The Complete Safety Guide for Camp WeHaKee Parents

Sending your daughter off to overnight camp means putting your trust in a place you might’ve never seen in person. We know that can feel scary, and we believe trust isn't just given; it has to be earned. At WeHaKee, we’ve spent more than 100 years on Hunter Lake building the systems and the team needed to keep our campers safe. Here's a look at how we approach safety from the moment your daughter arrives until the moment she heads back home.

The Band Aid: On-Site Medical Care All Summer

Our on-site Health Center is affectionately known as the Band Aid. It’s staffed all summer by licensed Registered Nurses who are ready for everything from small blisters to more significant illnesses. Unlike a typical office, it has private bedrooms where girls can truly rest and recover in a quiet space.

Every member of our staff is trained in camp-specific emergency procedures before the first bus even pulls in. We don't just teach them a checklist of steps; we teach them how to think on their feet and assess each unique situation. Whether it's a scraped knee or something more complex, our team is prepared to respond quickly and calmly.

If your daughter ever needs care beyond what we can provide at the Band Aid, she can have a virtual urgent care appointment or be taken to nearby medical facilities in Hayward or Ladysmith. Both are within 30 to 45 minutes of camp, and local emergency units serve our area directly. We’ll always call you immediately for anything beyond routine care so you’re never left wondering.

Staff Ratios That Make a Difference

At WeHaKee, our overall camper-to-staff ratio is 2:1, and in our cabins, it’s 4:1. Each cabin of eight girls has two counselors who sleep in an adjoining room every night. Plus, we always have at least two staff members present for every activity.

These ratios are so important because they let our counselors really get to know every girl as an individual. It’s the reason a counselor will notice if a girl seems a bit quiet at dinner or needs a little extra encouragement after a tough morning. This kind of personal attention helps us catch potential problems early, often before they ever require a call home.

ACA Accreditation: A National Standard

We’re proud to be fully accredited by the American Camp Association. Every year, WeHaKee meets or exceeds nearly 300 standards covering everything from health and wellness to food service and program design. This isn't an automatic title; we have to submit documentation and manage an on-site visit to show we’re in full compliance. In fact, fewer than 20% of camps in the U.S. hold this accreditation.

When you see that ACA seal, it means an independent organization has verified that our safety systems meet a rigorous national standard. It shows we have the right plans in place to handle whatever might come up.

Severe Weather Protocols

We take the Northwoods weather seriously. When storms are in the forecast, our Director Team monitors weather updates day and night, and we keep weather radios throughout camp.

Most of the time, a little rain doesn't stop the fun, but we always pause activities if there’s lightning nearby. Every activity has a backup plan for stormy days so we can bring the fun indoors without missing a beat. We even have a below-ground storm shelter that can fit the whole camp community at once, and it’s a pretty great spot for an impromptu dance party while we wait for the clouds to clear!

Medications and Health Screening

To keep things organized and safe, all medications—including prescriptions, vitamins, and over-the-counter meds—are turned in to the Band Aid on arrival day. Our nurse stores them securely and dispenses them exactly as directed.

When your daughter visits the nurses on that first day, they’ll also do a quick health screening to check for any symptoms or signs of lice. This helps us start the session with a healthy community. We also ask families to submit a full Health History form ahead of time so our nurses already know your daughter’s needs before she steps through the door.

Communicable Disease and Immunization

We recommend that all campers are vaccinated according to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ schedule. If we ever suspect a communicable illness, we have a plan to isolate the affected camper in the Health Center, work with local health authorities, and contact families right away. This plan helps ensure that if a bug does make it to camp, it doesn't spread through the rest of the group.

Emotional Safety and Homesickness

Safety isn't just about physical health; emotional well-being is just as vital. We distinguish between "homesadness," which is that normal adjustment period most girls feel for a day or two, and true homesickness, which is quite rare. Our counselors are trained to monitor both and will reach out to you directly if your daughter is struggling more than usual. We love working with parents to build a support plan that helps each girl succeed.

100 Years of Experience

Since 1923, we’ve learned what works. A century of summers has taught us which protocols matter most and how to help a girl go home feeling more capable and more like herself.

Safety at WeHaKee is a culture built over generations. It’s led today by our director, Stacie, who has 20 years of experience and is a mom herself. She knows exactly what it feels like to trust a place with someone as irreplaceable as your daughter.

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More on Health and Safety at WeHaKee

If you want to go deeper on any of these topics, we've put together dedicated resources for each:

• Health and Safety Basics at Camp WeHaKee, the Band Aid, our nurse, emergency procedures, and what happens if your daughter gets sick
• How Medications Work at Camp WeHaKee, how all medications are managed, dispensed, and stored during the session
• Camp WeHaKee's Communicable Disease Policy, screening, isolation protocols, and how we prevent illness from spreading
• Camp WeHaKee's Immunization Requirements, what vaccinations are recommended
• Homesickness and Homesadness: How WeHaKee Handles Both, the difference between the two, and exactly what we do when a camper is struggling

Questions about any of this before enrolling? Email info@wehakeecampforgirls.com or call 608-787-8304. We'd rather answer every question now than have you wonder about it later.