How We Care For Your Child At Camp
A closer look at the medical team, protocols, and policies behind every session of Camp Casco.
Most parents feel anxious when dropping off their child at camp for the first time. If you're a parent of a child with cancer, that anxiety goes up tenfold.
So when someone asks you to drop your child off at camp and drive away, it makes sense that you'd want to know that they are in great hands.
Here's our answer.
The People Behind Our Medical Care
Our Medical Advisory Committee is made up of some of the region's leading pediatric oncologists and infectious disease specialists, led by Dana-Farber President Emeritus Dr. Edward Benz.
This isn't a ceremonial role. Every year, this team actively reviews and updates our health policies to reflect current best practices in pediatric oncology care, including emerging infectious disease risks that are especially relevant for immunocompromised children.
This March, they met again. Our protocols for Summer 2026 reflect their most recent guidance.
During the summer, every session is supported by a dedicated Med Shed staffed around the clock by licensed medical professionals who are trained on those protocols. So whether your child needs their daily medications managed, has a minor injury, or just needs a quiet place to rest, our team is there, day and night.
Before Camp Even Starts
Health and safety begins before your child ever steps foot on the campsite.
Every family submits a detailed health history, current medication list, and physical exam records through our Parent Portal before arrival. Our medical team reviews these in advance so that by the time your child checks in, we already know them. We reach out to you in advance with any questions to make sure they receive the best care during the week.
We also require up-to-date vaccinations for every camper, including MMR, varicella, DTaP, polio, hepatitis B, and meningitis B. Our community includes children with compromised immune systems, and our vaccination requirements exist to protect them. Exemption requests are reviewed individually by our medical team, and we reserve the right to exclude unvaccinated campers during any outbreak of communicable illness.
Check-In Day
Arrival day includes a full health screening for every camper and volunteer, done discreetly from the privacy of your car. That includes a temperature check, exposure screening, lice check, and a COVID-19 rapid antigen test. If anything gives us pause, we address it before your child enters camp to reduce risk to other participants.
Medications At Camp
Medications are collected and confirmed against your pre-submitted list at check-in. From that point forward, all medications are stored securely in the Med Shed, administered only by licensed medical professionals, and logged every single time.
Our medical team is experienced in managing the complex medication needs that often come with childhood cancer treatment and survivorship. Here's what families should know:
We can administer:
Prescription medications, vitamins, and supplements brought from home in their original containers with original labels
Over-the-counter medications (like ibuprofen or acetaminophen) with advance parent approval
We are not able to administer:
Medications not in their original packaging
IV medications
Cannabis or THC products of any kind
Every dose given at camp is administered exclusively by a licensed medical professional and documented in your child's health log. Nothing is given without prior parent authorization, and medications are stored securely, with dedicated refrigeration available for anything that requires it.
If you have questions about a specific medication before camp, please reach out so we can talk through it together.
Health At Camp
Counselors are trained to watch for early signs of illness, such as fatigue, dehydration, or changes in behavior, and to bring any concerns to the medical team promptly. If your child isn't feeling well, they go to the Med Shed for evaluation.
For mild symptoms, we provide supportive care, monitor closely, and keep you informed. For a fever, or indicators of communicable illness, we contact you immediately and move your child to a quiet, supervised isolation space away from other campers to arrange for their safe transport home.
For anything more serious, we contact you right away. If emergency care is needed for any reason, your child is transported safely and accompanied by a trusted member of our team until you arrive.
No matter the situation, when your child has a health concern at Camp Casco, you will never be the last to know.
Beyond Physical Health
Your child’s emotional well-being matters just as much.
Volunteers dedicated to camper mental health are on-site 24/7, available for a quiet conversation, a listening ear, or just a steady presence when a child needs one.
Our counselors also receive optional training in supporting camper mental health, so the whole team is equipped to notice and respond if a child is struggling. As always, we will ensure you are kept in the loop with any emotional health concerns regarding your child.
Our Track Record
Camp Casco holds Gold Ribbon Accreditation from the Children's Oncology Camping Association: the highest recognition in pediatric oncology camping. We earn our operating license from three different boards of health every summer. And to date, zero COVID cases have ever been spread at a Camp Casco program.
That didn't happen by accident. It happened because of the people, policies, and protocols described above, and because of a community of families who trust us with the most important people in their lives.
We don't take that lightly.
Questions about our health and safety policies? Reach out to our team anytime. You can also review our full policies here or schedule a Zoom with our Program Director.
