Health & Wellness

While we recognize that trips to the health center are not completely unavoidable, we work diligently to minimize any time spent away from camp activities. This means that we take a proactive, holistic approach to caring for your camper. Ways that we do this include, but are not limited to, focusing on the importance of:

• handwashing
• bug spray
• sunscreen
• hydration
• rest

Our health centers are staffed by licensed health professionals as well as health care assistants. A physician acts as the medical director of each site, providing a yearly review of our policies and treatment protocols.

A note about Emergency Contacts

On your camper's health form, you will be asked to list additional Emergency Contacts. These individuals can be any trusted adults in your life in addition to you. In the event of an emergency, if we cannot reach you or any other administrator on the account, we will contact the Emergency Contacts listed here. We recommend letting those people know you have named them on this form, as the expectation is that someone could be at camp in Van, TX within 2 hours in the event of an emergency, or within 24 hours in Colorado.

Health Tips for Camp Prep

A healthy camp starts at home! As you prepare to send your child to camp, here are some ways that you can ensure they have a wonderful experience:

• Prevent the spread of illness:
  • If your child shows signs of illness, please keep them home. This greatly reduces the spread of illness at camp.
  • Teach your child to sneeze in his/her sleeve and to wash hands often at home and at camp.
• Staying Hydrated: Send a reusable water bottle so it can be refilled frequently during the week
  • The altitude of our Colorado Camps can lead to Altitude Sickness if you are not proactive about being ready for Colorado! Drink plenty of water in the week leading up to camp to prevent feeling unwell while there!

Medications

Commonly Used Medications 

Each location stocks commonly used medications, such as Tylenol, for as-needed use.

Bringing Medications

If your child takes medication on a regular basis, the medication will be stored in our health center and dispensed by a licensed health professional. All medications (both prescription and over-the-counter) must be checked in when you drop off your camper.

**No camper should have any medication with them in their personal belongings.**

To help expedite your check-in process on Sunday, please follow the instructions below:

• Original packaging is required for all medications
  • Both prescription and over-the-counter medications are required to be in the original packaging and contain only the medication identified on the container.
  • Do not put medications in pill containers.
• Legible prescription label
  • If your child requires a prescription medication, the prescription label must be legible with the camper’s name on it.
  • Do not use old bottles or those belonging to another family member as they will not be administered per state law.
  • Prescription label instructions will be followed. If your child’s doctor has recently changed the timing or frequency of the medication, make sure the prescription label is up to date.
• Non-FDA-approved medications need an order by a licensed provider
  • Non-FDA-approved medications include most vitamins, oils, and dietary supplements and will only be accepted and administered to your camper if accompanied by an order that is signed by a licensed provider (MD, DO, NP, or PA).
  • This order must instruct us on when and how much to give. This is to ensure the safety of your camper and to comply with the Nurse Practice Act.
• Check the expiration date: Expired medication will not be administered per state law.
• Rescue Inhalers and EpiPens
  • The ONLY medications that are permitted to be kept with the counselors are RESCUE inhalers (along with spacer) and EpiPens. These are the only medications that our counselors are trained to administer. Campers are not allowed to keep rescue medications themselves for safety reasons.
  • A counselor who has your child’s rescue medication will be with your child at all times. The counselors are allowed to keep glucometers.
  • If you have any questions, please contact our Healthcare Director prior to camp.
• Picking up medication:
  • All medications can be picked up by parents on the last day of camp.
  • Medications that are not picked up will be disposed of so please be sure to stop by our medication return table.
  • If your child has a rescue medication kept by the counselor (EpiPen or rescue inhaler), it is your responsibility to obtain these from your child’s counselor when you pick up your child from camp.

To serve your family with excellence, we follow the regulations for Colorado and Texas Youth Camps and subscribe to the American Camp Association standards.

Special Dietary Requirements

We will gladly work with you regarding special dietary restrictions and food allergies. When completing the online registration for camp, please complete the portion related to food allergies and dietary requirements. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact our food service department directly by emailing FoodService@SkyRanch.org.

Required Forms

All Colorado campers must have a Sky Ranch Colorado-specific Physical Form and Certificate of Immunization that is signed by a doctor. Upload them under the "Forms" tab on your camper's registration. Most smartphones have a scan function to make this process easier (check out the tutorials for iPhones and Androids). A general school or athletic physical form will not be accepted.

Based on Colorado State Law and the requirements of the Colorado Department of Human Services, every medication that the camper brings to camp, including over-the-counter medications, must be listed on the hard copy physical form and signed by a provider. 

On-Site Nurse

A nurse is on-site at our Colorado Camps; however, a nurse is not present for all of the off-site activities that occur during these programs. If you have specific questions regarding this, or if your Colorado camper has specific health-related needs, please contact our Healthcare Director, Jennifer Watters at JenW@SkyRanch.org to discuss further

Bed Bug Prevention

Bed bugs have become more common in the United States and worldwide over the past few years. Sky Ranch takes several precautions to ensure facilities are free of these pests, but as with all hospitality businesses we have no control over the potential of guests bringing in bed bugs.

Resources