TAW hopes that your camper will never need to experience our Infirmary, but if she needs us, we are here to help her get back on her feet!
Camp Ton-A-Wandah employs at least two resident Registered Nurses each session and has a dedicated Infirmary Director and Medical Director which allows TAW to have 24/7 on call support. TAW also has a telehealth machine and can easily schedule on-site visits with our contracted health professionals at any time. In addition, most of our counselors are First Aid and CPR certified, as well as undergo a focused training on recognizing anaphylaxis and emergency epi-pen use.
Camp Infirmary Team is available on opening and closing days and by phone to discuss any medical concerns. Should an accident or illness be untreatable at our camp, we have arrangements for professional services (pediatric clinics, dentist, hospitals and specialty offices) in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The closest hospital to camp is 10 minutes away.
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 to visit a doctor in town, get x-rays, or lab work.
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
Campers must update health information yearly. This time frame is a Camp Ton-A-Wandah and North Carolina state requirement. We must have current health history information on file, a physical form that has been signed by a physician within a year of arriving to camp, most updated immunization records, a parent authorization form that is signed by a legal guardian, and a copy of the camper's insurance card. OUR CAMP PHYSICIANS WILL NOT SEE CAMPERS UNLESS A CURRENT HEALTH FORM IS ON FILE AND SIGNED BY A PARENT AND PHYSICIAN.
Please follow the steps listed below to complete the online health history and medical forms:
Log In - Go to Camp-In-Touch and log in using your e-mail address and password. If password has been forgotten, choose the option to re-set it. This email may go to a spam box, so please check this box as well. Scroll down to Forms Dashboards and click on “Forms & Documents”.
There are 4 components to ensure all your health information is complete.
Health History - When clicking to complete this form, returning campers should see that the fields are populated with the information submitted in prior years. Please review this information and make any necessary changes. New campers will need to input all their information. Make sure to carefully read the instructions; they will guide you through each step. If you are not able to complete the health history in one sitting, click “save for later” before exiting the form so that you do not lose information. After you have completed all of the sections in the online health history form, please click “submit.” This is the most important part, as it will not come to us as complete until submit has been hit. Families that have already submitted their health history, please review again to ensure there have been no changes over the past year. THANK YOU!
Immunization - You have three options for immunizations. You can either enter immunization dates on your health history; print a PDF form to fill in and mail back to camp or upload to your immunization file; or you can upload copy of an immunization card or medical record. Please note that we do not have easy access to immunization records from prior years, so a new immunization record is required every year for ALL campers (returning and new).If your camper is exempt from immunizations, please let me know and I will email you an exemption form to complete.
Parent Authorization – Please print this form and SIGN. The parent authorization gives us permission to treat if your camp requires a visit to a doctor's office. You will also need to attach a copy of your insurance card (front and back). If you have a separate prescription card, please include a copy of this as well. This form can be uploaded into your file.
Physician’s Examination - Each camper must have a physical within 12 months of her attendance at camp. If she has had one within this time period, you do not need to schedule an additional appointment, but her doctor still needs to sign-off that she has had an exam within the last 12 months and that she is able to attend camp. The Physician’s Form is a PDF that can be printed; please have your child’s doctor complete this form. If your school has a physical form for attendance or sports participation, you may submit a copy of this instead. If you submit a physical form that was not created by TAW, you may still upload it into the appropriate physical file.
Uploading Documents - In order to upload a file, simply print the document; complete it; scan the form and save it to your computer. Then, upload the file directly into CampInTouch under the appropriate form (an upload icon will be shown next to all documents for which this is possible). Once you have uploaded the form, a print icon will appear. However, you do not need to do anything further. We will print the completed document from your file at camp and mark your file as complete.
Campanian App - you may also use your Campanion App to complete forms and upload documentation. The Health History can be completed directly on your phone. Parent Authorization, Physical, and Immunization Records will need to be printed and completed prior to utilizing the Campanion App. Once logged into the Campanion App, you will click the menu box on the top left corner. Then click on forms. Choose your camper name. Then start uploading by scanning or taking a picture of your form. The Campanion App should walk you through this.
*** All heath information/forms must be completed 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.
IMPORTANT:Any medications brought to camp must be written in the Health History in order for camp medical personnel to dispense.
