nutfreecampThanks for being here.
If a family sent you a letter from this site, they're asking for one thing: help make camp safe for kids with peanut and tree nut allergies. Here's what that means in practice, and a free policy you can adapt.
Why this matters at camp
About 1 in 50 U.S. children has a peanut allergy,1 so a camp of 200 likely has a few. At home and at school, families and nurses manage the risk. At camp, kids share tables, gear, bunks and snacks for days or weeks, supervised by young staff and often far from a hospital.
The biggest risk usually isn't a camper choosing to eat peanuts. It's residue: peanut protein on hands, tables, paddles and craft supplies that ends up in a child's mouth or eyes. Alcohol hand sanitizer doesn't remove it. Soap and water do.2 Read more about contact exposure.
What a nut-free camp looks like
Most camps already do some of this. A clear, written policy pulls it together and tells families what to expect.
Dining hall
No peanuts, tree nuts, or foods made with them. Check labels for “may contain” warnings, and ask suppliers about cross-contact.
Canteen and snacks
Stock only nut-free snacks. This is often the easiest win, since popular nut-free options are easy to find.
Care packages
Tell families before camp that food with nuts will be held or returned, and check packages before they reach cabins.
Activities and crafts
No peanut butter bird feeders or nut shells in crafts. Wash hands with soap and water before and after meals.
Trips and outings
Pack nut-free trail food, and make sure epinephrine goes with every camper who needs it.
Staff training
Teach every counselor the signs of anaphylaxis and how to use an epinephrine auto-injector, and run a drill before campers arrive.
Questions from directors
- Can any camp guarantee it's 100% nut-free?
- No, and you don't need to promise that. Say “nut-free” for what you control (menus, canteen, activities) and be honest with families about what you can't fully control, like care packages that slip through. Many camps say “nut-aware” or “nut-restricted” for this reason. The model policy uses clear, honest wording.
- Will this cost a lot?
- Usually not much. The main costs are swapping some menu and canteen items, adding handwashing stations where there aren't any, and an hour of staff training. Many camps already stock epinephrine. Check your state's rules on undesignated (stock) epinephrine for camps.
- What about campers who rely on peanut butter for protein?
- Offer alternatives like sunflower seed butter, soy nut butter, beans, cheese, eggs and meat. Check that alternatives are made in nut-free facilities.
- How do we tell families?
- Put the policy on your website and in your registration packet, and mention it in the pre-camp email about packing and care packages. The model policy includes a short version for families.
- What if a camper brings nuts anyway?
- Treat it like any other packing-list item: hold it and return it at pickup, without making a scene. The model policy has suggested wording.
- Should we still have an emergency plan?
- Yes. A nut-free policy lowers risk but doesn't replace an emergency plan. Every camper with a known allergy needs an emergency action plan from their doctor, with epinephrine on hand.
Tell us about your camp
Have a question, want help adapting the policy, or already nut-free? Let us know. We'd love to thank you publicly.
Sources
- Gupta RS, et al. “The Public Health Impact of Parent-Reported Childhood Food Allergies in the United States.” Pediatrics, 2018.
- Perry TT, et al. “Distribution of peanut allergen in the environment.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2004.