Medical care
The Quack Shack: medical care right down the path.
Our medical team is made up of physicians and nurses from the participating hemophilia treatment centers, the same people who care for campers back home.
What that means for your child
A medical building on site all week, staffed by HTC physicians and nurses
All medications, including factor, are stored and managed in the medical building, never in cabins
Infusions and medication times are built right into the daily schedule, so nobody misses out on activities
Counselors meet with the medical team before camp to learn what each camper in their cabin needs
Food allergies and dietary needs entered in CampDoc are planned for ahead of time
How medications work
Medical staff are available 24 hours a day
Prophylaxis infusions happen at 7:30 am, Monday through Thursday
Every medication is listed in CampDoc and sent in its original, labeled container
Medications and factor are checked in with medical staff at the bus or at camp
Parents are contacted if a significant medical issue comes up
Med Ed
Kids learn to own their care.
Med Ed is built into every cabin's schedule. Our nurses teach campers how to infuse and what they need to know about their condition, in a way that actually sticks.
Starting at age 7
Learning to infuse
Campers who are ready can start learning to self-infuse, with nurses coaching them step by step.
Every cabin, every year
Knowing their condition
Age-appropriate lessons about their bleeding disorder, what to watch for, and how to speak up for themselves.
Through Leadership
Growing independence
Teens keep building skills in Leadership, getting ready to manage their own care as adults.
The Big Stick Award
When a camper learns to infuse themselves from start to finish, they're honored with a Big Stick Award at the last-night party, in front of the whole camp. The moment it happens, they grab the "I Did It" frame for a photo. For a lot of families, it changes everything at home.
Child Life Specialists
Someone looking out for every first-timer.
Our experienced Child Life Specialists have been coming to camp for years. They're trained to help kids with the emotional side of living with a medical condition, and they know how to make camp feel like home fast. If homesickness becomes severe or doesn't let up, camp leadership will reach out to you.
New campers
They check in on every camper who's new to camp.
Homesickness
They step in for anyone who's missing home.
Briefing counselors
Before campers arrive, they meet with counselors about the kids in each cabin.
All week long
They're part of camp every day, not just when something goes wrong.
Counselors
Screened, trained, and here for the right reasons.
Every counselor is a volunteer, 18 or older, and many are former campers themselves. Before anyone works with campers, they go through all of this:
1
Application in CampDoc
Every counselor registers and completes a full health profile.
2
Interviews & background checks
New counselors complete interviews and provide 2–3 references, and every volunteer passes a criminal background check.
3
Abuse Prevention Training
Required online training for every volunteer, renewed every two years.
4
Pre-camp training
A required Zoom session in June, plus training videos and a quiz.
5
A weekend on site
Camper safety and abuse prevention, emergency procedures, camper mental health, behavior support, and more, before campers arrive.
3 : 7About 3 counselors for every 7 campers, and sometimes 4 for 6.
Never aloneNo staff member is ever alone with a camper. Activities are staffed so multiple adults are always present.
All nightCounselors sleep in the cabins with campers, and medical staff are available around the clock.
Clear boundaries, on purpose. Counselors are role models, not buddies. Following Camp John Marc's standards, counselors don't contact campers outside of camp: no calls, texts, social media, babysitting or meetups.
Safety at camp
The details we sweat so you don't have to.
From the front gate to lights out, every piece of camp is designed with your child's safety in mind.
A camp built for kids like ours
Camp is held at Camp John Marc in Meridian, an American Camp Association–accredited camp designed for kids with chronic illnesses and physical disabilities.
Gated and secure
Camp has a gated entrance that stays closed. Visitors must check in, wear a badge and be escorted by camp staff.
Location kept private
The exact address and directions go only to registered families, by email from CampDoc.
Emergency plan
Severe weather, medical emergencies and more are planned for with Camp John Marc. Registered families receive our Emergency Preparedness and Response plan.
Safety built into activities
Every camper does a swim check on day one, and every horseback rider has a leadwalker right beside them.
Zero tolerance for bullying
Kindness and respect are expected. Bullying, harassment or abuse of any kind is never tolerated.
Questions about your child's care?
Your hemophilia treatment center knows camp well, and we're always happy to talk.