My Friends Are Planning a Camping Trip

When spring has sprung and the cloudy days of winter are finally a distant memory, everyone is itching to get outside. Your friends talk about planning a weekend camping trip, so you envision yourself sleeping under the stars, making s’mores, and telling ghost stories around a fire.

Your parents, however, have a slightly different take on your weekend in the woods — they’re busy panicking about the fact that their baby is going to be in the middle of nowhere for a few days, away from immediate medical care, and, even scarier, out of their sight.

Although you probably don’t remember it, when you first started school, your parents were more than likely nervous wrecks. Any new situation in which you’ll be eating away from their direct supervision is likely to cause them some degree of worry. But, just like with school, as your parents become more familiar with the idea of your going camping, they are likely to relax and be comfortable with it. After all, their intention isn’t to ruin your fun; they only worry about you because they love you and don’t want to see you get hurt.

Talk to your parents openly and calmly and discuss what reservations they may have about you going camping for the weekend. Ask them what specifically makes them nervous about your going on a camping trip. Are they concerned about your having a reaction while out of reach of immediate medical care? Are they worried that you won’t have easy access to safe foods? Are they afraid that you will let your guard down about your allergies once you’re away from home? If you can’t discuss this calmly, consider writing them a letter. That way they can discuss your points with each other before sitting down with you. Once you are all on the same wavelength in terms of expectations and concerns for the trip, you will have a much easier time coming up with a plan that everyone is comfortable with.

While accessibility to medical care in an emergency is a big concern, there are some solutions other than skipping out on your weekend in the woods. Make sure to carry two epinephrine auto-injectors (such as EpiPen® or Twinject™) with you at all times, in addition to your usual dosage of Benadryl®, and, of course, wear your Medic Alert® bracelet. This way, in case you have a reaction, you should have enough epinephrine to last until you can get to an urgent care facility. Only hike with people who know about your allergy, and take a few minutes before you head out to confirm that they know what to do in case of an emergency. Let them know where the medication is packed and be sure someone knows how to use the EpiPen® or Twinject™. Being familiar with your camping or hiking area is also a good idea. While you don’t necessarily need to know every path and tree branch, it’s always smart to know where the closest hospital is located in relation to where you will be.

The good part about camping is that all campers have to pack their own foods, so it will be easy for you to make sure that you have plenty of safe foods available. Talk to your friends to find out if the plan is for everyone to packhis own meals for the weekend or if you will all be sharing group meals. If you plan to bring large group meals, offer to be in charge of planning and grocery shopping for those foods — this way you can easily make sure that they will be allergen-free. Either way, be sure to pack at least one more meal’s worth of food than you think you will need — it’s always better to have too much food than not enough.

The more responsibly you handle the planning aspect of your camping trip, the more likely it is that your parents are going  o be comfortable with your trip. By addressing their concerns and working with them to create a plan you are all happy with, you will show your parents that you are mature enough about your allergies to be able to handle them by yourself for a few days. Discussing your parents’ reservations openly and calmly is the most likely way to help them become comfortable with the idea of your braving the wilderness — thus, you will be able to enjoy a weekend under the stars with your friends, and your parents will be able to enjoy some peace of mind. Last, enjoy your commune with nature — and don’t forget the bug spray.