what’s required for the week.

We can’t administer any medication that isn’t FDA-approved unless we have a doctor’s note.
We have to follow the dosing instructions on the label unless a doctor’s note says otherwise. If your camper is younger than the recommended age listed on the packaging, we’ll need a doctor’s note before we can give it to them.

VITAMINS, SUPPLEMENTS, and essential oils

In general, we recommend skipping vitamins, supplements, and essential oils for the week. They’re rarely necessary over a short period, and sending them means your camper has to stand in the medication line at meals, which most would rather skip.

If you do send them, the same rules apply: original container, correct dosage for your camper’s age and weight, listed on the medical form, and turned in to the nurse at check-in.

A note on melatonin: Melatonin is not FDA-approved, and for campers under 18, we require a physician’s note before we can administer it. Worth knowing too: after a full day at camp, most campers don’t need it.

EVERYTHING GOES ON YOUR MEDICAL FORM

This is the most important thing in this entire post. Every medication your camper takes, including any over-the-counter medication you’re sending for daily use, must be listed on their medical form before check-in. We can’t accept medications that aren’t on the form.

Medical forms must be completed at the time of registration. Fill it out completely, and if anything changes before arrival, update it. (Once a form is submitted, you will need to contact our office to get the form re-opened).

If your camper needs to self-carry an epi-pen or inhaler, note that on the medical form and check in with the nurse when you arrive. We recommend sending a backup to keep at the clinic in case your camper leaves theirs in the cabin.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Reach out to our office at [email protected] or the health team at [email protected], and we’ll get you sorted before arrival.