At Camp Ton-A-Wandah, your camper's health and safety are our top priorities. While we hope they never need to visit our Infirmary, rest assured that we're fully equipped to provide the care they need if the occasion arises.
Each session, we have at least two resident Registered Nurses on staff, along with a dedicated Infirmary Director and Medical Director, ensuring 24/7 on-call support. Additionally, we have telehealth support and can easily arrange on-site visits with our contracted health professionals.
Our counselors are trained in First Aid, CPR, and recognizing anaphylaxis, including emergency epi-pen use. They undergo focused training to ensure they're prepared to handle any medical situation that may arise.
The Camp Infirmary Team is available on opening and closing days, and we're just a phone call away to discuss any medical concerns. In the event that an accident or illness requires treatment beyond our capabilities, we have arrangements with pediatric clinics, dentists, hospitals, and specialty offices in nearby Hendersonville, North Carolina. The closest hospital is only 10 minutes away from camp, providing prompt access to professional medical services when needed.
TAW is committed to calling our families if there is ever an issue that affects a camper’s camp experience. This would include the following circumstances:
If a camper needs to spend more than one night at the Infirmary.
If a camper needs prescription medication.
If a camper needs medical attention beyond the scope of what is available at camp.
If a camper has encountered an injury or illness that impacts her situation at camp.
Every effort will be made to contact parents/guardians before off camp treatment is administered. Please note, the camp lead nurse and/or the medical director will be responsible for calling parents/guardians regarding a health issue. After the initial phone call, if further information is required or additional input is needed, please call our Camp Director to discuss. Please keep for your records - the direct line to the Infirmary is (828) 393-6979.
Medical Costs– Parents/guardians/Guardians are responsible for any medical costs incurred during a camper’s stay at camp.
Health Forms
Our goal is for your daughter/child to have an incredible experience with us. A critical part to that success is the partnership between us and you, the guardian, and your provision of any insights into your child that will help us support her. There are a few things that you can do to help us provide the best care possible for all our campers, and we are asking for your cooperation with the following items:
Health History (online through your Camper Account)
Campers are required to update their health information annually, as mandated by Camp Ton-A-Wandah and North Carolina state regulations. This includes providing current health history, a physician-signed physical form within the past year, updated immunization records, a parent authorization form signed by a legal guardian, and a copy of the camper's insurance card. Camp physicians will only see campers if a current health form is on file and signed by both a parent and physician.
Please Open This Document to Follow the Steps to Complete the Online Health History and Medical Forms: Instructions for Health Forms
*** All heath information/forms must be completed two weeks prior to your camper arriving at camp. Drop off will be quick and efficient with no computer/copier access to collect paperwork. ***
Medications
All camper medications, prescription, supplements and/or over-the counter, must be deposited with our Infirmary Team on opening day. Campers are not allowed to keep any medications in their cabins.
Rx Medications - All medication brought to camp must be in original bottles with a legible prescription, dosage instructions and the name of the prescribing physician. Medication must be dispensed based on prescribing physician’s instructions.
Over the Counter - Camp Ton-A-Wandah stocks a variety of over-the-counter medications and we are ready to administer as needed. Standing orders are provided by our Medical Director every year and a list of the medications that we have on hand for campers and/or staff can be found on the health history that you complete for your camper. If your camper requires an over-the-counter medication not on this list, you may include your preferred over-the counter medication on your health history and leave with the infirmary staff on opening day.
Supplements - If your camper does not absolutely require daily vitamins or supplements, we prefer that you do not send such medications (especially gummies) to camp. However, if these vitamins are absolutely necessary, please include all supplements on your camper's health history. Camp cannot dispense supplements to campers unless these supplements are included in the health history.
Emergency Medications - If your camper needs to keep a medication with her such as a rescue inhaler for Asthma or an Epi-pen for severe allergic reactions, please check in with a nurse on Opening Day. Please check the expiration dates on these before bringing to camp.
Epinephrine (used for anaphylaxis) is available for emergency first-aid treatment in several locations throughout camp. Our staff will administer to your camper as needed.
Change in Medications - Please consult with our Administrative/Infirmary Team before altering regular medications, such as ADHD medication or other scheduled prescription medications prior to camp. Starting a new prescription or interrupting a long-term drug treatment (e.g. ADHD medications) can be detrimental to your camper’s success at camp. Talk to your physician prior to making any changes to your camper’s medication to ensure this is the right course of action for your camper’s experience at camp. Here is a great article that will also help in your decision to start or interrupt a prescription prior to camp.
