Ten Summer Camp Health Tips for Teenagers

Summer camp can be a rewarding experience for many kids and teenagers. They have the opportunity to meet people and make friends from many different backgrounds. However, they must also care for themselves at summer camp to a much greater extent than they would at home. Here are some tips for kids and teenagers on how to stay healthy while at summer camp.

Summer Camp Health Tip #1 - Wash Your Hands

You've probably been told this hundreds of times by your parents, but hand washing is an effective way of reducing the risk of illness. At summer camp, many people are going to be touching the same items, so it is best if you wash your hands regularly or use an antibacterial gel.

Summer Camp Health Tip #2 - Take a Multivitamin

Depending on what summer camp you go to, you may not be provided with the most nutritionally dense food. If this is the case, make sure that you obtain some multivitamins and take them as recommended. Having enough vitamins and minerals in your diet can help to keep you healthy.

Summer Camp Health Tip #3 - Wear Sunscreen

If you are at summer camp, you will probably be spending a good amount of time outdoors. In this case, wear sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. Sunburns don't just sting now - serious ones also increase your risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Even if you have to ask to share someone else's, make sure that you use sunscreen while you are at summer camp.

Summer Camp Health Tip #4 - Don't Take Unnecessary Risks

Many summer camps offer activities such as rope courses which are mandatory or strongly advised. These are supervised by camp counselors and precautions are taken to ensure the safety of summer camp participants. However, there will probably be instances of people daring each other to do unsafe things while at summer camp. If you can, avoid these, and do your best to not participate in them. Injuring yourself while at camp to prove how tough you are is never a good idea, and the rest of your summer might be seriously impeded if you have to wear a cast.

Summer Camp Health Tip #5 - Cook Your Food Thoroughly

A few years back, there was a highly publicized case of a boy scout that had become deathly ill after eating an uncooked piece of hamburger. If you are in any way responsible for the preparation of your own food, make sure that meats and eggs are fully cooked. It's better to overcook your food and drench it in ketchup than it is to undercook your food and spend hours in intestinal discomfort or in the hospital.

Summer Camp Health Tip #6 - Don't Have Unprotected Sex

If you are an older teen at summer camp, you may develop a relationship with a member of the opposite sex while at camp. If you choose to have sex, be responsible and use a form of barrier protection. Contracting a sexually transmitted infection is probably a memory that you don't want to have from camp, and a health issue you'd probably like to avoid discussing with your parents.

Summer Camp Health Tip #7 - Don't Drink or Use Drugs

Other vices that might make themselves available to older summer camp participants are alcohol and controlled substances. You have to make the decision whether or not to use these substances on your own. My advice is to avoid them. If you choose to partake of these substances, be responsible, don't overdo it, and stay out of situations where you could injure yourself or someone else.

Summer Camp Health Tip #8 - Don't Eat Unfamiliar Plants

This should be common sense, but bears mentioning. Don't eat things that might or might not be poisonous or edible. You should be able to eat regularly while at camp, so there's no reason to sample the local flora. Getting sick isn't worth it.

Summer Camp Health Tip #9 - Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is one of the most important things that you can do for your health while at summer camp. If you spend large amounts of your time doing outdoor activities, you will find that you can get dehydrated easily. Carry a water bottle with you and drink from it regularly to avoid dehydration and heat stroke.

Summer Camp Health Tip #10 - Have Appropriate Footwear

People don't think about how the footwear that they wear can affect their health. However, having good hiking boots can be helpful if you spend a lot of time walking around in the woods, where the terrain might be rough and sneakers or flip flops wouldn't be appropriate. Inappropriate footwear can affect your body from, literally, the ground up. Make sure that you're well-equipped.

By following the above tips and using common sense, most summer camp participants should be able to remain healthy and free of injuries this summer. If you are a summer camp participant or parent and have any suggestions of your own, or have any summer camp health anecdotes of your own, feel free to leave your thoughts and experiences in the form of a comment. Thank you for reading!