CYJ Health Center Overview

With 450 bodies running around a Texas summer, someone's bound to feel under the weather eventually. Here's how we handle it.

Is there a doctor or nurse on site?

Yes — our Health Center is staffed by certified professionals 24 hours a day, including 3–4 registered nurses and on-site doctors on rotation throughout the summer. We also have modern diagnostic tools on hand, like rapid strep kits, along with community physician-directed protocols that let us evaluate and treat most minor issues without a camper ever having to leave camp.

What happens if my child gets sick or injured?

Given the size of camp, the vast majority of Health Center visits are for minor stuff — scrapes, splinters, a headache, the usual. Our nurses handle those routinely.

The Health Center is also where campers go if they need isolation, a break from the camp routine, or closer observation than cabin staff can reasonably provide. As a general rule, any camper running a temperature over 100.4°F (38°C) stays in the Health Center until they can maintain a normal temperature for 24 hours without medication, and we can reasonably rule out anything communicable.

When will you contact me about a health issue?

Because most visits are minor, we don't call home for every scrape and splinter — that would mean a lot of phone calls. You'll hear from the Camp Nurse if:

• Your camper is confined to the Health Center overnight

• Your camper is a frequent visitor to the Health Center for the same issue (more than 2 visits)

• Your camper needs appointments with services or physicians outside of camp

• Your camper needs a new prescription

• Your camper needs transportation for emergency treatment and/or medical evaluation due to injury

Outside of those triggers, no news really is good news.

How are medications handled?

All medications must be packed in blister packs before arriving at camp. If you've indicated your camper takes medication, you'll automatically receive a medical package in the mail with blister packs and instructions ahead of time.

If you didn't receive one, bring the medications with you on drop-off day — we'll have a dedicated blister-pack station at check-in, with nurses on hand to help package everything correctly on the spot. Every medication should be clearly labeled with your child's name, dosage, time of day to administer, and a copy of the prescription.

Can my child carry their own inhaler or EpiPen?

If your camper carries a rescue inhaler, EpiPen, or similar emergency medication, talk to our Health Center before the summer starts so we can make a plan together. We want every camper's emergency medication accessible exactly when and where it's needed — reach out to us directly to work out the details for your camper's specific situation.

What happens in a medical emergency?

Our Health Center staff are trained to respond quickly, and if a camper needs care beyond what we can provide on-site, we'll coordinate transportation to outside medical services and contact you right away. An ambulance is 10 minutes away and an ER is 30 minutes away, If an ambulance is called, we plan to send a nurse in the ambulance.

Is there support for homesickness or emotional struggles?

Yes. Our counselors are trained to help campers work through homesickness and everyday emotional bumps, and our Camper Care team is available for extra support when something needs more attention than a counselor can provide day-to-day. If something's worth your attention, we'll call — that's part of our notification policy above.

Questions about your camper's specific health needs? Reach out to our office directly — the earlier we know, the better we can prepare.