Health & Safety | Farm & Wilderness Summer Camps in VT

Your Child’s Health and Safety is Our Priority

Our commitment to safety extends beyond protocols—it's embedded in our culture. Our staff understand their role in maintaining a safe community, and we prepare and train for various scenarios while providing enriching outdoor experiences for our campers.

Farm & Wilderness has a team of licensed nurses and trained medical support staff who are on-campus and on-call throughout the summer. We have four on-campus health centers that assist campers and staff with health coaching, basic first aid, tick removal, and provide support for acute illnesses like strep throat, ear infections, skin conditions/rashes, or gastrointestinal upset and chronic conditions like asthma.

We have established relationships with local hospitals and medical facilities should a camper need to be seen at an off-campus clinic or ER. The vast majority of our summer staff are trained in Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder/EMT, CPR/AED, and our waterfront is staffed with certified lifeguards trained in first aid and waterfront safety.

As part of our commitment to the whole health, we also have behavioral health specialists available.

What we need from you

Prior to Arrival at Camp

Food Needs & Allergies

We are proud of the delicious, nutritious meals and snacks that we serve. Whenever possible, our campers participate in various aspects of meal production by working in gardens, collecting eggs, learning to cook, cleaning up and other activities. We provide healthy, high quality food and regularly accommodate a variety of dietary needs such as omnivores, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free diets. We are also able to provide for campers with allergies to such things as peanuts, eggs, etc, and are not a nut-free facility. Every camper has access to healthy food choices that are safe for them to eat, though dietary restrictions may reduce the number of options available to them at each meal, or during trips, cookouts and other special events, especially in the case of multiple allergies/dietary restrictions. We do our best to accommodate a wide range of eating habits but cannot guarantee that all preferences/pickiness can be accommodated. We ask questions about your camper’s diet during the registration process, so our staff can be informed and prepared to nourish our camp communities!

Medication

Farm & Wilderness can only administer prescription drugs in accordance with direction from licensed medical personnel. Farm & Wilderness must have a doctor’s written direction on the original labeled bottle of medicine. Over the counter (OTC) medication must be in the medication's original packaging. Some medications may require approval from the prescribing doctor to ensure the camper can safely participate in camp. It is not recommended to disrupt a camper’s medication schedule during the time they are at camp.

Essential Functions of Camp

Campers at Farm & Wilderness must be able to move daily on foot over uneven and natural terrain. They must be able to sleep outside in rustic wooden or canvas structures with other campers and staff. They must be able to lift and carry a backpack for hiking and trips. They must participate actively and willingly in their own self care: eat provided meals, hydrate regularly, take prescribed medications, and maintain regular hygeine. All campers must follow directions and participate willingly in camp activities, daily chores, and community living activities. Campers must refrain from violence, verbal assault, bullying or any similar behavior. See more information in our handbooks for further information about physical and behavioral expectations for your camper.

Physical Exam & Immunizations

Your child’s physical exam form and immunization records from their primary physician is a necessary part of the application to camp. Please ensure that you upload a copy of the information outlined in the Physical Exam Form, completed by your camper's physician, on our registration portal prior to arriving at camp. You may use our form to submit information or substitute a form your physician provides to you, provided that form covers the same information. This form must be submitted anew every year, and all campers must have had a physical exam within one year of the start of their camp session.

Immunization records, once dates have been input into their CampDoc Health Profile, will remain in their profile from year to year to review and confirm, when you may also enter any boosters they have since received.

We require all campers are up to date with the current schedule of regular childhood vaccines as per school/childcare guidelines set forth by the VT Department of Health. Please reach out to admissions directly if you require more information about the processes for medical or religious exemptions or amended/alternative/catch-up immunization schedules, all of which are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Our Emergency Preparedness

When your child is in our care

Trained Leadership & Staff

All camps have staff trained to respond to emergencies. Our trained staff includes a combination of Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Wilderness First Responders (WFR), Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and licensed Nurses.

Our leadership team includes staff trained in emergency management who serve as first responders in their communities

We have an emergency pager connected to a network of Farm & Wilderness responders, staffed 24/7 throughout the summer.

Weather & Natural Disaster Preparedness

Infrastructure Improvements: Following Hurricane Irene in 2011 and the floods of 2023, we've made substantial investments in emergency preparedness:

Backup Power: Generators at all kitchen facilities ensure we can continue operations

Emergency Food Storage Plan: Dry goods storage for continuity during power outages

Communications: Starlink satellite internet ensures we maintain contact with families and emergency services

Road Maintenance: On-site equipment and upgraded culverts/drainage systems

Fuel Reserves: Adequate supplies to run generators and equipment

Weather Monitoring & Response

Daily weather monitoring including Air quality monitoring using EPA standards

Program adaptation plans at each camp for weather disruptions

Heat index tracking and activity modifications

Cooling stations and increased hydration protocols

Designated shelter locations at each camp

Indoor activity alternatives during extreme conditions

Clear protocols for severe weather including lightning, high winds, air quality, and extreme temperatures.

Trip Safety

Established safety procedures include:

Trained staff with wilderness first aid certifications

Detailed trip plans filed with camp leadership

Emergency communication and evacuation / change of plan procedures

Partnerships with State and Federal land agencies.

Working with Local Communities 

Farm & Wilderness maintains strong relationships with Plymouth, Ludlow and Woodstock emergency services, Vermont State Police, Regional hospitals and medical centers , Town emergency management coordinators

American Camping Association Accredited

Our camps are accredited through the American Camping Association (ACA), the industry’s national association charged with ensuring high quality camp experiences. To receive ACA accreditation, our programs must successfully meet up to 300 specific standards. The ACA collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to ensure their camp standards reflect the most up-to-date, research-based practices.

CampSafe

CampSafe is the nationally recognized, expert-developed online training that prepares camp staff to prevent child sexual abuse through effective stragegies that build safety and communication skilss, promote positive relationships, and identify risk early.

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT CAMP

Your Child’s Health and Safety is Our Priority

Prior to Arrival at Camp

Our Emergency Preparedness