Colorado Overnight Camp Summer Prep
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 and health care assistants. A physician serves as the medical director for each site, providing an annual review of our policies and treatment protocols.
Filling out your camper's Medical History Form is the best way for us to know how to serve your camper. Any time a camper goes offsite for care or if a camper has to stay overnight in the health center, we will contact you.
Sky Ranch has comprehensive policies and procedures in place to monitor for all infectious illnesses, including measles. Our experienced health staff is trained to recognize the symptoms of common infectious diseases and follow strict protocols for isolating and managing any cases. In the event of a diagnosis of any infectious illness, we will work closely with local health authorities and communicate transparently with parents.
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 listed them on this form, as the expectation is that someone could be at camp in Colorado within 24 hours. Please ensure the Emergency Contact has the Camper Code image.
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 their 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 regularly, it 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 must be in their 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 and include the camper’s name.
- 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 from a licensed provider
- Non-FDA-approved medications, including most vitamins, oils, and dietary supplements, will only be accepted and administered to your camper if accompanied by an order 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 your camper's safety and 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 permitted to be kept with the counselors are RESCUE inhalers (with a spacer) and EpiPens. These are the only medications that our counselors are trained to administer. Campers are not allowed to keep their own rescue medications 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 JenW@SkyRanch.org 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 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 are happy to accommodate your camper's needs! When completing the Medical History form for your camper's registration, please complete the section on 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 a Certificate of Immunization 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.
Under Colorado State Law and the requirements of the Colorado Department of Human Services, every medication 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 off-site activities 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.
What can you do to prevent the transmission of bed bugs?
Perform a thorough search looking for signs of bed bugs in any suitable hiding place. Look for feces (small dark dots in mattress corners or tight spaces), bed bug eggs, and live active bed bugs. The best way to prevent the spread of these pests is to take extra caution when acquiring furniture or staying in hotels. Thoroughly check beds, including sheets and mattress cording, for signs of bed bug infestation. Keep luggage, clothing, and other personal items on luggage racks away from upholstered surfaces and walls.
While bed bugs are a nuisance and can cause small bumps and minor itching, they are not known to carry disease or cause other types of physical reactions. Since there is no immediate health concern to campers or guests, Sky Ranch focuses on prevention and then limiting the spread of these insects in the isolated cases where they are brought onto our properties. Sky Ranch has an aggressive protocol of elimination and cabin treatment, should we determine the presence of bed bugs. Because the safety and comfort of our campers and guests are of paramount importance, we take all reports of possible bed bugs seriously and immediately bring our safety and security team to investigate the situation. In the event there is a confirmed or suspected case of bed bugs in your child's cabin, you will be notified.
Of primary importance is to examine your camper’s luggage and belongings prior to coming to camp, as bed bugs are often unknowingly transported in suitcases.
Please feel free to contact our Healthcare Director, Jennifer Watters, RN, at JenW@SkyRanch.org with any questions.
Bed Bug Facts
- Bed bugs are flattened, reddish-brown, oval-shaped insects about ¼ in. long.
- Bed bugs do not “jump” or “fly”; they crawl.
- They are nocturnal (meaning they are more likely to move during the night)
- Most people experience itching, pain, and/or swelling of the skin where bed bugs have bitten.
- Bed bugs are spread through affected furniture or by hiding in items used during travel, such as suitcases
- Bed bugs are commonly found in large buildings such as apartments, dormitories, hospitals, and hotels.
- Before treating an area that you suspect has been affected, it is important that a professional correctly identifies the bug.