Summer Camps (FA-specific, FA-friendly, tips, etc.)

[hezzier]

http://www.kenwood-evergreen.com/for-parents/allergies/

Peanut and tree nut free

[hezzier]

These are all very expensive, but I've posted the web page having to do with food allergies and these camps


http://www.campnorthstarmaine.com/about/delicious-food/

http://www.campbirchmont.com/the-birchmont-experience/lets-eat.php

http://campwinnebago.com/prospective-campers-and-families/food-nutrition/

http://www.hiddenvalleycamp.com/food-allergy-support?ext=

[LinksEtc]

http://www.gratefulfoodie.com/often-overlooked-food-allergy-camp-mistakes/

[brownie]

When these camps say peanut free...what are they really saying?

DS is going to scout camp and they said peanut free.  But when I called the guy was confused and finally asked if this was a health issue?!?!?  No I'm just some crazy lady who insists on peanut free!

The guy had no knowledge of cross-contamination.  They have bread and desserts.  Just because it doesn't have a warning on the label doesn't make it safe.  It still makes me nervous.  DS is bringing half his own food, including bread products, and will drink a lot of milk.  He will eat the "pure" stuff...hamburgers, hot dogs, bacon, eggs, fruit and veggies.  They have frito lay so he will eat that too. 

Brownie

[hezzier]

http://campwestminster.com/summercamp/food-allergies/

This camp has a specific week for food allergies.  They are "nut restricted" all summer, but serve almond milk.

[guess]

We are a nut-restricted camp all summer. For campers that need to avoid any of the other top 8 food allergens, please register for Free To Be camp or call us so we can discuss your camper’s specific needs and determine if it would be safe for them to attend.

Uh, that's not what ADA is.  If they want to acknowledge dietary restrictions that don't rise to the definition of ADA AA like Feingold yippy skippy but making a discriminatory claim about whether child can attend due to anaphylaxis, that's a big negative.  Too closely equating special diets, need, Autism, and what anaphylaxis and food allergy truly is.

[Janelle205]

Hezz, those prices look about average for independent camps (not affiliated with a church, scouts, YMCA, etc.)

One thing to keep in mind, price wise, is to look at how out of camp trips are handled.  One of the camps that I worked at let the campers choose which out of camp trips that they would go on when they were in the older cabins - depending on their choices, it could easily add a few thousand dollars to the overall pricing.

[hezzier]

Here's FARE's list of camps for 2015


http://www.foodallergy.org/camps/camp-list?

Food Allergy-Friendly Camps
There are many camps across the country that are either designed specifically for children with food allergies or welcome campers with food allergies. These camps remove certain allergens from their sites, have instituted procedures for anaphylactic emergencies, and have medical personnel on location who are trained in administering epinephrine. As a resource to parents, this list can be a starting point for finding the camp that is right for their child.

Please note that FARE does not certify, review, or accredit camps. Parents should complete a thorough and independent review of a camp’s practices and procedures to ensure their safety and capacity to accommodate a child with food allergies.

Brant Lake Camps
Location: Brant Lake, NY
Dates: June 27 - August 14, 2015
Brant Lake Dance Camp for girls and Brant Lake Sports Academy for boys have nut-free, sesame-free and shell fish-free facilities, and can support most special diets and food allergies. The kitchen staff is lead by a head chef of 26 years and includes a sous chef who prepares/oversees all special meals. Prospective camper parents are encouraged to speak with a Director to discuss individual dietary needs and agree on a specific plan. A licensed nutritionist, along with an on-site physician and nursing staff, provide support to all campers and staff.
Website

Camp Blue Spruce
Location: Portland, OR
Dates: August 16-22, 2015
Food served at Camp Blue Spruce is free from the top allergens: milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy; as well as gluten and sesame. Camp staff is comprised of a crew of cooks, educators, counselors and directors. Two allergists and several nurses will provide medical assistance for the camp.
Website

Camp Emerson
Location: Hinsdale, MA
Dates: Various throughout summer
For nearly 15 years, Camp Emerson has supported children with food allergies and special diets. The camp is peanut, tree nut, sesame, and shellfish free, and can accommodate many other food allergies and dietary restrictions such as celiac disease. You will meet with Sue Lein, Director and Owner, who is also allergic to eggs herself, to speak about your child's allergies and make an individualized menu plan. A registered dietician, chefs, and health personnel are on staff and trained on epinephrine use.
Website

Camps Kenwood and Evergreen for Boys and Girls
Location: Wilmot, NH
Dates: June 27 - August 16, 2015
For more than 10 years, these camps have been peanut- and tree nut-free; they can also accommodate gluten-free, soy-free and dairy-free campers. When traveling outside of camp on day trips, they will only go to places that serve peanut-free food.
Website

Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer
Location: Fombell, PA
Dates: Various throughout summer
Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer can accommodate all food allergies, including (but not limited to) nuts, gluten, soy, milk, and corn. The dining facilities are completely nut free and there is a gluten-free alternative at every meal. They carry dairy-free substitutes as needed and a vegetarian option is always available when meat is part of the main entree as well as a salad bar.
Website