Emotional Health
Often months pass between the application process and the opening of camp. If a recent event may affect your child’s experience at camp, it is important to make the Camp Director aware of it. Please know that all information is handled in confidence and in the best interest of your child. Be sure to inform us of emotional issues, a learning difficulty, executive functioning disorder, ADHD, a bed-wetting problem, or a loss or major change in the family so that we can be more prepared to meet your daughter’s needs. Your campers’ emotional and mental health is just as important to us as her physical health. We want every camper to be supported and successful while they are here. Please let us know of any concerns or issues that you have been dealing with at home. Information can be provided on the online camper information form, in your letter to the counselor, via telephone conversation or email the Camp Director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
If, during the course of your camper stay, there are situations that we are not qualified to handle, we will call you to discuss options to assist your camper or ask permission to take your camper to a professional counselor.
Special Dietary Needs
Camp Ton-A-Wandah provides three well-balanced meals daily. Meals are at 8:15, 1:15, and 6:15. The camper may choose a snack at our canteen either in the morning or the afternoon. These snacks range from popcorn, chips, crackers, fruit, gogurt, cheese sticks, etc. Fruit is offered throughout the day. Campers receive an evening snack prior to going to bed.
Campers and staff eat family-style at tables with their cabin groups the first week, randomly the second week and with their teams the third week. Meal times are bursting with camp traditions and fun songs. Announcements accompany almost every meal and the coveted “Hershey Bar” game is played every morning after breakfast.
The Camp Ton-A-Wandah food service staff is dedicated to meeting the needs of all campers, including those with dietary restrictions. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available at every meal and staff will take necessary steps to accommodate campers with food allergies. If your camper has a special dietary need or allergy, it is very important that you share these allergies or medical conditions with us so that we can help create a plan while your camper is at camp prior to your camper arriving at camp. Camp Ton-A-Wandah cannot guarantee that your camper will not come in contact with foods she may be allergic to but we can work with you to eliminate most scenarios. Our Kitchen Manager is available to work with your family to ensure that your camper receives the nutrition that she needs. 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 create a plan!
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.
COVID PROTOCOLS (based on current information)
The health and safety of campers and staff continue to be main priority for us at Camp Ton-A-Wandah. As of today, COVID protocols at camp are simple. A meeting on April 7th is being conducted by the Alliance for Health to discuss the latest and greatest on COVID, so our protocols may change. This is our plan for now:
Pre camp quarantine – we do not expect your camper to isolate prior to camp, but please do consider plans on your end that may include the potential to contract COVID prior to camp arrival.
Pre camp testing – at this time, Camp Ton-A-Wandah does not plan on having any form of testing prior to your camper’s arrival to camp.
Illness prior to Camp - The major key to our success is to make sure everyone who enters into Camp arrives healthy. Campers and staff will still be expected to closely monitor their health the week prior to attending camp. If your camper is feeling ill in any way, please do not bring them to Camp. Call the camp office and discuss when it is the best time for your camper to arrive to camp.
Health Screening – just like every year, we will conduct a health screening of your camp upon your arrival to camp. These will include a few questions concerning COVID about exposure to COVID and if anyone in your family has been feeling unwell prior to camp.
Vaccinations – Camp Ton-A-Wandah does not require COVID Vaccinations.
Mask Wearing – mask wearing will only be done if we foresee a health risk to our campers.
Testing – Any camper or staff who display COVID like symptoms and these symptoms cannot be attributed to any other ailment may be tested. If positive, the camper may potentially be asked to go home for five days (regardless of vaccination status) if their symptoms inhibit them from participating in camp activities or if they may impact another campers’ time at camp. They may return to camp after five days if no symptoms are present but may have to wear a mask for an additional five days.
Close Contact - If a camper has tested positive for COVID, her cabinmates and any other known close contacts will be closely monitored for symptoms. If no symptoms are identified within five days of exposure, we will discontinue monitoring and proceed with camp as usual.
Cleanliness - While at Camp, frequent reminders will be made for everyone to wash their hands with soap and water and/or hand sanitizer multiple times each day. Hand sanitizer will remain available throughout Camp at each building and each activity. Camp is cleaned and sanitized each day. Public restrooms and heavily used areas are cleaned multiple times a day. Activity equipment is cleaned as necessary.
Refunds - Our goal is for every camper to stay at camp for their entire summer session! If your camper must go home during their camp session due to COVID (whether vaccinated or unvaccinated), we will offer a credit carry forward into Summer 2024.
All guidelines are subject to change based on COVID recommendations/requirements from the CDC and local health departments.
