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Learn · Allergies at camp

A day at camp, through allergy eyes

Camp is one of the best parts of growing up. For a child with a peanut or tree nut allergy, it also brings risks that don't come up at home or school. Here's where they show up, and what to ask before you sign up.

Medical review: pending. This page is a draft and hasn't been reviewed by an allergist yet.

Why camp is different

At home and school

  • Parents control the kitchen
  • A nurse is down the hall
  • Epinephrine is in a known place
  • The child goes home each day
  • A hospital is usually close

At camp

  • Meals, snacks and treats come from many sources
  • Counselors are often teenagers
  • Kids move all over camp, and off it
  • Days or weeks with no parent nearby
  • A hospital may be far away

Where the risks show up

Follow a camper through a typical day. At each stop: what can go wrong, and what a well-prepared camp does about it.

  1. Arrival day

    Luggage and care packages

    Risk: Snacks packed by other families, or a care package that arrives mid-week, bring peanut butter crackers and candy bars into cabins.

    Good practice: The packing list says no nuts, and food is checked or held by staff.

  2. 7:30 am

    Breakfast

    Risk: A peanut butter station next to the toast, shared serving spoons, and tables wiped with a damp cloth between seatings.

    Good practice: No nuts in the dining hall, ingredient labels checked, tables cleaned with real cleaner, and handwashing before and after meals.

  3. 9:00 am

    Arts and crafts

    Risk: Peanut butter bird feeders, nut shells in nature crafts, or shared supplies handled right after breakfast.

    Good practice: No food in craft projects, and handwashing before the activity.

  4. 11:00 am

    Waterfront

    Risk: Paddles and life jackets passed from hand to hand, and epinephrine left in a cabin because “we're only going to the lake.”

    Good practice: Epinephrine goes to the waterfront in a waterproof bag, with a trained staff member.

  5. 2:00 pm

    Canteen

    Risk: Candy bars with peanuts, eaten on the benches outside, with wrappers and crumbs left behind.

    Good practice: The canteen only stocks nut-free snacks, with labels checked when stock is ordered.

  6. 3:30 pm

    Hike or day trip

    Risk: Trail mix passed around, a stop at a store or restaurant, and the nearest ambulance much farther away.

    Good practice: Nut-free trail food packed by camp, epinephrine and a trained staff member with the group, and a plan for calling for help from the trail.

  7. 8:00 pm

    Campfire

    Risk: S'mores with chocolate or cookies that contain nuts or carry “may contain” warnings, in the dark, when a reaction is harder to spot.

    Good practice: Labels checked on every treat, and counselors who know which campers have allergies.

  8. 10:00 pm

    Lights out

    Risk: Snacks shared on bunks after lights-out, and a reaction that starts while staff are asleep.

    Good practice: No food in cabins, epinephrine where the night counselor can reach it, and a clear plan for night-time emergencies.

Questions to ask a camp before you enroll

A good camp will be glad you asked. Vague answers are useful information too.

  • Do you have a written food allergy policy? Can I see it?
  • Are peanuts and tree nuts served, sold or allowed anywhere at camp, including the canteen, care packages and special events?
  • Who checks ingredient labels, and how often?
  • Where will my child's epinephrine be during meals, at the waterfront, on hikes, on trips and at night?
  • Which staff are trained to recognize anaphylaxis and use an auto-injector? Do they practice?
  • Do you keep stock epinephrine?
  • Is there a nurse or health officer on site at all times?
  • How far is the nearest hospital, and how long does an ambulance take to reach camp?
  • Have you had an allergic reaction at camp? What happened, and what did you change afterwards?
  • How will my child's counselors learn about the allergy?

Getting your child ready

Practice speaking up

Role-play saying “I have a peanut allergy, can I check that?” and “I don't feel right, I need help.” Kids should know it's never rude to ask.

Know the rules

Don't share food. Wash hands with soap and water before eating, since sanitizer isn't enough.1 Tell a counselor right away if something feels wrong.

Carry or know where epinephrine is

Older kids can carry their own auto-injector if the camp allows it. Teens are at the highest risk for severe reactions, often when they don't have epinephrine with them.2

Send the paperwork early

Send an up-to-date emergency action plan from your doctor and at least two unexpired auto-injectors before camp starts, and ask who will be trained to use them.

Help make camp safer for every kid

Every camp can take these steps. A clear, written nut-free policy is the place to start, and camps listen when families ask.

Ask your camp to go nut-free Know the signs of anaphylaxis

Sources

  1. Perry TT, Conover-Walker MK, Pomés A, Chapman MD, Wood RA. “Distribution of peanut allergen in the environment.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2004;113(5):973–976.
  2. Bock SA, Muñoz-Furlong A, Sampson HA. “Further fatalities caused by anaphylactic reactions to food, 2001–2006.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2007;119(4):1016–1018.

This page shares general information and is not medical advice. Talk to your child's doctor or allergist before camp.