Health History Form
All attendees at Camp Davis should complete the Health History Form. This form allows our staff to provide adequate support to those enrolled in our program. All information is kept confidential and shared on a strictly need-to-know basis.
Physical and Mental Health Challenges and Fieldwork
Camp Davis courses can be physically and emotionally challenging. It is important that students are prepared for a rigorous field experience, as well as for an extended period away from familiar places and support systems. While enrolled at camp, students conduct field exercises, that require hiking on trails and at high elevations. Though the hikes are not typically over extremely steep or dangerous terrain, they typically require physical stamina. Accomplishing the objectives of these courses is difficult for those who are unable to cover the field project areas. Generally speaking, students in overall good or typical physical health are able to complete the course without excessive difficulty.
Students with challenges to their physical or mental/emotional health may have difficulty at camp, either in the physical requirements of fieldwork or with the mental and emotional strains of being far from home, with limited technology, in new settings, in an intensive course format, etc. We encourage prospective students to consider their specific needs with regard to support for their physical and mental wellbeing. These include medications, adaptive technologies, and access to providers and support systems.
We encourage students to consider the ways being outside their “comfort zone” may positively and negatively impact their wellbeing. While many students find that being at camp with limited time and internet to engage with extraneous noise, others find the inability to function as they would at home to be very challenging. Please consider these circumstances and where you function best. We strive to accommodate students’ needs and want to empower students to make the decision that’s best for them.
Health Insurance and Immunization
Health insurance and proof of immunization are required. For more about health insurance plans for students, click here.
Altitude and Altitude Sickness
Camp Davis is situated at 6,100 feet elevation, and many hikes take students to higher elevations. The reduced oxygen at high altitude may have adverse effects on pre-existing medical problems. Symptoms such as shortness of breath and rapid pulse may occur. Blood pressure may increase transiently and some may develop swelling in their feet and ankles.
Altitude sickness can range from mild headaches to incapacitating illness. Although it generally only occurs when one sleeps at altitude above 8,000 feet, camp visitors occasionally develop symptoms. Common symptoms are headaches, nausea, insomnia, fatigue, lack of appetite, and light-headedness. Generally, symptoms improve with rest and fluids in 24 to 48 hours. Instructors carry foods that are designed to decrease altitude sickness and aid those who experience a sudden onset of symptoms.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs more frequently at higher elevations than sea level because of very low relative humidity. Dehydration can sap energy, cause headaches and affect endurance. Classes take frequent water breaks, and we encourage participants to stay attuned to their individual needs. During field exercises it is recommended that students drink between two and three liters of water per day.
Sunburn
High altitude increases the risk of sunburn and snow blindness (sunburn of the eyes), because there is less atmosphere to filter out ultraviolet rays. A sunblock with > 25 SPF is important for all at Camp Davis, regardless of skin sensitivity or other factors.. Most participants wear wide-brimmed hats to help protect ears, exposed scalps and necks. Wearing UV-filtering sunglasses helps prevent sunburn to eyes.
Contact Lenses
Contact lenses can be troublesome when doing fieldwork because of the high dust levels and low humidity. Those who prefer to wear contact lenses should bring lots of lens solution and a back-up pair of glasses. The sun is very bright in the mountains, so bring a good pair of sunglasses as well. It is important to wear eye protection (glasses, goggles, sunglasses, etc.) in the field to protect your eyes when breaking rocks.
Allergic Reactions
Please bring any medicines or antidotes (e.g., Epi-pens) that you might require. Camp Davis can be dusty, and stinging insects such as hornets and wasps are present. Some may find it helpful to travel with a seasonal allergy medication.
Medical Treatment Facilities
Camp Davis does not have a nurse on duty. All GSIs and several staff members are trained in Basic Life Saving techniques, including basic first aid, patient stabilization and CPR. First Aid kits and supplies are available onsite at camp and in UM vehicles. The nearest hospital or urgent care facility is located in Jackson, Wyoming, approximately 20 miles away.
Mental Health
Emergency Mental Healthcare
For non-life-threatening mental health emergencies, particularly where the individual has a medical history known by Michigan Medicine, the crisis service at the Michigan Medicine Psychiatric Emergency Service can be contacted 24/7 at 734-936-5900 or 734-996-4747. If local Jackson Hole resources are preferred, Behavioral Health Services at St. John’s Health can be contacted at 307-203-7880 (M- F, 8 am – 4 pm MDT).
In case of a mental health emergency that requires an immediate local response, you can contact Jackson Hole Community Counseling 24/7 at 307-733-2046, although they recommend calling the Teton County Sheriff at 911 in any cases of imminent life-or-death situations.
Program staff are not clinicians. They may contact any or all of the above resources if they deem it necessary.
Non-Emergency Mental Healthcare
Non-emergency mental health support for students is available through CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services), who can be reached at 734-764-8312 or on their website.
ADA and Other Accommodations
Students who have disability accommodations through the UM SSD office are encouraged to speak with their instructional faculty prior to leaving for class to discuss their needs and ways they can be accommodated. Given the project-based nature of coursework at Camp Davis, some accommodations are harder to implement there than on campus in Ann Arbor. For instance, it is difficult for faculty to grant due date extensions for course assignments. On the other hand, faculty and program staff are interested in working with students to understand concerns and limitations and offer options that meet students’ needs.
Students who meet regularly with a provider (e.g., weekly teletherapy) may have difficulty working those appointments into the course plan. Students should contact the instructor as early as possible to discuss the course plan and determine what days may be feasible for virtual visits with their provider. These may include days off, “office days,” and other days when students are not in the field. Some flexibility from the provider is likely also needed.
Alternative Living Arrangements
Our goal is to provide a safe, inclusive and supportive experience for every student who attends Camp Davis. With that goal in mind, included in this section are additional options to support residential living experiences. Students with chronic or severe medical conditions can request accommodations to meet their individual housing needs. We will engage in an interactive process to determine reasonable accommodations. More information and a request form can be found on our Additional Living Accommodations page.