Health & Safety

1. Overview
2. Staff training
3. Medications
4. Allergies
5. Sun Safety
6. Activity Safety
7. Homesickness
8. Meals/Nutrition

Overview

Your camper’s health and safety are our top priority. As part of that goal we bring the best possible health care to campers and staff at Camp Hurontario. Our on-site health centre, known as Club Med, is operated by a camp nurse practitioner. The Club Med nurses are fully informed about health issues prior to the start of session and they communicate with parents during the camp session, should there be a need. Camp Hurontario has 911 services available and an excellent hospital in Parry Sound, a 30 minute drive from camp.

When you’ll hear from us

For the most part you will not hear from the camp’s medical team while your child is at camp; however, there are a few situations when one of the camp medical staff may need to contact home during the summer. For this reason, please make sure to provide camp with the most up to date contact information.

The medical staff will call to inform you of any significantly irregular medical situations. Some examples of this may include incidents where the nurse may prescribe oral antibiotics or other medications that your child does not normally take, when a child needs to go to the hospital or dentist, or unusually long illnesses.

Many of the issues we deal with at camp do not require a phone call home. These may include the prescribing of some oral medications such as antihistamines, topical creams or lotions, minor cuts and scrapes, minor colds or short-term illness that do not require medication.

When we do call home, we will make several attempts to reach you, including trying your cell numbers, and will leave a detailed message on voicemail if necessary.

Campers are welcome to visit the Club Med after meals. For campers who take medication on a regular basis, the nurse will distribute meds at meal times and, if needed, before bedtime. Cabin counsellors are there to help remind their campers to visit the health centre if necessary. On canoe trips, the counsellors will go over all medication administration details with the nurse in good time before the trip leaves. The counsellor will carry any medication in a waterproof case for the duration of the trip.

Staff Training

• All staff are required to have a clear criminal record check/vulnerable sector check as a condition of employment
• All counsellors have CPR and First Aid certifications
• Counsellors and counsellors-in-training are required to have at minimum the Bronze Cross certification. Senior counsellors leading our white-water trips will have their Sirius Wilderness First Aid certification.
• Hurontario runs a weeklong staff training and orientation session in June
• Training & search protocols are reviewed on a regular basis
• Kitchen cooks are required to take Food Handler Training and Certification Course (Clear Lake Facility)
• All staff are required to complete training in Health & Safety Awareness, Accessibility, and WHMIS

Medications

Sending medications to camp

For campers coming either by bus, car or private boat, please read the following information for sending medications to camp. A (Hurontario) staff member will be present to collect your medications. Please ensure that you have communicated in writing any specific directions, and placed this information in a Zip Lock sealed bag (packaging that is secure) along with the medications. Please give this medication to the staff member in charge of collecting medications.

All medications of any type must be clearly labelled with:

• Your child’s name
• The physician’s name
• The name of the medication
• The required dosage

Allergies

Nut Policy

Children come to camp with severe or life-threatening allergies. To ensure that camp is a safe environment for all Hurontario campers, Hurontario is designated as “nut aware”.

All food served through the kitchen and on out-trips is carefully screened to ensure it does not contain any nuts nor nut products. We do not permit families to send their child with food or to send food parcels to their child while he is at camp. On visitors days when we encourage parents to bring a picnic, we do not permit any nuts or nut products to be brought into camp. If a product comes into camp that does contain nuts or traces of nuts, it will be removed immediately from the property.

If your child has a life-threatening allergy, please send two clearly labelled EpiPens. Campers with allergies that require him to carry an EpiPen will wear one EpiPen in a fanny pack, and the counsellor will carry a second. The Club Med will have extra EpiPens at all times.

Sun Safety

• Sunscreen will be used at Camp Hurontario for all campers and staff whether on a sunny or cloudy day.
• To assist the camp in its sun protection program, please discuss the importance of using sunscreen with your son. 
• Please supply SPF 30 (minimum) for your son. Please be sure the sunscreen also contains DEET to repel mosquitoes.
• Sunscreen will be available at the Camp Store and each counsellor will have a supply.

Protective clothing, such as Hurontario’s baseball hats, plus a lightweight long-sleeved T-shirt will be available to buy at camp.

