Health & Safety

A successful and enjoyable camp experience begins with a healthy camper!
All campers are required to have a “Medical Form” filled out and submitted before they arrive to camp. Failure to complete the Medical Form puts both your child and the Camp in a compromising position.

We understand that some parents may be hesitant to disclose information about their child’s behaviour or medical history, however, we use the information that you provide to ensure that your child has the best possible experience while at camp. Prior knowledge of medical conditions, phobias, behavioural issues, recent loss or trauma, or major family changes can make a tremendous difference in helping us to be understanding and supportive towards your child as they embark on their camp adventures.

Health Centre Facility & Staff

Camp Summit has a fully functional Health Centre on-site. The Health Centre is where campers can go to take their daily medications, receive first aid for small injuries and chat with our Medical Attendant about any health concerns they may have. There is a 24-hour Medical Attendant on-site that oversees the Health Centre and all ongoing health matters at camp. Hospitals and clinics are located within a 25 minute drive into Squamish. For any major first aid emergency or if the Medical Attendant believes that a camper should see a doctor we will take them in and contact the family immediately.

Checking your campers health before camp

Campers should not come to camp with known communicable diseases or health nuisances (such as chicken pox, COVID-19, Hand Foot and Mouth, viral infections, rashes, fevers, flu symptoms, etc.). Please contact our office if your child has been exposed to anything communicable within 3 weeks of the start of their camp session. Together we will determine whether it is best for your camper to stay home for an extra day or so before arriving at camp.

No Lice / Nits Policy

Please note that Camp Summit maintains a strict “No Lice/No Nits” policy. During the first day health screening, all campers will have their hair checked for head lice and any camper with evidence of lice or nits will be excused from camp to return home for treatment. They can then return to camp 24 hours after treatment and will be re-checked upon their return. Please set aside a time to thoroughly check your child’s head for lice prior to leaving for camp. We recommend doing lice checks of your child’s hair a few days to a week prior to their camp starting date. This will give your family sufficient time for treatment, if needed.

Risk Management 

At Camp Summit, safety and risk management are at the forefront of everything we do. Our approach prioritizes minimizing real risks—those with potential for actual harm—while thoughtfully incorporating perceived risks——those that feel risky but are carefully controlled—to foster personal growth and development in our participants. For example, rock climbing may seem highly dangerous, but with our skilled staff, rigorous safety procedures, top-quality, well-maintained equipment, and age-appropriate educational tools, real risks are minimized, enabling students to face challenges, build new skills, and gain confidence in a safe environment. This balance of safety and growth is the cornerstone of our philosophy at Summit.

To ensure the highest safety standards, we hire qualified and experienced, implement detailed risk management protocols, and use top quality equipment that are regularly inspected by third party industry professionals. Additionally, we stay actively involved with the British Columbia Camps Association (BCCA), Association for Experiential Education (AEE) and the Wilderness Risk Managers Society (NOLS) to remain informed about the latest industry practices in risk management. The safety and well-being of your child is our top priority, and we could not maintain a successful program with so many returning schools and campers if this were not the case.

As part of our commitment to transparency, we require parents to complete a Summit Acknowledgement of Risk form. This form is not intended to alarm you or imply that we take safety lightly but to recognize that inherent risks exist in outdoor activities. Similar forms are standard for activities like ski lessons, gymnastics, and sports camps.

If you have any questions or concerns about safety or the acknowledgment form, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to provide reassurance and ensure you feel confident about your child’s time with us at Camp Summit.