Gold Arrow Camp takes reasonable steps to accommodate children with food allergies and gluten intolerances and to identify ingredients that may cause allergic reactions for those with food allergies, as well as to instruct our food production staff on the severity of food allergies.
Despite best and diligent efforts, Gold Arrow Camp cannot guarantee an environment that removes all traces of potential allergens. We work closely to identify all campers and staff with food allergies or intolerances. We cannot 100% control cross-contamination, changes in formulations of food products and their substitutions, or food choices campers make as they build their meals.
Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free or gluten-free options are made available at every meal and a complete salad bar is available at every lunch and dinner.
We do not use nuts or nut oils in camp recipes. However, we are not a nut-free camp, because we do serve peanut butter (in individual service cups), granola bars, and some candies, snacks, and desserts that contain nuts or have been manufactured in a factory where nuts are present. While we emphasize preventing cross contamination through proper handling of food and hygiene, we do not have any nut-free dining areas.
When discussed in advance, our kitchen can store a small supply of food items for campers that they can access/eat when the options provided do not meet their dietary needs.
Our Food Service team works hard to accommodate the dietary needs of our campers and staff, with a variety of options offered at every meal to accommodate different food preferences, dietary needs, and allergies. There are always a variety of daily options offered at breakfast, lunch, and dinner you can review here. Because our Food Service team is feeding 500 people (campers & staff) three meals a day, we are unable to prepare separate meals for individual campers and staff.
When campers are out of camp and not being served by our Main Camp kitchen (while at Shaver Island, backpacking, or while traveling to and from camp), there are not as many food options available. For those instances, depending on your camper’s specific needs, it may be advisable for you to send a small supply of supplemental food items, discussed with our Food Service Manager prior to attendance.
Immediate and Definitive Care
- Families and staff with severe food allergies must be aware of the medical care available at camp and the distance to definitive care.
- At Gold Arrow Camp, we have at least one camp nurse on duty 24 hours per day in our Wellness Center to respond to allergic reactions and institute the Food Allergy Action Plan that is required for all campers with food allergies. We also have a doctor onsite or on call.
- Our medical staff can identify allergy symptoms, administer Benadryl (diphenhydramine), epinephrine (i.e. Epi-Pen) and/or personal bronchodilators (i.e. inhalers).
- If severe symptoms are present, we will call the emergency dispatcher at 911.
- Families and staff must be aware that definitive care is more than an hour and a half away by ambulance (emergency helicopter evacuation is slightly faster) when attending Gold Arrow Camp and that response times are unpredictable and often delayed.
- For this reason, our camp experience may not be safe for all persons with severe food allergies.
- An in-depth conversation and care plan must be made for all campers with severe food allergies prior to attending Gold Arrow Camp.
- Campers with food allergies must have the following prior to attending camp:
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- An up-to-date Food Allergy Action Plan (Camper Form completed prior to camp attendance)
- Ensure all medications for treatment of allergic reaction are on-site and/or on their person.
- If individuals wish to be allowed to carry epinephrine on their person, they must have permission from a parent/guardian (for campers) on file to self-carry and self-administer epinephrine (Camper Form completed prior to camp attendance).
Gold Arrow Camp strives to create a fun and safe environment for all campers and staff. The safety of campers and staff with severe food allergies requires us to have a shared-decision making and information process to ensure Gold Arrow Camp can meet safety goals, balancing reasonable accommodations with the realities of wilderness experiences. Our camp experience may not be safe for all persons with severe food allergies. An in-depth conversation and care plan must be made for all campers with severe food allergies prior to attending Gold Arrow Camp. Please call 800-554-2267 or email us to set up a phone consultation with one of our Directors.
What if my child’s allergic reaction requires an Epi-Pen be available at all times?
Campers will be responsible for carrying their own Epi-Pen throughout the session. If your child needs a different kind of support, please contact the camp office to speak with a Director. Please send two Epi-Pens to camp so that we can keep an extra in our Wellness Center in case of loss. We also have Epi-Pens located throughout camp, at Shaver Island, on backpacking trips, and in the Wellness Center for emergency use. Counselors are trained during Staff Training Week to administer an Epi-Pen.
Have More Questions?
Please email us or call the camp office at 800-554-2267.