Health & Safety
Our number one priority is to keep our ADK community healthy so that we can all have an amazing summer.
Open-air cabins and buildings allow for constant air flow
Our cabins do not get stuffy or hold germs as much as enclosed spaces.
Most activities happen outdoors in the sun!
Counselors remind campers to wear sunscreen all the time, and many of our activity areas have sunscreen available.
The ADK peninsula is a healthy bubble
We are separated from the outside world, giving kids a safe space to enjoy themselves without the day-to-day pressures of social media, school, and other influences.
Camper Self-Care
At Camp we are very intentional to make sure we take good care of ourselves. Here are some of our day to day health care practices.
Hand Washing
We ensure sure campers wash their hands throughout the day: before meals, before and/or after specific activities, after going to the bathroom, and more. Hand washing stations and hand sanitizers are located around Camp. Hand sanitizers are on each dining table. Keeping hands clean is key!
Hydrating
We have two cold water and ice houses at different ends of our peninsula where campers repeatedly fill their water bottles with cold water and pellet ice. It is easy to refill your water bottle, so campers can stay hydrated throughout the day. We wash water bottles through our industrial kitchen sanitizing washer. Campers are encouraged not to share water bottles.
Tick Checks
Prior to camper arrival, we spray the camp and remove leaves in the highest foot traffic areas of Camp to minimize ticks. We cover this issue in detail during our Staff Training and our Doctor and nurses are well versed in tick prevention and removal. We have routine tick checks as kids head into swimming and at night. If a child has a tick on them they will be sent to the Health Center where the RN will remove the tick in the recommended way, and you will be notified.
Health Center
We are fortunate to have trained and professional medical staff, with 3+ full-time nurses, a resident Camp Doctor & Health Director, Alison Tothy, MD, Associate Professor Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Campers have immediate dedicated staff on-site at all times. This provides a wealth of knowledge and care that keeps our community safe.
We have a newly renovated, air-conditioned Health Center that is staffed by Registered Nurses and Health Aides who are available 24/7. Our fantastic Health Center Team provides the best care and support for the physical and emotional well-being of our campers and staff. We partner with local Hudson Headwaters Clinics for general and subspecialty pediatric care. In case of an emergency, we use the Elizabethtown Community Hospital Ticonderoga Campus Emergency Department which is located 9 miles from camp. When an emergency happens, our team will contact the parents.
Health Care FAQs
- What if your child needs medication?
- How does my child get their medication?
- What if my child uses an over-the-counter medication?
- Should I pause my child’s medication for the summer?
- Can my child keep their mental health appointments while at camp?
What keeps coming to mind is how great my kids look when they come home. It sounds trite but they look so healthy. Their skin is clear, their eyes are bright, and they radiate energy.
Camp Cleaning
We have full-time facility staff who keep Camp clean throughout the summer. We work to make Camp as germ-free as possible, sanitizing cabin surfaces, activity areas, program equipment, and high traffic areas. As always, our priority is everyone’s safety. In each cabin, campers clean their own space daily. Each day after breakfast we have an inspection for every cabin where campers have time to work together as a group with counselor supervision to clean their cabins.
Safety Certifications
A significant number of our camp counselors are certified in American Red Cross First Aid and CPR, and our back-country staff has advanced emergency medical training. Members of our Wilderness Adventure staff have extensive backcountry experience and a minimum of Wilderness First Aid. The team is collaborates with local guides and outfitters on an as needed basis. On every trip, a staff member takes a complete back-country medical kit and a copy of each camper’s medical history and emergency contact information. On all trips that may include water exposure a certified lifeguard is also in attendance.
Our waterfront follows an approved handbook with oversight from the New York State Department of Health. Procedures and plans for emergencies on the water are regularly updated to meet current standards and best practices. All of our boat drivers have taken safe boating courses and our waterski drivers all have New York State Public Vessel Operators licenses. We use both marine band and UHF radios for constant communication with our counselors supervising the waterfront. When inclement weather is a factor our waterfront director supervises the safe removal of all campers from the water and our staff regularly practices rescue scenarios for each waterfront activity. Every member of our swim staff has been certified for American Red Cross Lifeguard with the waterfront module in addition to the general first aid and CPR certifications. Campers all take swim tests, are rated in any one of five categories of proficiency, receive personalized swim instruction and are restricted from certain swim areas and other activities pending meeting minimum swim criteria. We also abide by common sense rules such as life jackets on at all times when in boats or buddy swimming and only in supervised areas.
