Parent Handbook

Overnight Camps Only

Download the Parent Handbook as a pdf

1. Logging into your account for pre-camp tasks

2. How to get to camp

3. Check-in/check-out procedure

(what to expect)
a. Sunday Check-in schedule
b. Friday Check-out schedule (Thursday for Grades 2 and 3)

4. Important contact numbers

5. Mail call

6. Insulin pumps

7. Continuous glucose monitors (CGM)

8. Cell phones

9. Overnight CGM monitoring

10. Insulin

11. Insulin pens

12. Medications

13. Reasons camp may contact you

14. Code of Conduct

15. Packing lists

a. Full Packing List

b. Diabetes Tech Packing List

16. FAQ Links

1. Log into your account for pre-camp tasks to save time at check in.

Log into your registration account here

i. Make sure you have a $0 balance or that you have applied for a Campership here and submitted the required documentation. To see if you have an outstanding balance, log into your account and you will see the option to make a payment as soon as you log in. If you don't have an outstanding balance, you will not see this massage. If you need assistance, please call our office at 503-968-2267.

ii. Update your camper's Medical and Diabetes Information page. To update this page, log into your account and you will see the yellow banner that says Update Registration Info. Click "Review and update here."

iii . Add your camper to our Dexcom and Libre CGM monitoring system.

We monitor all camper CGM data overnight from a central location. If your child is on a CGM, please log into our system and authorize GCC to view your camper's Dexcom or Libre CGM.

a. Once logged in, click on your kiddo's camp as if you were going to register them.

b. Select your participant and click Save.

c. If you have not authorized your Dexcom or Libre, a screen will pop up and you can follow the instructions.

2. How to get to camp

Gales Creek Camp is located at:

59425 NW Cedarbrook Lane

Gales Creek, Oregon 97117

We are between milepost 39 and 38 on Highway 6. When driving west on Highway 6, our turnoff is about ½ mile past the Glenwood Store. Slow down once you pass Timber Junction and turn left onto Cedarbrook Lane, which is a gravel road just before the small bridge over Gales Creek. The gravel road is narrow and winding, with steep drops in places, so for everyone’s safety please keep to the posted 10MPH speed limit. Also please pass only when one car can use a designated pullout. When you come to an intersection, continue straight over a small bridge. (Do not turn right—this is a private residence.) Once you cross the bridge, you’ve arrived!

A note for Apple Maps users: For some reason we don't understand, Apple Maps sometimes thinks various roads around camp are closed and tries to send drivers on long detours. Don't trust it! Use Google Maps or TripCheck to confirm before you go the long way.

3. Check in/check out procedures (what to expect)
IMPORTANT: An authorized parent/guardian must accompany the camper to meet with the camp doctor. If a parent or guardian is unable to attend check-in, please call the office at 503-968-2267 to make other arrangements.

Sunday check-in schedule

You will be assigned a specific arrival time (between 1pm and 4pm) several weeks before your camp. To minimize the wait time, please do not arrive before your group’s assigned arrival time. Remember, campers move into the cabins all at one time, after all campers have arrived.

Because we are a thorough medical camp, expect check-in to take between 45 minutes and two hours. We’ll try not to keep you standing that whole time, and campers often run off to play while parents go through certain parts of the process.

Step 1: After parking, you will be greeted by our friendly camp staff. They will be happy to help with your gear and take the lead. You will first stop by our Wellness Station for screening.

Step 2: Our staff will direct you to your camper’s cabin where you can leave your gear outside. Once everyone arrives, all
campers will move in together.

Step 3: Head to the t-shirt table to sign in and get your t-shirt.

Step 4: Get in line for Medical Check-In, where you will meet with Health House staff and then a doctor to let us know all about your camper’s health needs.

Step 5: Go to the Dining Hall and see the dietician to let us know about your camper’s food preferences and any special dietary needs.

Step 6: Say your goodbyes and let your camper start their adventure!

Friday check-out schedule (Thursday for the 2nd and 3rd grade camps)

10:00 AM - Check-out begins (but don’t drive away just yet!)

10:30 AM - Camper Awards Ceremony (on the log!)

11:15-Noon - Check-out continues (now you can leave)

12:00 PM - Camp Closes

When arriving to pick up your camper, park in the same area and come to the center of camp. You may or may not find your camper right away, since they may be running around and will most likely still be in “camp mode.” Once you do find your camper, let them show you around if they want to. You might have a project to pick up, or there may be a counselor you just have to meet. After greeting your camper, follow these steps:

Step 1: Head to Medical Check-Out for a review of the week’s health-related events. Grab your leftover supplies and maybe some new swag. The Camp Store will be open during check-out, accepting cash, checks and credit cards.

