Health & Safety at The Pines
Please know that health and safety are the most important priorities for our campers. If you have any questions that aren’t answered below, please call our camp office at (903) 845-5834.
First Aid and Health
From thorough medication management to healing bumps and cuts, we’ve got a first-class staff that will ensure your camper receives any care they need.
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We have a Registered Nurse onsite 24/7 to administer advanced first aid, distribute medications, and care for campers who find themselves feeling under the weather. We follow protocols set by our camp physician, who sets our treatment procedures, works with our nurses, and is on call to assist with emergencies if needed.
The majority of counselors are certified in First Aid/AED/CPR. We have AEDs strategically located around camp, and our staff are prepared to provide care in case of an emergency.
In urgent medical situations, we take campers to HealthFast Urgent Care in Gilmer, about 25 minutes away from us. If an emergency room or hospital is needed, there is a Christus Hospital in Longview, about 30 minutes from us.
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During a summer session, we may have upwards of 400 people at a given time between our campers and staff. During check-in, we complete a medical screening for your camper which asks about symptoms of injury or illness, fever, cough, health history clarifications, signs of lice in the past month, and more. We want to do our best to ensure that our campers are healthy coming into camp, and we thank you for your cooperation!
We ask that campers be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication before arriving at camp. If you have a sick camper before their scheduled session, please contact our Dallas office.
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At camp, medications (both over the counter and prescription) are kept locked in our Health Center during the week. Rescue inhalers and EpiPens are kept in a fanny pack that stays with a counselor in arm’s reach of the associated camper at all times.
Medication is distributed at designated times by a nurse from the Health Center or a dedicated room in the Dining Hall. Campers can always visit the Health Center to request OTC medication (see below).
Bringing medication to camp:
Parents bring their camper’s medications to our Health Center Coordinators at check-in.
Unused emergency or as-needed medications are returned at check-out.
All medications need to be in their original prescription bottle or box with the label showing the camper’s name and dosage. By state protocol, we can only distribute the dosage (or less if requested) prescribed on the official, current, dated prescription packaging from the pharmacy.
Please only bring what a camper will need during the week. (ex: for allergy medication taken at breakfast every day — bring only SIX doses for Mon-Sat.)
If medication requires refrigeration and will be riding the bus, please package the medication accordingly.
Leave supplements such as melatonin, oils, and vitamins at home for the week. Campers can take the vitamins on Sunday before they arrive and Saturday after returning home. If there are extenuating circumstances, we’d be happy to work with your situation.
Our Health Center keeps a stock of the following over-the-counter medications in various forms (liquid, chewable, capsule):
Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Midol
Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra
Pepto bismol, Alka-Seltzer, Tums
Imodium AD, Miralax, Colace
Throat lozenges, Delsym
Calamine lotion, Solarcaine, Hydrocortisone cream 0.5%
Epinephrine (emergency only, if your camper has one, please bring it)
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Our Dining Hall accommodates campers with a wide variety of food allergies all throughout the year, and especially summer! Please indicate your camper’s dietary needs on their registration form.
For questions:
Katie Brown, Director of Food & Beverage
katie@thepines.org
903-845-1132 -
Are you considering enrolling a camper who has additional emotional, physical, social, sensory, psychological, or behavioral needs?
Please give us a call to discuss your camper’s unique situation. Together, we can evaluate if our environment and programming will provide a positive experience for your child. Please reach out at 903-845-5834.
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When will we call you with concerns about your camper while they are here?
Campers may visit the Health Center with minor injuries or illnesses, and our medical team will provide the appropriate care and treatment. Cuts, scrapes, bites, stings, strains, and other injuries will be addressed so the camper can return to normal activities. Campers with dehydration, overheating, allergies, stomach upset, and congestion may require a short stay in the Health Center for treatment and monitoring before returning to activities. Our medical team will call only if they determine parent communication is necessary.
These situations will prompt a phone call:
A medical emergency, as determined by the camp medical team or a director
A camper with a chronic medical issue is presenting complications
A camper’s recovery deviates from the expected course of recovery
A camper’s temperature is 100.4º or above after resting in air conditioning for one hour
A camper has vomited after resting in air conditioning for one hour or has vomited repeatedly
A camper has a bruise, burn, abrasion, bite, or sting that requires emergency attention
Before, during, and after a camper has been transported off camp for medical treatment
Other situations, as deemed necessary by the camp medical team
Precautions and Camp Safety
The top priority of our staff is to keep your child safe. We train our summer staff thoroughly to minimize risk while your child steps out of their comfort zone and has a great time. We also keep an eye out for any other external factors that can mar an experience at camp, and we, with your help, minimize those as best as we can.
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We remain weather-aware at all times. Our camp directors utilize real-time weather apps and advanced lightning radar to track thunderstorms every day.
If we hear thunder and technology is unavailable or information is unclear, we enact our storm plan and move indoors.
Audible Thunder:
When lightning is detected on radar within 10 miles (White Oak to Hawkins and Mineola to HWY 20), we pause and clear all certified activities (ropes, target sports, and waterfront).
If lightning strikes within 5 miles as indicated on radar, everyone moves under cover.
Tornado Warning:
In the event a tornado warning is issued for our area, staff are alerted and instructed to move into designated and predetermined safe areas until the weather has subsided. Areas across the camp are predetermined to provide protection in the event of a tornado threat. This procedure is covered extensively in our staff training.
All Clear:
We resume normal activities when 15 minutes have passed and lightning has moved out of the area.
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All staff at The Pines Catholic Camp complete the Safe Environment training from either the Diocese of Dallas or the Diocese of Tyler during staff training. We uphold the standards of screening, supervision, training, and professionalism involved in the care of the campers. We complete background checks on all employees. All visitors to camp are escorted by a member of our team at all times, including parents.
Staff training also covers safety guidelines, including, but not limited to, camp emergency procedures, storm shelters, risk management, and general safety guidelines.
Campers go deeper into safety in their “Cabin Contract,” as they make a list of rules for their community for the week on their first night. These include emotional safety topics, including bullying, respect, homesickness, see something/say something, and counselor responsibilities. This gives our campers a personal outlet and resource if they are feeling unsafe physically, emotionally, or even socially.
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The Pines is licensed as a youth camp by the State of Texas. This includes an annual review and inspection by a safety officer and proper documentation. Our ACA accreditation is annually reviewed and inspected by the American Camp Association. The review is thorough, and our stellar, consistent record in professional camping is a success of which we are very proud.
