How do I Determine if I Need to Use McCarthy’s?

All campers need to fill out the McCarthy's Pharmacy Medication Request Form.

If your child takes a pharmaceutical medication, a vitamin, a supplement, a homeopathic treatment, or an over-the- counter medication on a regular basis, the parent/guardian needs to list all medications as instructed in the form. Have your provider(s) fill out new prescriptions for all (prescription and non-prescription) items listed in the form. McCarthy's Pharmacy then packages camper medications, vitamins and supplements in blister packs, labeled with the camper's name, birth date, dosing and prescription information to ensure safe administration at camp. 

If your child will not be taking any medications or supplements on a regular basis we still require you to complete the form. Should your child need a prescription during camp as a result on an illness or injury, we will be able to have it filled by McCarthy's promptly.   

What does “On a Regular Basis” Mean?

It could mean that your child takes something daily, multiple times a day, or frequently – like a few times a week. 

In addition to using McCarthy’s for these items, you will also need to enter the identical information into your Health History Form online. If the information you enter on the Health History Form does not exactly match the information you submit to McCarthy’s, we will be delayed in obtaining and administering your child’s medications.  

What if I Don’t Want to Use McCarthy’s?

Using our camp pharmacy is a requirement. You must apply for an exemption if you will not be using the camp pharmacy for medications. Please use the Camp Pharmacy Exemption Application to request permission not to use the pharmacy.

Exemptions include the following medications:

  • Controlled substances
  • Birth control pills
  • Emergency inhalers and allergy injection pens
  • Medications prescribed for an acute illness within 7 days of camp
  • Unexpected change of current prescription within 3 days of camp.

Please note that any other prescriptions or supplements your child takes in addition to the controlled substance/birth control/rescue medications described above, must be filled by our camp pharmacy. 

Any camper who arrives at camp with prescription medications, vitamins, supplements, homeopathic treatments, or over-the-counter medications, without prior approval will be charged a drop-off medication fee of up to $250 per medication. Note that we cannot administer anything to your child without a prescription or signed doctor's orders so you must bring that as well. 

Please understand how difficult and dangerous it is for our nurses to receive unexpected medications on drop-off day. An enormous amount of vetting, cross-referencing and safety-checking is required before we can administer anything, and unexpected medications inhibit our ability to maintain these strict safety standards.

McCarty's deadlines and fees

There is a McCarthy's Pharmacy Medication Request form in your forms portal in CampInTouch that is due May 5th.  McCarthy's will bill insurance but you will be responsible for a processing fee and any late fees. 

McCarthy’s, has their own deadlines and late fees that we cannot change so we recommend all pharmacy forms and prescriptions to be submitted by camp's deadline, May 5th.