The following blog post is brought to you in partnership with Nemours Children’s Health – together we develop our camp safety standards, best practices and provide tools and resources for families to keep kids safe, healthy and happy. Learn more about our partnership & find a Nemours location near you. 

Summer days are long, the sun is strong, and your camper is outside for most of it. Here’s how to keep their skin protected, before they even get to camp.

Start Protection at Home

By the time your camper arrives at ESF, the day is already underway. That’s why we ask families to apply sunscreen before drop-off, and to use a waterproof or water-resistant formula with SPF 30 or higher.

Nemours Children’s Health recommends applying sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure to give it time to bond to the skin.

What Happens During the Camp Day

ESF has sunscreen coverage built into the day. Campers are supervised while reapplying sunscreen during designated times, and a sunscreen application station is set up in a public area near the Nurse’s Office.

Don’t Forget to Hydrate

Sun protection doesn’t stop at sunscreen. Staying hydrated is just as important on hot camp days, which is why ESF encourages campers to drink water throughout the day and the night before camp too. Campers should bring their own refillable water bottle each day, and designated water refill stations will be available throughout camp and monitored by staff.

Nemours reminds parents that dehydration can sneak up fast when kids are active outdoors. Signs like crankiness, dizziness, or fewer bathroom trips than usual can indicate they need more fluids, not just shade.

Choosing the Right Sunscreen

There are two main types: physical (mineral) sunscreens, which sit on top of the skin and start working immediately, and chemical sunscreens, which absorb into the skin and take about 20 minutes to activate. Both can be effective, the key is making sure your child is actually wearing it.

For kids, broad-spectrum SPF 30+ is the baseline. Broad-spectrum means protection against both UVA and UVB rays. If your camper is swimming or sweating (they will be), reapplication after water exposure is a must.

Not sure which sunscreen to buy? Nemours has covered that too, check out their sunscreen guidance for a breakdown of what to look for.

Watch for More Than Just a Burn

Sunburn is the most visible sign of too much sun, but it’s not the only risk on hot summer days. Heat illness can also develop quickly, especially when kids are active outdoors. For a full rundown on summer ailments to watch for, check out Nemours’ guide to common summer health concerns, a solid resource to bookmark.

Want to See It in Action?

Watch this quick video to see how ESF handles sun safety during the camp day. Questions about our health and safety protocols? Reach out to your site’s camp nurse or program director anytime.

Read more on this topic from our partners at Nemours Children’s Health.