Step 2: Take a seat on the log and watch the awards ceremony.

Step 3: Make sure you gather all of your camper’s gear, load up, and head for home!

4. Important contact numbers

Foundation Office: 503-968-2267 (All general inquiries, registration questions)

Overnight-Only Health House Desk: 503-208-8990 (Text message only. This is monitored by real people, and you will get a reply. However, the Health House staff are busy taking care of campers so it may not be immediate.)

Onsite Camp Phone: 503-357-1793 (Emergencies, late arrivals)

Foundation Fax: 503-992-6785 (To fax stuff to)

5. Mail call

Send postcards, letters, and food-free care packages to your camper at

[Camper’s Name]

Gales Creek Camp

59425 NW Cedarbrook Lane

Gales Creek, OR 97117

MAIL CALL PRO TIP: Secretly mail your postcards, letters and packages the day BEFORE you drop your camper off at camp to ensure the mail arrives on time. Please never send food or gum.

6. Insulin pumps

If your camper is on a pump, please bring twice the pump supplies (minus the insulin) that your camper would need for a typical week. You will get back what we do not use. It works well to bring all the supplies in a 1-gallon ziplock bag. Please note, we will not use your blood glucose meter, even if it’s connected to your pump. We will use our own meters and manually input BGs. Please make sure your camper’s pump is fully charged before arriving to camp and pack the charger + charging blcok with them for the week. See Diabetes Tech Packing List.

7. Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)

Include an extra CGM sensor (and transmitter if applicable) in your Ziplock in case your camper’s falls off or needs a routine change during their stay. If your camper uses over patches, bring them. You will get back all unused equipment. PRO TIP: If your camper has overpatches for their CGM, apply one before arriving to camp to prevent it from falling off prematurely during swim or other high-level activities. Please be sure your camper’s devices are fully charged before camp and pack a charger + charging block for their corresponding CGM receiver and/or phone. See the Diabetes Tech Packing List for more details.

Adhesives: If you use an insulin pump or CGM and usually have issues with the adhesive lasting, especially when swimming or sweating, please pack some of your camper's favorite adhesive tape or patches. We do have a limited amount for those who run out.

8. Cell phones

Cell phones are to be used ONLY as CGM receivers at camp. Phones will be in Airplane Mode with Bluetooth & Wifi on. By bringing a phone to be used as a receiver, your camper agrees to no texting, phone calls, photography, video, app use, internet access, or any other use.

Gales Creek Camp wants to create a healthy in-person social environment. While we have been able to limit some internet access through our network, we are unable to block certain apps, like iMessage and Snapchat. If you happen to get a message or call from your camper's phone while they are at camp, please reply with a reminder that they are not supposed to be using their phone. They may want to contact you because, at first, camp can naturally lead to feelings of uncertainty and discomfort, but this is the good kind of stress, the kind you feel when you're growing. Try to allow your camper to push through that initial sense of uncertainty and discomfort. If you do, the reward for them will be feelings of triumph and success, and of getting through something difficult. If they persevere, they will gain new friends, a sense of belonging and, we hope, the feeling that someone finally "gets it."

We have a well-established process of addressing "home sickness" and these feelings of uncertainty and discomfort at camp, refined over 71 summers. Our counselors are trained to connect with campers and to facilitate friendships. They are great listeners and role models. Many of them live with diabetes themselves, so they really do "get it."

So if you get a message from your camper where they say they don't want to be at camp, that they want you to come get them right away, just reply, "Have you talked to your counselors or the Camp Director about this? Have them call me."

9. Overnight CGM monitoring

If your camper is using a Dexcom or Libre Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), Health House Staff can monitor your camper’s blood glucose levels overnight from a centralized monitoring system. In order for campers to participate in this program their CGM must be linked to our EMR system. This is an approved use through an agreement with Dexcom and Abbott (Libre). GCC will have only limited visibility to your camper's data. You camper must have their CGM connected to a phone or wifi-connected receiver. If your camper prefers using the factory receiver, or their pump, to receive their CGM values that is okay! Campers unable to participate in the CGM monitoring program will still receive routine blood glucose checks throughout the night. If your camper intends to be on the CGM monitoring program while at camp, please pack their phone and its charger + charging block. See the Technology FAQ for more details.

