Your Camper’s Health

Staying healthy at camp is important! And we know that campers can sometimes need medical attention, may take regular medications, or might need the occasional bandaid, bug bite remedy, or reassurance when feeling a little yucky.

We are here to help! Rockbrook has a team of registered nurses who staff our Health Hut 24 hours a day. Our camp pediatrician visits camp regularly each week to consult with the nurses and to see any campers who may need additional diagnosis or medical care. In addition, all of our counselors are required to be First Aid and CPR certified, as well as undergo a focused training on recognizing anaphylaxis and emergency epi-pen use.

Please review the following information and complete the appropriate forms. Reach out to our office with any questions: 828-884-6151.

Health Forms

We ask all parents to submit the following important Health Forms before their camper’s session. Please login to your online account to complete these forms for each camper. These forms are required, and many are due by May 1.

1. Health History (online form): This form asks for detailed information about your camper’s allergies, physical and mental health history, nutritional needs or restrictions, immunizations, and regular prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
   
2. Medical Authorization & Insurance Card (paper form): Signing this form gives Rockbrook permission to provide, seek and consent to medical care in the case of an emergency. It asks for your health insurance information as well.
   
3. Physical Examination (paper form): This form requires your healthcare provider’s signature confirming an assessment of your camper’s health and ability to engage in camp activities. The examination must be completed within 12 months of attending camp.
   
4. Medication Policy Notification (online form): Review Rockbrook’s medication policy and indicate whether you anticipate that your camper may take regular prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication while at camp.
   

Medications

All medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) (e.g., Advil, etc.), and vitamins/supplements, must be dispensed from our Health Hut by our nurses. Campers are not allowed to keep any medication in their cabin, with the exception of emergency inhalers and Epi-pens.

Our Health Hut stocks a full array of OTC medications, and our nurses are ready to administer these when needed: antihistamines, pain relievers, antacids, topical itch relievers and antibiotic ointments, for example. Please do not send these to camp. If there is a medication that your child cannot take, please make sure you indicate this on the Health History Form.

Campers can visit the Health Hut at anytime, day or night, and receive whatever medical attention they need.

Our nurses dispense daily medications (both prescriptions and OTC medications) at regular times throughout the day: after meals (9am, 1pm, 7pm) and before bedtime (9pm).

Important!! Please read carefully.

To ensure high efficiency, low risk of error, and a reduced wait time for your camper, Rockbrook requires that all regularly taken prescription medications be pre-packaged by a pharmacist into unit-dose blister packs, by time of day. This applies to all pills and tablets. Prescription liquids, inhalers, Epi-pens, creams/ointments, and medications requiring refrigeration are exceptions, and may be brought to camp in their original packaging. Every medication coming into camp must be in its original container.  

If your child takes a medication as needed (not daily or regularly), that medication does not require blister packaging. Be sure to list these “as needed only” medications (whether prescription or OTC) on your camper’s Health History form, and bring them to camp in their original packaging.

Vitamins and Supplements

If your child does not absolutely require daily vitamins, supplements or any other over-the-counter remedy at home, please do not send such medications (especially gummies) to camp. Rockbrook meals are nutritious and tasty, and the food is plentiful!

If these daily OTC medications are absolutely necessary, they need to be sent in their original packaging.

Your Camper's Medication Regimen

We strongly recommend that you do not make any changes to your camper’s prescription medication regimen within two months of attending camp. Especially for psychotropic drugs, starting a new prescription or interrupting a longterm drug treatment (e.g., ADHD medications) can be detrimental to a child’s success at camp. Please make sure your camper’s prescribing physician knows that they will be attending camp so you can plan accordingly. We want our campers to be as successful as possible!

Blister Pack Instructions – Regularly Taken Rx Medications

Please review the Medication Policy Notification in the forms section of your online account. There are two options for blister packing regularly taken prescription medications for camp:

1. Use your preferred pharmacy to blister pack Rx’s by time of day that medication is taken. Then bring the blister card(s) to camp and give to the nurses on Opening Day. Note: Not all pharmacies are able to provide this service.

2. Rockbrook has partnered with Gordon Family Pharmacy in Brevard, NC to assist with blister packing. Gordon can work with your current pharmacy and insurance company to “transfer” your prescriptions for the duration of your camper’s session, and then deliver the blister-packed medications to Rockbrook. Gordon charges a $9 fee for each blister pack, and it (along with any costs not covered by your insurance) will be billed directly to you via a credit card you provide to them. If you need to fill a prescription before your child’s next refill is available, Gordon can work with your insurance company to obtain a “vacation override.”

For this option, login to your online account to review the Medication Policy Notification and complete the Gordon Family Pharmacy Form. Return the Pharmacy Form directly to Gordons.

Please plan ahead! Gordon needs to receive the Pharmacy Form 30 days before your child’s session to ensure all medications are delivered to camp before Opening Day. They impose a late fee if not received within 30 days. If you have questions about this service or need further information, please call Gordon Family Pharmacy: 828-877-6111.

We are unable to accept blister cards that are “self-loaded” or filled at home.

Be Ready for Opening Day!

1. Complete and submit all the camp health forms. Please take extra care to update the Health History Form if your camper’s health changes before camp. For example, the medications listed on this form must match those you are bringing to camp.

2. Have any regularly taken Rx medications blister packed by your preferred pharmacy or through Gordon Family Pharmacy in Brevard. Gordon requires that you submit the Pharmacy Form at least 30 days prior to arriving at camp.

3. Gather into a Ziplock bag any emergency medications (epi-pens, inhalers, etc.), prescription as-needed medications (still in their original pharmacy containers), or special OTC medications taken only occasionally as needed.

4. You will meet the nurses on Opening Day to provide any special instructions and discuss your camper’s medical needs.