Camp Pontiac
Location: Copake, NY
Dates: June 27 - August 15, 2015
Camp Pontiac is a peanut- and tree nut-free camp. They also have alternate foods enabling them to handle gluten and lactose intolerance. Multiple food allergies are supervised by a nutritionist and two Camp Moms, along with a medical staff that includes three to four on site physicians at a time and ten registered nurses.
Website

Camp Wingate*Kirkland
Location: Yarmouth Port, MA
Dates: Various throughout summer
A nut free camp, they can also accommodate gluten-free, dairy, wheat, soy, egg, and fish allergies. Their chef only uses fresh ingredients, cooks and bakes from scratch, and ensures there is no cross-contact of food products.
Website

Children's Food Allergy Camp
Location: Camp Sweeney in Gainesville, TX
Dates: August 9-13, 2015
Children’s Food Allergy Center offers a five day overnight camp with the top eight allergens completely avoided and tailored meals for those outside the top eight allergens. The camp staff includes physicians, nurses, a dietitian and a child life specialist form Children’s Medical Center.
Website

Free to be Camp: Camp with an allergen-free diet!
Location: Roscommon, MI
Dates: June 28 - July 3, 2015
For children with food allergies, sensitivities, or intolerances, this camp has served almost every dietary need. Food preparation will be handled by people with experience in special foods cooking. There is a registered nurse on site. 
Website

Point O'Pines Camp for Girls
Location: Brant Lake, NY
Dates: June 27 - August 14, 2015
Point O’Pines Camp for Girls is a nut-free camp, and has a dedicated chef who prepares meals for campers with other special food requirements including, for example, milk, sesame and soy allergy, vegetarian, Celiac and lactose-free diets. One of the Directors (who has a severe food allergy herself) collaborates with all of the parents and special diet campers, and the camp has an on-site physician, nurses, and many staff trained in epinephrine use.
Website

Youth Empowered Action Camp
Location: Northern California; Portland, OR; and Charlton, MA
Dates: Various throughout summer
YEA Camp is completely vegan, so the camp is free of milk and eggs. Teens with other food intolerances or allergies can also be accommodated.
Website

Please note that FARE does not endorse, promote, or benefit from listing these camps.This information is provided only as a resource to the food allergy community. FARE has not independently confirmed the completeness or accuracy of the information provided herein. FARE does not assume any responsibility for, or warrant, the representations or offers made within this directory. Nor does FARE assume responsibility for the actions of camps or camp staff members.

[hezzier]

Hezz, those prices look about average for independent camps (not affiliated with a church, scouts, YMCA, etc.)

I guess I had no idea how expensive camps were. 

[maeve]

Hezz, those prices look about average for independent camps (not affiliated with a church, scouts, YMCA, etc.)

I guess I had no idea how expensive camps were. 

I'm looking at a 3-day field hockey camp for DD and it's $575 and a 5-day surf/marine science camp is $870. Heck, I've paid nearly $4,000 for 10 weeks of day camp for the past few years (and the camp didn't even supply lunch or snacks). Unfortunately, though this is the last year DD is young enough to do the day camp we've used, she's taken all the courses they offer in the locations closest to us; so she doesn't want to attend.  I now have to figure out what to do with her for the summer.

[Macabre]

Once DS for to be that age he stayed home, did some chores and just was. But there were always a couple of drama calls for middle schook kids he could go to, so he didn't suT at Jone the whole summer. A&D he would  do Thibgs with friends at night. Also, I would go in earlier so I could leave earlier--or just work some afternoons from home.

It was a huge emotional and financial relief once this could happen. Because summer used to cost us thousands for camps, too. It was our daycare. 

I do have friends whose kids go to camp for six weeks and they pay $6,000 or so. They did it as kids. It's what they know.   

[Macabre]

There is a camp in Minnesota. AAFA in June.

http://www.veryspecialcamps.com/summer-camps/AFAA-Camp-2239.html

[Janelle205]

An agency camp generally does a lot of subsidizing on the price - but the independent camps can really look ridiculous price wise, if you do not know what to expect.  I know now where all the money goes, but when I started working at camps, I was surprised at some of the prices.  They are a bit less in the midwest, but not by much.  The camp that I work at now is inbetween - more expensive than an affiliated camp, but not as expensive as most independents, but that is part of the lease agreement - land belongs to the state DNR. 

I'm not going to guess about anyone's financial situation, but I will say that if you are looking at some of the independent camps, you definitely want to do some research about the population the camp generally serves.  My DSD has no problem fitting in at the camp that we're at now.  But I would never send her to the first camp that I worked at.  We might be able to swing affording it, but she would not fit in at all.  My 12 year olds had pants that were several hundred dollars pair.

[guess]

We might do Blue Spruce this year.  I need to talk to some people if anyone else has questions for them post here or PM me.

[maeve]

It was a huge emotional and financial relief once this could happen. Because summer used to cost us thousands for camps, too. It was our daycare. 

Camps have also been our summer day care. It's weird to get to the point where she's aging out of camps. She'll be a rising 9th grader this summer. It will certainly be a financial relief to not have to pay for camp but there's such a huge leap in letting go to let her stay at home.