Gales Creek Camp recommends that you "unfollow" your camper's CGM while they are at camp. To give you confidence to do this, let us describe our protocols:

Night protocol: We monitor CGM's overnight from a central monitoring station, and we do scheduled rounds through the cabin to check campers who are not on the CGM monitoring program. When a camper is low, we verify the low with a finger poke, treat the low, then we recheck and retreat as needed until that camper is back in range. If a camper's CGM is not connected or functioning, and troubleshooting can't solve the problem, the camper's BG is checked via finger poke on scheduled rounds.

Day protocol: During the day camper BGs are checked and logged before meals. Campers may also self-monitor using their CGM devices. During some activities, like field games and hikes, phones are collected in a backpack for practical reasons. But campers always have the ability to ask for their phone to check their BG if they feel out of range. Low alarms also remain active and our staff are trained to recognize and respond these alarms. They are also trained to watch for the signs of hypoglycemia even in the absence of CGM alarms. During swim time, which follows a 15-carb uncovered snack, pumps and devices are stored in the Health House, and campers who feel out of range may ask to be checked at the pool using a finger poke.

We know not following your camper’s CGM data while they are at camp may be a challenge for many parents and caregivers who have become accustomed to watching their child's CGM graph throughout the day and night. It is probably the app that you use most on your phone, right? And with good reason. But there are several reasons why we will "unfollow" you when you check in at camp.

For your kid: Camp is all about independence. In fact, camp might even be the first chance your child gets to see themselves as a separate entity from you. GCC is a healthy place for a child to realize they are their own person, and they will eventually inherit their whole life. Camp is also a place they can start to learn to trust others and themselves with their own care. What GCC (and you) want is for your kid to gradually gain confidence in themselves to be an excellent manager of their own diabetes, including their relationship to diabetes. If you show them you don't need to be watching their Dexcom all the time, that you trust GCC to do it, and you trust them to help GCC do it, then that sends a powerful message to your kiddo. They. Can. Do it.

For you: Take a mental health break. You need it. You need it because you will be an even better parent on the other side. You probably spend enough time looking at your phone every day, anyway. Here's a chance for you to turn off your alarms and get some sleep.

10. Insulin

Gales Creek Camp provides insulin, so you don't need to bring any. We will supply the following types of insulin: Humalog (lispro), Novolog (aspart), Admelog, Apidra, Fiasp, Lantus, Basaglar, and Tresiba. If you are using a different type of insulin, you will need to bring an unopened vial in the original pharmacy labeled box.

11. Insulin pens

Your camper can choose to leave their pen at home and use our insulin and syringes. If they prefer to use their own pens at camp, follow these guidelines: Pen cartridge in pen must be dated when it was first opened (this will ensure insulin in the pen is not past recommended in-use date) and a new cartridge must be brought in the original box with camper name/DOB etc. If a disposable pen, it must also be dated when first opened and an extra pen brought in original box with camper name/DOB. We have nano pen needles, so you do not need to bring your own UNLESS they use a longer needle.

12. Medications

All medication (including insulin and EpiPens) must be in the original container and labeled. All prescription medication must be in the camper’s name/DOB, with pharmacy labels intact. Camp will not accept and/or dispense vitamins or supplements without a signed doctor’s prescription. Supplements containing CBD will not be accepted for use at camp.

13. Reasons camp may Contact you during the session

14. Code of Conduct

Purpose

To ensure that the rights of all individuals are protected while attending the camp.
To establish the safest and best possible camp environment for all participants.
To ensure that breaches of the rules and code of conduct are treated in a fair and consistent manner.

Expectations

Campers are responsible for their own behavior and are expected to treat one another, staff, and Gales Creek Camp property with respect.
Campers have the responsibility to act and behave in a way which does not endanger, intimidate, or interfere with the participation of others.
Campers have the responsibility to follow the instructions given by camp staff.
Campers have the responsibility to behave according to this code of conduct.

Rules

The following forms of behavior are considered a serious violation of Gales Creek Camp’s Code of Conduct and may result in the immediate camper dismissal:

Bringing or possessing tobacco or nicotine products, marijuana products, alcohol, or non-prescribed substances/medications.
Bringing or possessing weapons or pornographic material.
Using language which is offensive, sexist or racist.
All forms of bullying, intimidation, or harassment, including sexual harassment.
Fighting, violence, or any other form of aggressive behavior.
Leaving camp boundaries without permission.
Behaving in a manner that is potentially dangerous to self or others.
Behaving in a manner that damages or vandalizes the property of others or Gales Creek Camp.
Using a cell phone or other device for texting, phone calls, app use, internet access, photography, video, or any use other than for diabetes management.