Online Camp MenusThe first aid clinic at Oakcrest is staffed by two college-age specialists who have had some basic first aid training. Your camper must be able to care for herself in order to attend Oakcrest, as we do not have nurses or any medically licensed staff at camp. Self-care is defined as being able to shower, dress, and care for her own medical situation. If she is diabetic she must be able to take her own blood sugars, calculate her own insulin, give her own shots, and calculate her own nutritional needs.
Asthma
A camper with asthma needs to be able to carry the inhaler, take their medication when needed, and report to camp staff if additional assistance is needed.
Bed-wetting
Please talk with your camper about bed-wetting so they feel comfortable telling camp staff if it happens. Remember: bed-wetting happens at camp with campers who don’t typically wet the bed. Camp is a new environment which may trigger this response.
The camp staff will help the camper wash the items discreetly and return the items. Camp Staff will also speak with the camper to see if they would like to shower or clean up with baby wipes.
Please make a note on the registration form if you have concerns about bed-wetting so the counselor is prepared to help the camper and makes sure she is on a bottom bunk to make addressing the issues easier and more discreet.
Diabetes
A camper with diabetes needs to be able to test their own blood, communicate when they need rest or a snack, and manage their own medication including waking up by themselves at night to manage levels. Camp staff cannot administer shots.
Dietary Needs and/or Food Allergies
The Oakcrest staff can only assist those with special dietary needs such as lactose intolerance, celiac disease, and nut allergy). It is crucial that any critical food allergies and dietary concerns are noted on the online registration form, along with reactions, severity and treatments needed. Only if a phone call is requested on the registration form will parents receive phone calls, texts or emails prior to camp to determine if special arrangements need to be made. Menus can be found on the camp website under the Campers tab. If the camper has severe restrictions, parents should send food with their camper to be stored in the kitchen. The kitchen staff will prepare this food for her. Parents can send this food in a small cooler or bag that is labeled with the camper’s name. All food must be labeled as well. Coolers and/or bags of food should be taken to the Open Enrollment table on busing day. Please see the website under the Campers tab for camp procedures and policies regarding food concerns.
EpiPens
If a camper will be bringing an EpiPen or an equivalent medication with them to camp, the parent/guardian must fill out the two-sided Oakcrest EpiPen Form and attach it to the camper’s Permission and Medical Release Form. Oakcrest follows the nationally accepted and state-approved EpiPen standard explained on the form. Oakcrest does not stock or provide EpiPens.
Homesickness
Our policy is to help homesick campers stay at camp for as long as possible. We deal with extreme circumstances on an individual basis. Parents should prepare their camper to be away from home, assuring her that homesick feelings are normal and felt by almost everyone, but some feel them more strongly than others. Homesickness can create both emotional and physical symptoms. Parents should discuss in advance what their camper can do to address homesick feelings or symptoms, such as focusing on the fun things to do at camp, trying to help another camper who feels homesick too, or praying for Heavenly Father’s help even before she comes to camp. Parents may consider arranging for her to receive a priesthood blessing as part of her preparation for camp. Two sets of full-time missionaries live at Oakcrest each summer and can be asked to give a priesthood blessing to a camper. You can also begin now by helping them practice being self-aware, developing personal coping strategies, as well as encouraging them to advocate for themselves and their needs so when you are not with them they feel confident in getting their needs met.
Our staff uses techniques for helping campers work through feelings of homesickness and are taught that homesickness is not so much about missing home as it is about making sure this unfamiliar environment is safe. This adjustment period usually lasts 2-3 days. By Wednesday, most homesickness subsides. If your camper is not adjusting to camp life, someone from Oakcrest will call to discuss the situation with you.
Sometimes homesickness occurs due to changes at home such as marriage, divorce, new sibling, death of a loved one, parents traveling, etc. If your camper is in any of these situations, please talk about it before leaving for camp. This helps them process the changes, so they won’t have to worry at camp. You can also include this information on your camper’s registration form so camp staff are aware of the issue in case your camper addresses it with them while at camp.
Please do not promise your camper they can call you if they are homesick. We do our best to help them navigate through homesickness and a promised call home does not allow them to process and cope with homesickness or engage in current activities. Instead, the camper tends to fixate on their homesickness and the promised call home and it becomes impossible for them to focus on putting an action plan into place. If you feel you need to check up on your camper or get a hold of her, you may contact your stake leader who will contact Oakcrest.
Hydration
Campers will be very active at Oakcrest and will be spending a lot of time outdoors. Campers should make sure to bring a good-sized water bottle to Oakcrest. They will be reminded by their counselor to drink water often. Campers would be wise to start getting used to drinking more water before they go to camp. Dehydration causes headaches, fatigues, and other health problems.
