Accommodating Health Concerns

My participant has severe food allergies, and we are concerned about the menu and possible options for my participant. What are the accommodations? 

The kitchen does its best to provide alternative menu options for all participants who require them. We currently do not have a list of all of the alternative foods we are able to provide as, with every food provider, we are still experiencing supply chain issues and are not necessarily able to get consistent items.

On Day 1, the kitchen receives a list of participants with dietary restrictions and allergies. They then calculate what alternatives can be used and will prep them at each meal as needed. This is mostly for vegetarians, vegans, and students with less severe allergies.

In the dining hall, we have an "Alternative Food Table” with  signs at each item to identify the  alternative foods for that meal.

Though we are able to provide a few alternatives and the kitchen follows all Serve Safe practices, there is no guarantee there will not be possible cross-contamination.

Depending on how sensitive each participant is to their food allergies and/or restrictions and what combination of allergens are of concern, we always recommend parents provide their own food for their participants if they feel it is safest. Some allergy combinations are very difficult for the kitchen to order and provide for participants. (i.e., any allergy combinations of  wheat/gluten, eggs, dairy, and soy) We ask that parents provide prepared alternative food for their participants if they have two or more allergens listed.

All food provided from home must be prepped and labeled, with all items in a labeled container that will be kept in the kitchen walk-in fridge. Label items and containers with:

• participant name

• school name

• date of the meal (if providing "like-items" to menu)

• heating instructions 

The container of food for the week will be given to the kitchen on Day 1 by the participant's teacher. The kitchen will prepare the meals as instructed and the participant will be able to go to the kitchen window on their own to pick up their meal.

If you have further questions or require more information please feel free to email or call the numbers below:

• Kitchen #: (408) 573- 3062

• Health Office #: (408) 573-3063

• Health Tech Email: ww_healthaide@sccoe.org (Health Techs often help the kitchen with communications and information)

My child is bringing over-the-counter medication for an as needed/daily medication. Do I need to have a doctor’s signature?

• Yes. ALL medication, ointments, and supplements MUST be on a completed medication form. If an item is being used to treat a health issue, it qualifies as a medication even if it is over-the-counter (OTC) and needs to follow medication procedures lined out in the parent packet and on our website. Walden West Medication Form

The doctor signed off on my child carrying their own medication. Why do I need to complete the form and turn it in?

• All medications need to be checked in to make sure they are in working order, the correct medication matches the medication form, the medication is not expired, and the medication is in the correct container (i.e., no loose pills or medication stored in a container that does not have a factory label on it).

• Any emergency medications (EPI-PEN and rescue inhalers) will be available at all times either in the Health Office or on trail with the field instructor. If the participant wants to carry it they are welcome to but must have it on their person at ALL times.

• The only medications that can be “self carry” at Walden West are emergency medications  (EPI-PEN and rescue inhalers). Other medications must be kept in the Health Office for safety.

My child has to take medication every day and can often be forgetful. What is the process of medication and how will I know they are taking it regularly?

• We have lots of participants who have a hard time remembering to take medication daily and need reminders. This is why we have classroom teachers help at med times to remind the participants discreetly that they need to take a trip to the Health Hut (Walden West’s Health Office) or to see the health technicians for a check in. 

• Participants line up outside the Health Hut and wait to be called in. Participants are given supervised privacy to take medication with an open door and privacy curtain. The participant is supervised by the health technician or trained staff member who will be dispensing the medication, while teachers monitor the line and the participant's buddy waits outside.

My child is part of an Oral Immunization Treatment program (OIT). How do I go about handling their dosing plan and storage for the items needed?

• We have had many participants who have been on varying levels of OIT programs and we are happy to accommodate them while onsite. We ask that you treat the OIT as medication, as it is treating or maintaining a health/ medical need.

• Dosing items must be labeled clearly, and a medication form needs to be completed. 

• If your participant has special instruction before or after dosing (e.g., needs to be watched after dosing to make sure an immediate reaction does not occur, needs to have a full meal before dosing, needs to sit quietly for a period of time, ok to dose and go, etc.) please make sure those instructions are included in the paperwork turned in with the dosing items.

My child has contact lenses that they need to use every day/night. Does this count as a medication? What kind of accessibility will they have to complete this process?

• Standard Daily Contact Lenses: (alternative for daily eyeglass use) 

  • Participants are provided restrooms with mirrors and small shelving areas to assist in their independent use of their own contact lenses.

  • Contact lenses are not considered a medication. If there are non-saline-only eye drops, those will be considered medication and will need to have a medication form. Those medications must have a completed medication form for administration by our health team.

• Overnight Ortho - K Corrective Lenses: are not considered medication. 

  • Participants with commonly known Ortho- K Corrective lenses must be independent in using their lenses. Restrooms with mirrors and a small shelving area provided to assist in application and removal. If there are medicated eye drops that are separate from the use of the application and removal of the lenses, those medications must have a completed medication form for administration by our health team.

I have a diabetic child attending camp. What do I need to know about their care at camp?

• • RESIDENTIAL CAMP: (Outdoor School / Science Camp)

    • All diabetic participants must have a 1:1 aide while attending Walden West Residential programs. This requirement is for the safety and well-being of the participant and their individual needs. Because Walden West is considered extracurricular, the participating school district is responsible for finding a capable 1:1 aide for them.

      • 1:1 Diabetic Care Aide Expectations:

        • Available 24 hours while attending Walden West

        • Diabetic Management Plan (from school or health care provider) and maintenance record keeping tools

        • Knowledge of the participant and their diabetic management plan and the tools used by the individual participant. (Familiarity with the participant is highly recommended and will aid in the comfort of both parties).

