Bonus Episode: Summer Camp Edition

School is out and summer vacation is here! One way families and kids enjoy the long summer days is by signing up or participating in summer camp. It can be common for questions to pop up around this topic, like how old kids should be before going to camp, what to consider when looking at camps, how to prepare your child for their first overnight camp, and what your middle/high school student should pack for their away trip. We will also be talking about some local camps right here in our area! 

Should My Child Go to Camp?

Benefits: Summer camps can be a great way for kids to meet friends, interact with positive role models, stay active, and explore new activities! According to the AAP, camps can have a positive effect on “self-esteem, peer relationships, independence, leadership, values, and willingness to try new things.” Outdoor camps can help kids/teens get outside, which we know has positive effects for our health! 

Age: It is common for families to wonder when their child is ready for an overnight camp. This can vary person to person, since there is no “one-size-fits-all” age for this. Typically, however, kids can be ready for an overnight camp as early as age 7 or 8. 

Cost: Sometimes camps can be expensive! If you want your child to have the opportunity to go to camp, but are worried about the finances, there are a lot of camps that have financial assistance available! Camps through the Parks and Rec department and the YMCA are a few, but lots of camps offer this and have more information on their websites. 

 

How to Prepare for Camp?

Pre Camp Health Evaluation

Many camps will ask for a pre-camp health evaluation. This can be the same appointment as your child's yearly wellness exam, which the camp will typically ask to have been done within the last year. You do not need to have the camp form with you at the time of the visit, you can always send it to us (or the pediatric office you are established with) to sign prior to the camp date. 

IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION: It is important to fill out any information you think would be helpful to the camp staff or emergency medical personnel if they were to need it. For example: if your child is prescribed rescue medication (ex: for asthma, seizures, food allergies etc), it is very important you include that information on the health camp forms even if your child’s condition is well controlled and you do not anticipate they will need it. Most of the time, these rescue medications are lifesaving, you always want to pack these medications and have clear instructions for camp counselors/medical staff.    

Pre Camp Kid/Teen Conversations

Homesickness: It is normal for some kids to feel homesick at camp, even when they are having a great time! Talking to your kid and asking open ended questions about how they are feeling when camp is approaching (especially if it is their first overnight camp) can be helpful. Other ideas include connecting with friends who are also be going to camp beforehand or giving your kid ways to still feel connected to home while they are away (for ex: fun letters from family members either mailed or given to the camp counselor to give on certain days, letter writing supplies for kids to be able to write letters to home etc). If your child is feeling nervous, you can also brainstorm these ideas with them as well!   

What has been found to help reduce homesickness, according to the AAP: 

-Involve your child: Involving your kid in the process of picking and preparing for camp

-Talk about it: Talking about homesickness openly, being positive about the upcoming camp while also avoiding projecting personal doubts or concerns 

-Practice: Arranging scheduled time away from home with friends or loved ones to practice being away before camp

-Reframe: Framing time away at camp and comparing with previous enjoyable experiences of similar duration your child had 

What to Bring to Camp?

MEDICATION: As mentioned above, it is really important to bring medication your child might need. Especially for an overnight camp. 

Examples: 

-Asthma: if your child has asthma and uses their inhaler only a couple times a year, it is still important to pack the inhaler. Even if they typically do not need it in the summer time, there could be unforeseen triggers like illness, campfire smoke, allergens etc  

-Food Allergies: even if your kid/teen has NEVER needed their epi pen, if they have a food allergy, they must have a (non-expired) epi pen packed. Even if their prior reaction had never been “that bad”, future reactions can be. 

If you are not sure, you can always send us a message to ask your pediatric team! 

SUNSCREEN! (For more information: see our prior post on sun protection)

Of course there are a lot of other things to bring to camp, like clothes and a toothbrush, but these were the two things (medication and sunscreen) we wanted to highlight!

Local Camps:

There are lots of different types of camps your kid + teen can participate in! Examples include day camps, overnight camps, camps focused on the outdoors, camps to build community + connection, or camps focused on specific interests, there are even camps to get teens connected in STEM/healthcare fields!  

Here are some examples of local camps you may not have heard of!

Seattle Children’s Hospital Summer Camps: 

-Stamm Summer Camp

Stamm Summer camp is a camp that takes place yearly in August for kids ages 6-14 with chronic medical conditions to experience classic summer camp activities located near Mt Rainier. Check it out here:  Stamm Summer Camp

Teenage Healthcare Career Interest Camps:

-Nursing: Summer Nurse Camp is a free 5 day day-camp for teens (ages 16-18) interested in the field of nursing. Applications for next summer (2027) open in Feb 2027. Check it out here: Summer Nursing Camp

-Healthcare: Scrubs and Scopes camp is another free 5 day day-camp for teens (ages 16-18) to experience various healthcare professions including medical assistance, pharmacy, laboratory science, technicians, and therapy (OT, PT, SLP). Applications for next summer (2027) open in Feb 2027. Check it out here: Scrubs and Scopes Camp

-Mental Health: Mental Health and Behavioral health camp is a camp for teenagers interested in a career in this field! Applications for next summer (2027) open in Feb 2027. Check it out here: Mental and Behavioral Health Career Camp 

Parks and Recreation:

Your local Parks and Rec department is another great way to look for camps! Check out what the parks and recreation department in your area is offering.  

-Seattle: Seattle Parks Camps 

-Bellevue: Bellevue Parks Camps 

-Renton: Renton Activity Rec Guide + Renton Youth and Family Programs 

-Issaquah: City of Issaquah Camps 

-Mercer Island: Mercer Island Parks Camps 

-North Bend: Si View Metro Parks Camps 

Wrap Up:

Whatever you decide to do this summer, we hope you can get out, enjoy the sun, and plan some activities you love! We hope this is helpful for any families participating in camps this summer or considering in the future. If you saw a camp your child may be interested in, but the registration is closed, you can always mark your calendar for early next year to get on an early sign-up list! 

  Sources Cited: 

1. HealthyChildren.org. Choosing a Summer Camp and Preparing your Child. Available at: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Choosing-a-Summer-Camp-and-Preparing-Your-Child.aspx. Accessed June 2026.

2. American Academy of Pediatrics. Improving Health and Safety at Camp. Available at: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/1/e20191355/37095/Improving-Health-and-Safety-at-Camp. Accessed June 2026.