Medication At Camp

Managing, organizing and administering medications correctly and safely is a priority for North Star Camp’s Health Center staff and requires clear communication and a great deal of time and planning.

To accomplish the goals of administering all individual medications at camp safely and effectively, North Star partners with a pharmacy called CampMeds. Specialized packaging of all daily pill medications allows your camper to focus on the fun parts of camp while the Health Center staff focus on their medication details.

North Star only requires camp families to use the CampMeds pharmacy for pill medications that are taken daily. All other medications (any that are not daily pills) can be ordered through CampMeds but they do not have to be.

Example Medications To Order With CampMeds

A list of medication types that camp families need to order through CampMeds.

North Star Camp families must place an additional order with this pharmacy for any camper who will take daily pill medication while their camper is in session. CampMeds will work with North Star for all types of medications such as: prescription and non-prescription medications (OTC), vitamins, and supplements.

Daily pill medications that are sent to camp not through CampMeds (and not authorized for a special exception) have a risk of not being administered according to the requested daily schedule. Families who send medications directly to camp, that should have gone through CampMeds, will be subject to a medication packaging fee directly billed by North Star.

A photo example of how the medication through CampMeds is packaged for North Star Camp.

Key Information

All medications, both those ordered through CampMeds and those sent directly to camp, will be stored and secured in the Health Center.
Each camper must have an updated and full list of their medications kept on file in their Health History medical form. This medication list should include all medications that a camper will have at camp with them (i.e. daily medications, emergency medications and as needed medications.) All medications that will be taken daily in pill form, must be submitted with a separate order and registration with CampMeds. Medications that are ordered through CampMeds must match identically with how they are listed in a camper’s Health History form.
CampMeds will individually package all medications with details such as name, dosage, date, and time. Medications that are ordered through CampMeds will be delivered directly to a camper during mealtime or bedtime. This packaging ensures precise administration for each camper. Permitted medications that are sent to camp not through CampMeds will be administered at the Health Center building.

Medication Delivery to Camp

The medications ordered through CampMeds will be shipped to the camp in advance of the session beginning. The rest of the medications for your camper that need to be sent to camp, can be sent with your camper as they travel on the camp bus or the fly to the Minneapolis airport.

Please read these tips before placing an order with CampMeds:

Generic medications will be provided unless “Do Not Substitute” is specified by the physician on the prescription.
Specify the time of day for medication administration (breakfast, lunch, dinner, or bedtime). If the prescription or ordering instructions list “once a day,” the default will be breakfast.
Liquid medications, gummies, chewable and dissolvable tablets do not store well at camp. Please order the swallowable pill form of medication for your camper if possible. In the event that a pill is not available, other forms of medication will be permitted.
We highly recommend no changes to your child’s routine prescription medication or dosage prior to their camp stay.
- North Star encourages that if your camper takes any medications to support a learning, medical or mental health diagnosis while they are at home or at school, that they continue to take the same medications while they are at camp. Discontinuing regular medications or going on a “medication vacation” while a child is at camp often puts campers at a significant disadvantage.

Placing a CampMeds Order

To place an order for your camper’s medications through CampMeds, please go to www.campmeds.com.

Registration Fees for CampMeds: A one-time registration fee for the entire summer will immediately be charged to your credit card upon registration for CampMeds.

**Fees are per camper, not Rx, and do not include the cost of medicine.**

Fee per camper is $65 (before March 1), $85 (March 1 – May 15), or $105 (and may incur a late fee if placed May 16 or later).

Deadlines: All information (including prescriptions from the doctor’s office) for your camper needs to be received 30 days before your camper’s start date. Anything not completed by the deadline will be charged a $100 late fee. The cut-off date for receiving information is 15 days before your camper’s start date, after which services cannot be provided.

Prescription Coverage: The CampMeds pharmacy partner, Aurora Long Term Care, accepts most insurance plans except state Medicaid programs. You are responsible for all co-payments, deductibles, and any medications not covered by insurance. For inquiries regarding utilizing your insurance coverage with Aurora Long Term Care Pharmacy, kindly contact our billing department via email.

Medication Charges: After processing the provided insurance information, co-pays, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, and any uncovered medication will be billed to the camper account through our pharmacy partner. The charges will be reflected on your credit card statement from Aurora Long Term Care Pharmacy. Medication expenses are only incurred upon your camper’s arrival at camp.

For camp related questions about medications before camp begins, please reach out to Robyn Boehm, North Star Camp Assistant Director at [email protected].

CampMeds contact information:

Website: www.campmeds.com Email: [email protected]

Phone: 954-577-0025 Fax: 1-833-530-1915

A North Star Camp For Boys nurse smiles as she provides care in the health center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Overview and Registration

How Do I Contact CampMeds?

The best way to get in contact with CampMeds is to email [email protected]. If your camper is already registered, please include the assigned Camper ID in your email.
Do I Need To Re-Register My Camper If They Were Registered During A Previous Summer?

Yes, re-registration is required for your camper each summer. Login with your email address and select ‘add camper’ to complete the re-registration process.

North Star has used CampMeds in the past, so if you have placed an order for your camper before but don’t remember your login information, click on the link on the registration page to retrieve this login information by email. If you have a new email address, you can just create a new login.
Does CampMeds package any medication?

Yes, CampMeds will order and package most medications except for specific exceptions such as insulin, growth hormone injections, injectables, birth control, Accutane, and Auvi-Qs. North Star Camp is requiring that families use CampMeds for daily pill medications (i.e. medications that will be taken each day while a camper is at camp). If you would like to order your additional medications (i.e. medications that a camper may need at camp but are not taken daily), you may order them as well but it is not a camp requirement to do so.
What medications am I required to order with CampMeds? Does this include non-prescription medications like daily allergy medications or vitamins?

North Star Camp families are asked to order all daily pill medications through CampMeds. This includes all daily medications that are prescription and non-prescription.

For example, if your child takes a behavioral medication to manage ADHD, a daily allergy medication, a daily vitamin and a nightly dose of melatonin, all of those medications must be ordered and confirmed with CampMeds.

Medications do not need to be ordered directly through CampMeds if they are only taken or dispersed “as needed” or PRN.
After I register my camper and place their medication order, how should I have my physician send the prescription to CampMeds?

After online registration with CampMeds is processed, physicians can electronically send prescriptions to Aurora Long Term Care Pharmacy located in Mattawan, Michigan, using the e-prescribing instructions received post-registration. Upon completing registration, the parent will receive an email with a copy of the medication list they entered into the website as well as a page with the pharmacy information that can be handed to their provider.

If you lose this email, you can log into the website and there is a link to print a new document with the pharmacy information.

For controlled substances, if a prescriber is writing out the prescriptions by hand and not sending electronically, the parent will need to mail the prescription to: CampMeds, PO Box 489, Mattawan, MI 49071.
What If My Camper Is Placed On A Prescription Or Non-Prescription Daily Medication After The Deadline To Register And Submit Prescriptions Has Passed?