        • The 1:1 aide needs to complete all necessary paperwork and get fingerprinted and cleared through the Santa Clara County Office of Education before they are able to attend as an aide for a student. (Please contact the Volunteer Recruiter for more information. This can take several days and even weeks to process.)

  • SUMMER CAMP: (Summer Day Programs - does not include Summer Residential Programs)

    • ALL diabetic participants for Summer Day Camps must complete a Diabetic Management Plan. This plan includes the participant's level of independence and information needed to assist in monitoring while onsite. The forms must be complete with pertinent medical information and the required parent's and doctor's signatures.

      • If your participant is not independent and cannot manage their own Diabetic Management Plan, the Walden West staff will work with the participant and their parent/guardian to figure out an onsite plan for the participant while at camp. Parent or family member onsite support is encouraged and may be necessary.

      • Diabetic Management Plan Forms

My student has or is recovering from an injury. Can they still participate?

Though we always advocate for participants to participate in our program to the capacity they are capable of, we also advocate for participants to know their limits and understand what participation in our programs involves. For this reason we recommend that you go through our website and watch the videos and slideshows that are linked. This gives a great visual representation of the physical demands in our program.

• If your participant is able to participate in 80% of the program including all various physical activities without assistance, Walden West requires a doctor's note with permission for them to participate.

• If your participant is unable to participate in 80% of the program, including all various physical activities without assistance, we suggest a 1:1 aide assist them or submit a request to be a Day Camper via their classroom teacher for their week of attendance (Link to Day Camper information/form)

• If your participant has a doctor's note restricting them from any physical activity, Walden West will ask you to follow the previous bullet point.

Participant Expectations Related to Health and Behavior for Walden West Outdoor School (Residential Camp):

One of the most encouraged expectations for participants attending Walden West Outdoor School is independence. We as a staff know there are varying degrees of maturity and independence. We appreciate the work parents and participants do to prepare for growth and independence at Walden West Outdoor School Residential Camp as a goal. Below you will find a section of our Walden West: Planning for Participants with Health Concerns or School Accommodations and a few examples of expectations with specific participant groups in mind.

• Participation Expectation: (Students and High School Volunteers)

  • Physical Movement - participants are expected to be able to physically participate in 80% of the program, including all various physical activities without assistive devices or an aide. Suppose a participant has an existing injury that excuses them from physical activity or asks for limitations. In that case, Walden West requires a doctor's note with permission for them to participate, stating they can physically participate in their week of camp with independence. If a participant cannot physically participate as stated above, please use the link above to follow  

  • Personal Care and Hygiene - participants are expected to be 100% independent with their personal care and hygiene practices. This includes but is not limited to toileting, teeth brushing, bathing in a shower with a swimsuit on in a “locker room” setting, dressing, eating meals, hand washing, putting in and removing one's own contact lenses, and personal grooming needs. 

  • Medications and Health Needs- participants need to be 100% independent when it comes to taking medications; this includes understanding the medication they take and what it is for, being able to independently take their medication when administered to them (i.e., swallow pills, use an inhaler, use nasal spray, etc.) Participants are expected to know and understand their own health concern(s) and what can happen if there is a reaction or a flare-up of a condition (i.e., food allergies, other dietary restrictions, allergic reactions, various skin conditions, specific health needs or diagnoses that are taken care of extensively at home or at school, etc.)

(For the best understanding of the major differences between school care and care considerations at Walden West, please use the chart below to help you understand those differences and expectations.)

I am a parent or 18+ volunteer. Do I need to follow the same medication procedures as the participants?

As a volunteer over the age of 18, it is not required for you to complete the medication form. 

However, if you are bringing medication to camp, we ask that you do not keep it in your cabin. We have a place in the Health Office for medication storage, or if you have your own vehicle, please use that. If it is an emergency medication such as an EPI-PEN or inhaler, you may hold on to that all week long. 

Lastly, we always ask to make sure the medications are in their correctly labeled containers for safety and emergency transport if ever necessary. (i.e., no loose pills or smaller unlabeled bottles).

My participant has severe food allergies, and we are concerned about the menu and possible options for my participant. What are the accommodations? 

The kitchen does its best to provide alternative menu options for all participants who require them. We currently do not have a list of all of the alternative foods we are able to provide as, with every food provider, we are still experiencing supply chain issues and are not necessarily able to get consistent items.

On Day 1, the kitchen receives a list of participants with dietary restrictions and allergies. They then calculate what alternatives can be used and will prep them at each meal as needed. This is mostly for vegetarians, vegans, and students with less severe allergies.

In the dining hall, we have an "Alternative Food Table” with  signs at each item to identify the  alternative foods for that meal.

Though we are able to provide a few alternatives and the kitchen follows all Serve Safe practices, there is no guarantee there will not be possible cross-contamination.

Depending on how sensitive each participant is to their food allergies and/or restrictions and what combination of allergens are of concern, we always recommend parents provide their own food for their participants if they feel it is safest. Some allergy combinations are very difficult for the kitchen to order and provide for participants. (i.e., any allergy combinations of  wheat/gluten, eggs, dairy, and soy) We ask that parents provide prepared alternative food for their participants if they have two or more allergens listed.

All food provided from home must be prepped and labeled, with all items in a labeled container that will be kept in the kitchen walk-in fridge. Label items and containers with:

• participant name

• school name

• date of the meal (if providing "like-items" to menu)

• heating instructions 

The container of food for the week will be given to the kitchen on Day 1 by the participant's teacher. The kitchen will prepare the meals as instructed and the participant will be able to go to the kitchen window on their own to pick up their meal.

If you have further questions or require more information please feel free to email or call the numbers below:

• Kitchen #: (408) 573- 3062

• Health Office #: (408) 573-3063

• Health Tech Email: ww_healthaide@sccoe.org (Health Techs often help the kitchen with communications and information)