Medical Emergencies or Accidents at Camp
Should a camper require medical treatment at a clinic or hospital, a parent/guardian will be contacted immediately and asked to promptly come and get his/her daughter. If that is not possible or if help is needed sooner than a parent/guardian can arrive, the camper will be transported by ambulance to the appropriate medical facility. A parent/guardian or other adult family member will be required to meet the camper at the clinic/hospital. Once a family member arrives, the camper will be turned over to his/her care. Oakcrest contact information will be given to the parent/guardian or other family member, so that he/she can contact the camp and inform them as to the camper’s condition and whether or not the camper will be returning to Oakcrest. If the medical problem is resolved in time for the camper to finish her stay at Oakcrest, she is welcome to return but transportation must be provided by the family. Please make sure the contact numbers on your camper’s online registration form are accurate and that we can reach you at those numbers.
Medication
- All prescription medication containers should be placed together in a Ziploc bag, along with a small card listing the camper’s name and instructions for each medication (dosage and time of day to be taken). A separate Ziploc bag (with instructions) for over-the-counter medications can be sent as well.
- PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION: Prescription medication bags will be securely stored. Counselors will make the medication available at appropriate times and help remind campers to take them based on the instructions sent; i.e., morning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime, etc. Oakcrest staff can ONLY remind campers to take their medications, but by law cannot actually administer them or force a camper to take them. Parents/Guardians should review all medications and instructions with their campers so they can take their medications on their own, unassisted.
- OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION: Over the counter medication bags will be kept with their counselor in their cabin for easy access. Oakcrest’s clinic is stocked with the following over-the-counter medications: Tylenol, ibuprofen, anti-nausea, antacid, and antihistamine. These medications will not be given unless permission is granted by the parent/guardian on the registration form.
- CAMPERS REQUIRING INJECTIONS: Campers requiring injections must be willing and able to give their own injections, as there is not a registered nurse on the premises. Camper’s insulin can be kept in a refrigerator in the first aid office. Campers can carry rescue inhalers, EpiPens, and diabetic medication/supplies with them at all times.
Menstrual Cycles
Please have campers pack pads and/or tampons if they are close to their menstrual cycle while at camp. With the change in environment, sometimes periods begin a few days before they should. If a camper gets their period and does not have supplies, camp has some available. If a camper experiences their period for the first time, families will be contacted and the camper will be able to talk with their family. Showers will be offered if needed.
Special Needs or Limitations
Oakcrest does not have wheelchair-accessible cabins or bathrooms and uneven terrain and distance between activities make the use of crutches at camp very tiresome for campers. The layout of the camp is spread out with the cabins located southwest of the main softball field. The cabins are located on the side of the mountain and are not wheelchair accessible. There is a lot of walking back and forth from cabins to activities all day. The main trail to the lodge and softball field is covered with golf-ball sized gravel. Crutches are not allowed at camp.
Young women with uncontrolled diabetes or other severe physical, emotional, or mental disabilities which prohibit full participation are encouraged to consider stake camp or special needs camp instead of Oakcrest. Local stake/ward leaders do not attend Oakcrest with their campers, and hired Oakcrest counselors are not trained to handle severe disabilities. Campers who come to Oakcrest are expected to function independently and be self-care. Some young women with special needs which require only a little individual help may attend with a 16 to 18-year-old buddy.
For the safety of the camper, it is important that all moderate to severe medical and emotional information be filled out completely and specifically on the online registration form. Parents/Guardians of campers with moderate to severe emotional health concerns will ONLY be contacted by a member of the Oakcrest Women’s Committee prior to camp IF they requested a phone call on the registration form. Should a camper’s medical situation change after the registration form has been submitted online, a New Medical Information form should be filled out and given to the camper’s stake leader or turned in at the Open Enrollment table on busing day.
Sunburns
Please pack sunscreen and advise your camper to use it while at Oakcrest. Campers will be involved in many outdoor activities during the week. Please urge your camper to be wise and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves against sunburn.
Tick Bite Prevention
Tick species are widely distributed around the world and are most commonly found in brushy areas along the edges of fields and woodlands. They are also found near commonly traveled paths through grassy areas and shrubbery. While it is a good idea to take preventative measures against ticks year round, be extra vigilant in warmer months.
Oakcrest has a dress policy which will help with the prevention of tick bites. Long pants, socks, and sturdy shoes (no sandals or open-toed shoes) are required for daily wear. Long socks that can be pulled up over the pant leg are required for the hike and highly encouraged during a camper’s entire stay.