Activity Safety

Climbing Wall & High Ropes Safety

• All climbing and high ropes elements and equipment are inspected on a regular basis by both our staff and the accredited organization which built our high ropes course and climbing wall.
• Instructors are Level 1 and Level 2 Certified Challenge Course Practitioners.
• Our instructors attend training courses to remain current in all aspects of risk management and safety.

Waterfront Safety

• On the first day of camp, a swim evaluation is done to gauge the swimming ability of all campers.
• Hurontario does not hold large, difficult to monitor general swims. Campers swim with their own cabin group of no more than 8, with two counsellors who lifeguard and understand their campers’ swimming abilities.
• Campers and staff are required to wear personal flotation devices (PFDs) at all times while participating in boating activities and on all canoe trips.

Homesickness

Tips for Parents & Campers Alike

It is never too early to start planning for your son’s summer at camp. There are many exciting things about going to camp for the first time — new friends, great adventures, and an opportunity for increased independence. Camp can be a great “life-training” experience for children, building their independence and teaching self-reliance and social skills they will use throughout their life.

For some children, homesickness may also be a part of their experience. This is a normal and natural reaction to being away from home. Preventing or minimizing homesickness can be accomplished by using a number of practical steps before your child attends camp. Dr. Chris Thurber, a pediatric doctor and psychologist, developed the following list of helpful tips, which may assist you in making your child’s stay at camp a great one.

Tips for Parents

• Homesickness is normal. Children should be told that almost everyone misses something about home while away.
• Arrange practice time away from home. For example, 2 or 3 day visits with relatives or friends.
• Give your son a supply of pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelopes, paper and pens for writing home. (Please note: these items are available for sale in the camp store. American campers will need to buy Canadian stamps to mail letters to the U.S.)
• Talk about what to expect with your son, and stress the positive. Express enthusiasm and optimism about the fun she will have at camp.
• Do not make comments that express anxiety or ambivalence. Even “What will I do without you?” can make a child feel anxious.
• Learn about camp life at Hurontario. Look at the pictures in our photo gallery.
• Prepare and pack as a family. Taking part in even the smallest decisions increases a child’s perceptions of control and confidence.
• Pack a personal item from home, such as a stuffed animal.
• Write early. Sending a letter a few days before your son leaves for camp means he will receive it when he arrives, or shortly afterward.
• Respond to questions about homesickness with statements such as: “It’s normal to feel a little homesick, but we’ve talked about ways to cope with those feelings. Remember that the staff will also be there to help you. You’ll have a great time.”
• DO NOT make a “pick-up” deal. This decreases the likelihood of success at camp. It undermines your son’s sense that you have confidence in his ability to be on his own, and sets the expectation that he may not like the camp experience. It also sends the message that the only solution to the totally normal feelings of homesickness is to be “rescued” by a parent.

Meals at Hurontario

Mealtime is a big contributor to camp memories as it’s a chance for the whole camp to get together in the dining hall, mix and mingle, perhaps try new foods, and share a meal with friends.

Campers receive three well-balanced and nutritious meals every day in our central dining hall facility, as well as a light snack each evening. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten/dairy free options are available at every meal.

We all eat family style in the dining hall, with the counsellor of each cabin responsible for serving the table, replenishing empty dishes and refilling the water and juice jugs. Counsellors are also there to encourage campers to try new foods, practice good table manners, share with one another, and ensure everyone is eating well and staying hydrated.

• In additional to the hot main meal, oatmeal, yoghurt, fruit, hot and cold cereal, and juice and are available everyday at breakfast.
• Every day at lunch and dinner we offer a salad bar with unlimited quantities of fresh ingredients and an assortment of dressings.
• Homemade soups are offered at lunch. Our soups are never made with MSG.
• Each day we serve one “sweet” dessert (freshly baked from Hurontario’s kitchen) and one fruit dessert.
• Fresh bread and/or pastries are baked daily from our on-site bakery to be enjoyed at each meal.
• At every meal we will encourage campers to grab a fresh fruit from our “take one to go” bowls in the dining hall.
• An evening snack – a piece of fruit, a cookie, a slice of pizza, etc. is provided every day.
• There are outdoor BBQs every week to provide fun and social eating experiences that many campers note as one of their favorite parts of the Camp Hurontario experience.
• Cabins can also schedule themselves a lunchtime cookout on a nearby island to practice campfire cooking before going out on their canoe trip.
• We are prepared to accommodate special dietary needs or restrictions and can put you in touch with our chef to discuss your child’s needs for the summer.