SCHOOL CAMP AND FOOD ALLERGIES: A PERSONAL JOURNEY FROM ONE ALLERGY MUM TO ANOTHER

Preparing For School Camp With Food Allergies

As a mum of a child with food allergies, I know firsthand the stress that comes with school camp. The thought of entrusting your child's safety to strangers is daunting. I wanted to share our recent camp experience and offer some support and reassurance to those of you facing similar challenges.

The Reality of Food Allergies at Camp

Most camps and schools understand the dangers of nut allergies and often have risk management plans in place. However, if your child has multiple food allergies, the risks are much higher because common allergens like milk, egg, and wheat are often used in camp kitchens and present in most meals served. This added complexity can make the idea of managing food allergies at school camp feel overwhelming.

Our Experience: Planning and Communication

Charlie has safely attended camp in Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5 with each campsite demonstrating a level of care and safety for students attending with food allergies. I supplied these camps with all of Charlie's safe meals and snacks from home as I knew this would give Charlie peace of mind and allow him to focus on enjoying camp. Of course his 2 x Epipens went everywhere with him too.

However, something felt wrong when preparing for Year 6 camp.

Let me share our experience with you. It started seven weeks before camp, when I began communicating with the school about Charlie attending camp with his food allergies. I used the resources available on the Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia website, including their Camp Allergy Management Checklist and ‘Preparing for Camp with Food Allergies’ e-book. During this time, numerous emails were exchanged with the camp and school, and I had a phone conversation with the camp kitchen.

Charlie's Allergies and OIT

Charlie is allergic to dairy, egg, peanuts, cashew, pistachio, walnut, pecan, and hazelnut. He completed Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) in 2017 for most of his allergens and is now in the maintenance phase of treatment. While OIT has reduced the risk, when he is away from home under the care of school and camp staff who have never met him, we always assume the highest level of risk due to his multiple food allergies.

Assessing the Risks

The risk for Charlie attending school camp with these allergies is significantly higher, as milk and egg will be used in the kitchen and present in most meals. Camps need clear processes to reduce the risk for any child attending camp with a dairy or egg allergy. While many schools and camps are ‘nut aware,’ the same level of awareness often doesn’t extend to allergens like dairy and egg.

Navigating the Camp Menu

At this particular campsite, despite being aware of Charlie’s food allergies after receiving his ASCIA plan four weeks prior to camp, they decided to include meals such as pavlova with whipped cream on the menu. When I requested a lower-risk alternative, I was told by the camp they had a set menu and the school didn’t request a change. The camp assured me there was no risk to Charlie since I would be sending his food from home, but they didn’t consider the risk of everyone else in the room eating this dish.

School's Role in Advocacy

When I approached the school, they didn’t seem to understand our concern and merely passed information to the camp rather than advocating for Charlie’s safety. This demonstrated a low level of allergy awareness and a failure to set a high standard for the camp to act upon for students with food allergies.

Inadequate Risk Analysis

The camp’s risk analysis report, though extensive covering everything down to a scissor cut, only mentioned allergies in the context of latex, glue, and nut allergies. There was no risk assessment for students with other food allergies, highlighting a lack of understanding of the seriousness of life-threatening food allergies.

Decision to Keep Charlie Home

Given the circumstances, we decided not to send Charlie to camp. The camp’s attitude and the school’s weak advocacy made the situation too risky. It was a difficult decision, but necessary for Charlie’s safety. Navigating food allergies at school camp requires both thorough preparation and a supportive environment, which was lacking in this case. Charlie had not even stepped foot on the camp site and I was already an exhausted allergy mum.  

Creating Our Own Camp Experience

Since Charlie wasn’t attending camp, we decided to create our own 'camp-like' experience at home. We organised various activities such as rock climbing, cooking allergy-friendly recipes, toasting marshmallows, dining out at a safe restaurant, watching a movie at the cinema, and going on a bike ride. This ensured Charlie still had a fun and memorable time away from camp.

Life isn't always fair, but your response shapes your journey.

The takeaway from school camp and food allergies is that living with food allergies can sometimes feel isolating, as you may need to navigate a different path from those around you. Make the choice to be surrounded by those who support and advocate for your well-being. 

Final Thoughts From An Allergy Mum

To all the mums out there navigating food allergies, I understand how lonely and challenging it can feel. Sometimes, we have to take a different path to ensure our children’s safety. But remember, you are not alone. You have the power to create a safe and fulfilling environment for your child. Making the right decision for your family may not always be easy, but it is vital to prioritise safety and peace of mind. Stay strong, trust your instincts, and know that you are doing an amazing job.

For helpful guidelines and valuable resources for parents and caregivers of children with food allergies going on camp, you can find more information at Food Allergy Aware.

0 comments

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published