IMPORTANT:Any medications brought to camp must be written in the Health History in order for camp medical personnel to dispense.
Mental, Emotional and Social Health (MESH)
We know a lot can happen in a year including the time between your camper’s application and opening day. Please consider any factors that could impact your camper this summer so that we can best support them. Whether your camper is new or returning, if she has experienced any of the following this year, please contact our Director to partner with our staff to make certain that this summer’s camp experience at Camp Ton-A-Wandah is a successful one for your camper. Contact our Director if your camper has:
Had any physical health concerns including recent illnesses, broken bones or sprains, concussion, mobility issues, surgery, etc.
Had any mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, trauma, suicidal ideation, or any case in which your camper has required the care of a mental health professional or a school counselor in the past school year.
Been diagnosed with any learning challenges, including dyslexia, ADHD, etc.
Been prescribed medication for any MESH, learning or behavior conditions.
Had a difficult year at school either academically or socially.
Experienced any changes to her living situation or family life, including separation, divorce, or death of a loved one.
Our goal is to confidentially exchange information about your camper, camp life, and any behaviors of concern in order to ensure that your camper is able to participate in the programming at Camp Ton-A-Wandah, and, if necessary, make any required accommodations. We also want to make sure that our staff is able to be equipped, when possible, with a plan to facilitate that camp experience within the professional constraints of our programming, as the staff at Camp Ton-A-Wandah does not specialize in serving those with special needs, including mental, social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties.
Want to know more about how Camp Ton-A-Wandah is approaching MESH with campers, click here
Special Dietary Needs
Camp Ton-A-Wandah provides three well-balanced meals daily at 8:15, 1:15, and 6:15, along with optional snacks available at the canteen in the morning or afternoon. Snack options include popcorn, chips, crackers, fruit, yogurt, and cheese sticks. Fruit is available throughout the day, and campers receive an evening snack before bedtime. Meals are eaten family-style with their cabin during the first week, randomly during the second week, and with their teams during the third week. Meal times are filled with camp traditions, fun songs, and announcements, with the popular "Hershey Bar" game played every morning after breakfast.
Our food service staff is committed to catering to the dietary needs of all campers, including those with specific restrictions. We offer vegetarian and gluten-free options at every meal, and our staff will take the necessary steps to accommodate campers with additional food allergies as needed including vegetarian, nut-free, gluten-free, pork-free and dairy/lactose free.
If your camper has any special dietary requirements or allergies, it is crucial that you inform us of these conditions in advance. This allows us to create a customized plan to ensure your camper's dietary needs are met during her time at camp. While we cannot guarantee that your camper will not come into contact with allergens, we will work closely with you to minimize any risks.
Our Kitchen Manager is available to collaborate with your family to ensure that your camper receives the necessary nutrition. Please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and copy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to begin creating a personalized plan for your camper's dietary needs.
Lice
All campers will have their heads checked for lice by a professional service on Opening Day. Any cases found will be treated that day. Parents will be notified regarding the treatment and will be responsible for the cost. Please have your daughter checked (by someone who knows what they are looking for) BEFORE she comes to camp, and let us know if she or anyone in the family has been treated for lice in the 6 months prior to camp. This will help avoid a false diagnosis when she arrives.
MRSA/Impetigo
MRSA/IMPETIGO is a common skin infection frequently transmitted in gyms and other close quarters like camp. We do our best to mitigate the spread on our end by ensuring all public areas and activities that may have potential to spread are properly cleaned and sanitized and that those campers identified with Impetigo keep their open sores covered and treated.
Parents/guardians can help in advance by bringing liquid soap for showers as this is the best way to prevent this infection. Cut down your camper’s fingernails prior to her arrival to camp. Ask your camper to apply bug spray consistently. Have a discussion with your camper to consult the Infirmary if they feel like their bug bites are getting infected, regardless of the location. Understandably, campers may be shy about sharing information on their infected areas but we may not notice an area that is hidden by clothing. Encourage your camper to wash their hands frequently (and we will too!).
We like to closely monitor those campers with eczema as their skin is more inclined to be perceptible. We encourage our families to notify us if your camper is prone to eczema or bug bites.
