What does check in day look like at BC Easter Seals Camps?

We have a very thorough check in process for all of our campers.  This process includes every camper meeting with our health care team. 

Check in starts at 2pm and goes until around 5pm.  Campers are welcome to arrive anytime between 2pm and 5pm.  Check in for campers who are coming with Personal Support Workers begins at 1pm.

As you arrive at camp, you will be greeted by a staff member who will ask for your campers name.  They will let the counsellors of your camper know that you have arrived.

You will be given a coloured number.  This number is your spot in line (just like at the deli!)  Having this number allows you to wander about camp, relax and chat with some of the staff and families.  Each colour corresponds with one of our fabulous health care team members.  Each of our health care team members gets paired with a couple of buddy groups.  They are responsible for administering all the medications, and performing all the medical care for that group of campers. Each health care team member likes to check in the campers whose health care needs will be their responsibility. 

While you are waiting to get called to the health care team, we recommend you speak with your camper’s counsellors about any special circumstances they should be aware of.  The counsellors will have read the campers application form, but any extra or updated information you can provide them would be very useful.  If your camper has a behaviour support plan it would be good to speak directly with the camper and counsellor about how that might look at camp.  You can also explain any personal care routines to the counsellors (the Health Care Team will be doing all the medications, catheters, bowel routines etc, however, counsellors will be providing basic personal care including showering, toileting, assisting with dressing etc).  You might also want to borrow a sharpie from a staff member and ensure that all your camper’s belongings are labelled properly.

Before you get called up to the nurse, you will go through a pre-check screening.  Here the staff will ensure that you have all your forms in order.  They will also check that the names we have listed on your authorized pick up form are still correct.  If you have any changes we will ask to see your ID.

When you get called up to the Health Care Team, you will bring all your meds and pages from the confirmation package (PRN Consent Form, Medical Update Form).  The Health Care Team will talk through the medical care of your camper with you.  You will discuss things such as bowel care and medication times.

At the end of checking in with the Health Care Team, they will put a camp bracelet on your camper.  At this point you will want to find your campers counsellors.  They will help you in unpacking.  They will also want to collect the camper’s property list.

Things that slow down the check in process:

1. When the campers meds are not packaged properly.  They need to be in original containers or blister packs.  If they are not, you will likely be asked to take them to the nearest pharmacy to have them repackaged.
2. Having meds for the camper that are not listed on the medical form.  CRNBC, the organization who governs our Camp RN and Health Care Team, have regulations that protect clients and RN’s.  These regulations include which medications RN’s are able to give without a Doctors orders.  If you come without orders for certain meds, our health care team has to call the pharmacy or dr to confirm.  This can be very time consuming.
3. Having changes to the meds that are not listed on the medical form.  Again, this requires the RN to make phone calls or faxes to pharmacy’s and dr’s.
4. Having a person drop a camper off who is unfamiliar with the campers routine.  While we understand it can sometimes be necessary to have someone other than a primary care giver drop your camper off at camp – please be sure to inform this person of all aspects of their care routine.