June 2025
In our conversation about health at camp, pediatrician Michael Brown, MD, said sun protection is at the top of his list when preparing kids for a safe and fun time outdoors.
“For my own kids, the biggest preventable thing we worry about is sunburn—making sure that they have enough sunblock and making sure they’re putting it on,” he says. Case in point, he recalls when his son got a terrible sunburn in the first few days of camp and spent the rest of the week sitting under a tree while his buddies frolicked in the pool.
I remember the record-scratch moment when I read my first camp policy declaring that counselors wouldn’t be applying kids’ sunscreen and the kids were expected to do it themselves. We had gotten used to the more hands-on care at preschool, and I had no idea how my five-year-old was going to take on that level of responsibility.
Somehow, he did. But the sunscreen struggle is real (even for many adults!), and keeping up with sun protection at camp can pose some special challenges.
Here are three tips for sun safety at camp:
1. Think outside the ‘screen.
Hats! Clothing! Shade! Minimizing the amount of skin that’s exposed to the sun makes it way easier to avoid a burn. Find clothing that your kid feels comfortable playing in that can also offer some sun protection. A rash guard or swim shirt can be especially helpful for water activities. And, it wouldn’t hurt to remind them that staying in the shade is a good idea when camp activities permit it.
2. Teach your kid to slather.
Establish an expectation that your child should wear sunscreen at all times during outdoor activities. Help them get comfortable applying it well before the first time they’ll have to do it on their own at camp. Practice at home so they know how much to apply and how to do it thoroughly.
There are lots of brands and types to choose from—lotions, sticks, sprays, and more. The American Academy of Pediatrics has some helpful guidance. Ultimately, the best sunscreen is the one they’ll use. If your child resists applying sunscreen at home, they aren’t likely to do it willingly at camp. Keep trying until you find a kind they’ll tolerate. Then, send them to camp with way more than you think they’ll need!
3. Talk about timing.
Talk through how they’ll reapply sunscreen throughout the day. You might not know each day’s schedule ahead of time, but you can offer strategies such as reapplying between each activity or at certain meal times, aiming for every 2 hours. Label their sunscreen with their name and make sure they have a way to keep it handy as they move through different camp activities. You can also talk with camp counselors to enlist their help with sunscreen reminders.
Find more information and tips at the Sun Safety information page from the American Academy of Pediatrics. And, after you’ve packed your kiddos off to camp with their hats and sunscreen, don’t forget to protect your own skin!