Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 19:20     Subject: Ticks @ Outdoor Camps?
Anonymous wrote:What I do as a parent of kids that attend Half Blood and one who has had Lyme disease is spray their sneakers with permethrin spray (recoat every 2 weeks) and coat them in bug spray every morning. They also know they have to shower every night. It's not fail-proof for sure but the tradeoff is worth it for us. One thing I learned after our bout with Lyme is that if you find a tick that's been on for more than 24 hours, you can take a single dose of doxycycline as a preventative. I will warn you that in my experience around here though doctors aren't very knowledgeable about Lyme (and we/my kid never found the tick that gave him Lyme).

Still, worth it all to be outside!



Thank you for this! I reached out to the camp but I haven't heard back.

How has the camp been handling these bad rainstorms? My oldest kid did Half Blood and the kids just huddled under a pavillion until we picked them up
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 15:22     Subject: Ticks @ Outdoor Camps?
Not this camp, but both my kids have gotten Lyme from ticks during other outdoor camps. Use DEET bug spray, check for ticks every night, and if you see any symptoms go to the pediatrician ASAP. For both my kids, I never saw the bulls eye rash. Instead, they had otherwise unexplained joint pain and swelling. A month of antibiotics cleared it up.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 15:19     Subject: Ticks @ Outdoor Camps?
I have heard that putting clothes in a hot dryer right after taking them off is another smart move (besides tick checks and showering).
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 15:18     Subject: Ticks @ Outdoor Camps?
Anonymous wrote:Oh, I never check ticks on my kid. Since he is always moving and get in water (lake or pool), I assume no bugs can stay on his skins outdoor.


No, they attach. Often riding on your clothes or hair for hours before that.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 14:38     Subject: Ticks @ Outdoor Camps?
What I do as a parent of kids that attend Half Blood and one who has had Lyme disease is spray their sneakers with permethrin spray (recoat every 2 weeks) and coat them in bug spray every morning. They also know they have to shower every night. It's not fail-proof for sure but the tradeoff is worth it for us. One thing I learned after our bout with Lyme is that if you find a tick that's been on for more than 24 hours, you can take a single dose of doxycycline as a preventative. I will warn you that in my experience around here though doctors aren't very knowledgeable about Lyme (and we/my kid never found the tick that gave him Lyme).

Still, worth it all to be outside!

Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 08:59     Subject: Ticks @ Outdoor Camps?
Oh, I never check ticks on my kid. Since he is always moving and get in water (lake or pool), I assume no bugs can stay on his skins outdoor.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 07:54     Subject: Ticks @ Outdoor Camps?
We have had fewer ticks this year but haven’t decreased precautions (daily tick check).
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 07:53     Subject: Re:Ticks @ Outdoor Camps?
You’re*
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 07:52     Subject: Re:Ticks @ Outdoor Camps?
Not at this camp but my kids attend a lot of outdoor camps (at a day camp in New England that we drive up to and stay up here for right now) and we haven’t found any this year. Ticks freak me out too but it always helps to remind myself that if you find it within 24 hours the risk is very low. So really all you need to do is do a check each night, you will then find it within the time frame and worry will be greatly reduced. And most likely you won’t find anything! So try your best to put it out of your head and know you have a system to do a check each night and boom your good - kid gets to have fun be outdoors and also be safe
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 07:47     Subject: Ticks @ Outdoor Camps?
Hello! Our kids are signed up for Camp Half Blood which they've attended and loved but I'm now worried about the increasing number of ticks at Rock Creek Park. Can any parents whose kids have already attended camp shared how the tick situation has been going for your kids so far?

I normally wear long pants and long shirts, but it's hard to imagine doing that in this weather...