Our Health Care Staff are available 24 hours a day to help with all health related issues your camper may encounter while at camp. In addition, the majority of our staff are certified by the Red Cross in CPR, First Aid and Lifeguarding.

Our trained and experienced Health Care Staff pass out all medications for our campers.

Click here to view more about Health & Safety at Camp. 

Camp Olson Management are constantly monitoring local weather conditions. In the event of a severe weather warning, all campers and staff report to our Severe Weather Shelters contained beneath our Health Lodge and Ranch house. All parents will receive an email notification in the event that we do seek shelter, assuring you that all are well and accounted for.

Child psychologist, Chris Thurber states that “most children are ready to spend time away from camp home by the time they’re seven. But, as with so much of parenting, recognizing your child’s individual needs and developmental readiness is key to the experience.” Ask yourself these questions: Has your child ever spent any time away from you? Slept at a friend’s house or grandparents? Does your child like to make new friends or try new things? Is your child able to follow instructions? Do they like group activities? Are they able to meet personal needs such as bathing, toileting, diet management, dressing, etc.? If you answered YES to the majority of these questions, chances are they are ready!

To be eligible to attend Camp, a camper must meet the minimum age requirements for that program. All campers must be able to independently use the bathroom and change into swim attire without assistance from a counselor. Campers are expected to participate safely and appropriately within a 1:8 ratio of staff to campers and a typical group size of 8-10. We expect all campers and staff to contribute to a safe and respectful camp environment for all.

Our Chef and kitchen staff provide 3 square, tasty and nutritious meals each day. Favorites include Taco bar, BBQ chicken, and pizza! Cereal, fruit, and yogurt are always available in addition to breakfast. Lunch and supper are always accompanied by a salad bar and fresh veggies.

We are well versed in dealing with a range of food allergies and dietary restrictions. All campers who attend must disclose dietary issues on the mandatory health forms we provide to you. Our kitchen staff are very sensitive to dietary needs and continually strive to offer ample alternatives to Gluten-free, lactose intolerant, vegetarian and religious-oriented diets. We have a great deal of experience dealing with severe dietary allergies like peanut/tree nut allergies and more.

Our staff undergo an extensive application and screening process, including reference checks, interviews, background checks, and a search of the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender registry before hiring. Staff participate in a one-week training that includes topics on homesickness, bullying, camper health and hygiene, sexual abuse prevention, behavior management, mental health, and trauma-informed practices. We also have many staff certified in Lifeguarding, First Aid, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid. Full-time management staff, including a clinical mental health professional, live onsite and are available 24 hours a day to oversee all camp operations and monitor our camp community.

Yes. Your child should provide their own pull-ups, and they can change into that at night however they are comfortable. Some children keep them in their suitcases and change into them in the bathroom when brushing their teeth. Other children can keep their pull-ups in the health lodge and change into their pull-ups in their private bathroom. We often urge children to wake up a staff member and a buddy in case of a late-night bathroom visit. If they have an accident, our staff follow a specific protocol for the child’s privacy and wash their bedding in the health lodge.

As a part of Camp Olson’s mission, we aim to provide services for ALL and provide an environment that is free from discrimination and devoid of violence, intimidation, and/or harassment based on race, creed, color, national origin, faith, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

We are fortunate to have a rich history of being a welcoming community centered on our core values. However, we also recognize that many families have not always had access to camp or felt included once they experience camp. Our priority is to increase access to Camp Olson for historically marginalized groups at camp and to ensure that all young people feel a sense of belonging at camp, where they can be proud of who they are.

Our commitment to you:

• Designing programs that work for all members of our community
• Prioritizing impartiality and fairness in policies, procedures, and distribution of resources
• Clearly understanding and defining the limitations of our organization
• Taking action to remove barriers that prevent full engagement in our programs
• Affirming the various perspectives that enrich our collective experiences
• Centering relationship-building that honors each person’s identity
• Valuing every individual’s unique contributions as we learn and grow together

Please view our Equity & Inclusion page for more information.

Camp Olson strives to create programming to be enjoyed by as many children as possible. In everything we do, health and safety are our top priorities. As such we need to recognize the limitations of our facility, program and staff.

All children must be able to do that following at a developmentally appropriate level for their age:

• Communicate needs and concerns with others at a conversational level of English
• Understand and comply with directions given by staff
• Refrain from unsafe or harmful behaviors towards themselves and others including self harm
• Identify and avoid safety risks
• Feel comfortable living in a rustic environment (no air conditioning, insects/animals, etc)
• Able to maneuver rough terrain and distances
• Manage the sensory stimulation of a frequently large, loud, and energetic group environment (especially during dining hall meal time)
• Assume responsibility of personal hygiene
• Manage camp schedule and independent free time
• Demonstrate age-appropriate social and emotional skills in managing personal boundaries, relationships, communication, stress, and conflict.
• Use the bathroom and change clothes independently