PACC: Staying Healthy at Camp
Meet the Health Hut team of nurses at YMCA Camp Greenville!
Introduction to the Health Hut
As a registered nurse, Stephanie Laudisio has been part of the camp family for 13 years, and manages the Health Hut operations while leading the nurses team each summer. The Health Hut is the go-to place for all things health and wellness at camp. There are two registered nurses available 24/7, providing first aid, medication management, and emotional support for campers and staff.
Medication Management
At check in, you will stop at the Health Hut to drop medication off with our two nurses for the week. Medications (prescription and over the counter, including vitamins etc) MUST be in the originally labeled container or they will NOT be accepted. This is for the protection of your camper, the other campers, and our nurses.
Nurses will distribute medication at the times indicated and all dosing will be logged. Typical medication distribution times are at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, when the Health Hut nurses bring medications to the dining hall for the convenience of campers. For bedtime medications, either the campers will walk to the Health Hut to take their medication or if an all-camp evening activity is on the schedule, the nurses will bring medications to the central location for camper convenience.
Campers, LDPs, and staff are not allowed to keep medication of any kind in their camper cabin.
Our Health Hut nurses are approved to administer oral and topical medications only. Medications that must be administered by injection or rectally will not be allowed at camp. If this presents a concern for your camper, please contact the camp office to schedule a phone call with a camp director.
Preparing for Camp
This spring, parents will gain access in their Parent Portal online to complete required forms for their camper’s participation this summer. One of those forms is the “health history form.” The health history form is our snapshot into a camper's medical background. Even seemingly minor details can be crucial. Parents, please be thorough, providing insights into allergies, illnesses, and anything relevant.
Note that the “information for cabin leader form” will be given to the cabin leader and the “healthy history form” will be accessible by the nurses. Parents are encouraged to duplicate information between the two forms, as needed, to ensure both groups of adults at camp are prepared to support your camper’s success.
In the weeks leading up to your camp session, parents should encourage hydration and healthy eating habits, preparing campers for an active and fulfilling experience. Campers will play hard outdoors during their time at camp, and they’ll need extra water and extra healthy foods to fuel all that fun.
Camper Quest!
By completing 2 out of 3 Quests in February, campers earn a friendship bracelet.
Drink More Water! If you don’t yet have a favorite water bottle, go shopping to find one you love that’s easy to carry (handles or a place for a carabiner clip are great) and not too big (once it’s filled with water, we don’t want it to be too heavy for carrying around camp).
Practice drinking two bottles full of water each day for at least 3 days. Get a head start in the morning, and finish up after school. Don’t drink too close to bedtime…
Communication from the Health Hut
It’s important to note that routine incidents like minor injuries won't prompt immediate communication from the nurses or camp directors to parents. While experiencing an adventurous outdoor lifestyle during their camp session, campers are likely to encounter scratches, scrapes, bug bites/stings, etc. However, the nurses follow strict protocols, involving camp directors if a situation requires ongoing monitoring or heightened attention. Parents receive calls only when necessary, maintaining a balance between normal camp experiences and vigilant health care.
Closing Thoughts: A Message of Care
The Health Hut team loves to partner with camp families and their children. Nurse Stephanie encourages parents to visit the Health Hut during Sunday check-in, reinforcing the sense of community and trust at Camp Greenville. At Camp Greenville, we’re so grateful for our nursing team and the integral role the Health Hut plays in ensuring a safe, healthy, and joyful camp experience.
We’re here to help! If you have any questions about the topics above, please reach out to Stacie Simpson via email or by phone/text at 864-432-1085.
Stay tuned for next month’s theme: Emotions and Friendships, including identifying emotions, understanding homesadness and homesickness, being a good friend, and conflict.
Learn more about the PACC program here: https://www.campgreenville.org/mountainviewnews/pacc-prepare-and-conquer-camp
