Stresses the importance of educating campers and staff about the dangers of overexposure to the sun and the transmission of Lyme disease. Discusses the importance of using an appropriate sunscreen and avoiding outdoor activities during peak hours of sunlight. Discusses how Lyme disease is transmitted, the life cycle of a tick, and how to remove…

Recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics discuss components of the medical program for children's camps and provide guidelines for the camper's annual or biennial physical examination, maintenance of health records, health screenings on camper arrival and departure, daily health surveillance, camp health care facilities, and children…

Skin cancer is the fastest increasing cancer, and children receive 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18. Campers should apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 daily, 20 minutes before going outdoors and again every 2 hours. Seven strategies for preventing sunburn and reducing the risk of developing skin cancer are…

Explains techniques for reducing stress: diaphragmatic breathing, relaxation, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation. Two sidebars define the fight-or-flight response and the camp administration's role in helping to lower stress through staff training and reduction of camp-wide stressors. (SAS)

A model for creating a healthy and safe camp environment is based on modeling good health and safety practices by camp staff, creating a pattern of forethought and proactive behaviors that incorporates safety management into every activity, and fostering collective caring and shared responsibility for health and safety among members of the camp…

The seven habits of healthy camp directors and staff members include setting realistic goals; developing positive health habits such as eating well-balanced meals, getting plenty of rest, and exercising regularly; setting time aside for daily solitude; practicing relaxation techniques; developing a social support system; maintaining a positive…