Health, safety, and special needs

 

(See more about health on our vitality page.)

We always have staff with solid first aid and other health skills, but don't normally have a licensed camp nurse present. (Usually we have one or more staffers with certifications such as wilderness first responder and/or EMT.) You must basically be responsible for your own health, bring any (regular) necessary medications with you, etc. Your camp fee does include insurance for most accidents/injuries that take place on the camp grounds.

 

Special needs

If you have special needs, make sure to inform us ahead of time. We'll study up a little on our own, but if you fill us in on the specific ways that you personally like to be helped in relation to those needs (again, ahead of time!), we'll be that much better prepared to support you in having a comfortable, safe, and exciting week. Our camp facilities can accommodate wheelchairs, though like any outdoor settings, they can pose challenges to anyone (including people in “normal” physical condition).

 

What if you get sick when it’s time to come to camp?

Depending on how sick you are and what you have (and of course whether it's contagious), we may ask you not to come. (Generally speaking, folks with flu or flu-like symptoms are asked to stay home, whereas folks with mild colds are usually cleared provided they are willing to take care of their own health and avoid spreading their germs at camp.) If we ask you not to attend, we will give you a refund of all your money, minus $100. (Before sending the refund we may request that you send a signed statement from your healthcare provider.)

 

Oregon

Poison oak -- both sessions

Both of our Oregon sites have poison oak. In previous years, a few people who have gone hiking (and strayed a bit from the trails) have had minor poison oak incidents. We’ll show you to identify it, and if you pay attention, it shouldn’t be a problem. Don’t touch other people or things who have touched poison oak. If you do touch poison oak or someone/thing that has contacted it, wash well with cool soapy water and Tecnu (in the first aid kit). Strip off your clothes inside out and keep them that way until you can wash them. Take the homeopathic remedy rustox (also in the first aid kit). And don’t scratch. We’ll give you a little spiel in person too.

Session 1

In case of emergency, you will most likely be taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital—about 20 miles away.

At camp, together we will learn about safety guidelines for creek walks, sliding down the rock waterfall, and swimming in the pool.

Session 2

In case of emergency, you will most likely be taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital—approximately 45 minutes away, but the ambulance is local and can arrive quickly.

 

 

Vermont

In addition to our own staff with first aid and/or emergency training, all Farm and Wilderness staff are also wilderness first responder certified. In case of emergency, there is a 911 First Responder Team in Plymouth; if necessary, you will be taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital. (Rutland Hospital is 30 minutes away; Dartmouth is 12 minutes away via helicopter.)

Natural hazards

Farm and Wilderness has ticks, poison ivy, and snakes. None of these are likely to pose any real problems (nor have they in our past sessions), and at camp we’ll talk about ways to deal with them.

 

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