Camp Chrysalis and Ebert Ranch Camp are accredited by the American Camp Association, licensed by the state of Texas, and subject to the health regulations of the counties in which they are located. As such, for years all of our programs have followed a strict list of guidelines to keep our campers as healthy as possible. Precautions are taken to reduce the likelihood of exposure to a communicable disease. However, resident camp does involve living in a small group situation, so we cannot eliminate all risk.

Guidelines for camps may be updated as we get closer to summer. We will update this page as changes are recommended. You will also receive an email the week before your first day of camp that includes any updated information and your photo viewing code.

Preparing for Camp
Review ways to stay healthy before and during camp with your camper, like drinking lots of water, eating healthy meals, and practicing basic hygiene. Remember that much of camp will take place outside, so make sure that your camper knows to use sun protection.

Health History and Release Form
For the safety of your child, your camper cannot be at camp without a completed Health History and Release Form. You can access this form in early May through the Camp Brain account you set up to register your camper. All campers are requested to complete this form by May 31st. This gives our healthcare staff time to review it and ask any questions they need to.

Campers who are not current on their vaccinations must have a parent/legal guardian sign the Vaccination Waiver. COVID-19 vaccinations are not required to attend camp.

If your child has a special diet, it is very important that you put it on the Health History & Release Form. When they check in, campers with dietary concerns are also asked to identify themselves so that kitchen staff can verify any needs and give them instructions on what to do at meal times. It is also very helpful if you speak with your child about the importance of following their diet while at camp.

If your child has any current physical, mental, emotional, social health, developmental, or psychological conditions requiring medication, treatment, or special restrictions or considerations while at camp, please contact our office to speak with the Director regarding any accommodations that may need to be made.

Campers should have appropriate social and personal skills for group living. Our typical overnight supervision ratio ranges from 1:6 to 1:10. Cross Trails Ministry welcomes participation in our programs by campers with special needs. However, we are not equipped to provide staff for campers that require one on one care or supervision. If that is a need of your camper, please contact our office for possible accommodations.

Medication
Upon their arrival at camp, all campers and adult leaders staying a camp will visit the Health Screening Station. At this time, all medications, both prescription and non-prescription of all youth campers are checked in, and all campers and adults staying for the week participate in a health screening. This will include screening for communicable diseases, questions regarding recent illness or injury, and determination of any pre-existing conditions that may affect participation in camp activities.

If your child takes prescription medication, it must be brought to camp and turned in in its original container with the dosage instructions. We cannot administer medications without dosage instructions or differently from the instructions on the bottle. In most cases, campers should not bring non-prescription “as needed” medications. We keep plenty in stock. Simply indicate which ones we can give your child on the Health History & Release Form. If a camper regularly takes an over the counter medication or vitamins that are not on our list, please send it in its original packaging with your camper. Your camper should expect to turn in all medication and vitamins they bring to camp.  Campers can only keep emergency inhalers and epi-pens with them during the camp week.

Sickness and Injuries at Camp
Campers will be coached  by staff on ways to maintain their own personal health such as drinking lots of water, eating right, washing hands, getting enough sleep, using sunscreen, and more. If they are not feeling well for any reason, campers will be told to tell their staff member immediately. Any camper, adult leader, or staff member who exhibits signs of sickness or is injured will be taken to the Health Center, where we can isolate and treat them according to doctor approved protocols.

If we discover that a camper has a communicable illness, we will follow guidance of health authorities on next steps. If the camper will need to be isolated for more than 24 hours, parents/legal guardians will be notified and the camper must be picked up within 8 hours.

In the event of minor camper injury or illness, it is Cross Trails Ministry’s policy to treat the camper according to physician-approved procedures. If the injury or illness prevents the camper from participating in normal camp activities for more than 1 hour, parents will be notified to inform them of the situation and of treatment given.

In the event of serious camper injury or illness, it is Cross Trails Ministry’s policy to notify parents by phone. If emergency treatment is deemed necessary, the camper will be taken to the emergency room and treated by a physician. Your insurance company will be responsible for the cost of any injury to or illness of your child while at camp. Cross Trails Ministry carries secondary accident insurance only.

If a camper is attending with a pastor or sponsor, and the illness or injury requires a call home, we will ask if you would like us to inform the adult from your church of the treatment and continuing care plan.

Suspected Communicable Disease 
If our Health Care Coordinator suspects that a camper may have a communicable disease, the camper will be comfortably isolated in our health care center and the camper’s parents/legal guardians will be contacted on next steps. If a camper is determined to have a communicable illness that cannot be treated at camp, the camper must be picked up.

Parents of campers who have likely been exposed will receive an email or phone call. If exposure is determined after your camper’s departure, an email will be sent to the email used during registration.

Homesickness
Before your camper leaves, you can let them know that it is normal to miss home but emphasize that you know they can handle the experience. By staying at camp and participating, even if they are homesick, campers gain confidence in their abilities and a healthy sense of independence.

Our goal is to help your camper be successful in their time away from home. We don’t allow calls from campers, or calls or visits from parents during the camp week. If you are worried, you are welcome to call and ask the Director to check on your child and call you back. Otherwise, you should know that parents of campers whose homesickness is severe or disruptive to the camp environment will be contacted.

Helpful Tips for Preparing Your Camper:

• Talk about it! Let them know that they may experience feelings of missing home and that it is normal and okay to feel like that. Encourage your camper to keep participating and enjoying camp even if they have times of feeling sad or missing home. The best cure for homesickness is to keep having fun at camp!
• Remind them that their camp counselor is there to help them and talk about those homesick feelings with them.
• Send them to camp with a special stuffed animal, picture, or reminder of home to help them be more comfortable in their new environment.
• Pack addressed/stamped stationery or Bunk Reply stationery to help give your campers resources to write home or to other friends and family. 
• Do not tell your camper that they can call you or that you can come visit them. Cross Trails site Directors will communicate with parents/caregivers if homesickness is severe. Again, you are welcome to call and check in with our site Directors and they can check on your camper and call you back.