The Camp Onas Health Center provides routine care, responds to illness and injury, and ensures that all medications are handled safely and legally. Our licensed nurses work under Pennsylvania law and under the direction of our camp physician.

Camp is active, outdoors, and communal. Minor injuries, bug bites, and occasional illnesses are normal. A nurse or trained staff member is present throughout the day, and our medical team communicates with families whenever a situation needs follow-up or additional care. More detailed information about Health Center procedures, medication policies, and parent communication can be found in the Parent & Guardian Handbook.

Health Center Overview

The Health Center supports the well-being of our community by:

• Treating routine injuries and minor illnesses.
• Managing medications safely and consistently.
• Consulting with our camp physician or local Urgent Care when needed.
• Communicating health concerns to parents and guardians.

Health Center Staff

Each summer Camp Onas embraces a Nurse for the summer. They are an integral part of the camp experience for so many people here we are fortunate to have them. In addition, we staff the Health Center with staff trained in Wilderness First Aid/Lifeguarding. 

Matt (one of our Camp Directors) is also a Nurse, he coordinates care each summer with a Physician who runs several Urgent Care Centers to provide Camp Onas with consultations, orders, and to review our health plan for the summer.

When We Call Home

While every situation is unique, we contact families when the camp experience has become trying due to illness or injury as well as for some of the below:

• A camper needing to spend the night in the Health Center.
• A doctor’s visit or prescription is being considered.
• When out-of-scope interventions are required (lice treatment being the most common)
• A significant injury, fever, or concern affects participation in the camp program.

A more complete list and explanations of Health Center Policy are found in the Parent & Guardian Handbook. 

Communication Methods

We email for routine questions, follow-ups, and clarifications. When a Parent is needed more urgently, we call and will leave a message.  Please pick up if available, and listen to the message prior to calling us back. Often we would like the opportunity to speak with you privately prior to engaging with your camper. 

On the health form we ask if you’d be okay with receiving texts from the health center, please consider that while this is health information, we use this to establish contact more directly. The anxiety of being contacted by Camp is reduced when you have a little context. 

Also, in the Health Form you are required to opt-in or out of our standing medications. Please understand that we aren’t in a position to call prior to giving medications, so unless there is a known contraindication, consider permitting them while at Onas.