Tick Safety for Summer Camps: How to Keep Kids Safe Outdoors

Olivia Abrams
2025-05-05T13:24:02-04:00

As parents prepare their children for camp, tick prevention for summer camps should be a top priority in ensuring their child is safe this summer. Summer camps are a tick hot spot as children spend more time outdoors and oftentimes take place in wooded areas. Here’s how to keep campers safe from ticks all summer long.

Why Ticks Are a Serious Risk at Summer Camps

Summer camps provide the perfect conditions for ticks to thrive and increase the likelihood of one latching onto kids who are hiking, playing in grassy fields, or camping in wooded areas. Because ticks often go unnoticed, children can bring them back to their tents, cabins, or even home after camp ends.

Common Tick Hotspots at Camp

From tents and cabins to the equipment children bring with them, such as sleeping bags and backpacks, ticks can hide in unexpected locations. Ticks may easily hide in playgrounds and open fields with their tall grass, wood chips, and sand, and they have even more opportunity to attach themselves on campers thanks to woodland pathways and dense foliage. Ticks can flourish in the moist, shady areas along the water's edge, so even damp places close to lakes and streams aren't completely safe. Ticks can hide in logs and near outdoor chairs, so picnic spots and firewood stacks are also dangerous. Here is where campers should keep an eye out for ticks:

Tents & Cabins – Ticks can cling to sleeping bags, backpacks, and gear.

Playgrounds & Fields – Tall grass, wood chips, and sand can harbor ticks.

Camp Trails & Woods – Dense vegetation is a prime tick habitat.

Lakes & Streams – Even damp areas near water can attract ticks.

Firewood & Picnic Areas – Ticks can attach to logs and other outdoor seating areas

How Campers Can Stay Tick-Free

Simple daily routines that ward off ticks are the first step in staying tick-free at camp. Every day, campers should thoroughly inspect for ticks, paying particular attention to concealed areas including the waist, behind the ears, and underarms. The proper attire also offers a powerful protection; light-colored clothing makes it easier to see ticks before they latch on, and long sleeves, slacks, and high socks form a barrier. Another crucial tool is a repellent; applying sprays containing DEET or picaridin to skin and clothing helps keep ticks away, while natural alternatives like lemon eucalyptus oil provide an alternative free of chemicals. Follow these steps so you may play, explore, and enjoy the outdoors worry-free:

Daily Tick Checks

Inspect the entire body. Specifically in hard to spot places such as the underarms, behind the ears, and around the waist

Remove any loose ticks before they attach

Use a mirror to check hard to see areas of your body

Protective Clothing

Wear long sleeves, pants, and high socks

Wear light colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot

Tuck your socks into your pants to create a barrier from ticks

Use Tick Repellent

Apply chemical tick repellents that have DEET or picaridin in them on your clothes and skin

Use natural tick repellents such as lemon eucalyptus oil

Treat clothing and gear with permethrin for additional protection

Why Every Camper Needs KiDS MiTT

To make tick prevention simpler and more efficient, every camper needs KiDS MiTT. Ticks can occasionally be missed by traditional tick checks, but KiDS MiTT makes sure that no tick is overlooked. After engaging in outdoor activities, campers may easily keep protected by using this easy-to-use, chemical-free mitt to rapidly remove any loose ticks. Additionally, it gives children the freedom to independently check for ticks, enabling them to take responsibility for their own safety. Tick inspections are made enjoyable and simple with KiDS MiTT, which lowers the chance of tick-borne diseases and keeps campers safe as they enjoy the great outdoors.

What Camps & Parents Can Do Together

Parents and camps may collaborate to protect children from ticks by taking easy, preventative steps. To ensure that every camper is safe, it is essential to train counselors and camp staff on how to properly inspect for and remove ticks. With a KiDS MiTT, parents can send their kids to camp with a simple, chemical-free instrument that allows them to independently check for and remove ticks. To keep staff and campers aware, camps can also include tick safety resources, like prevention and removal guidelines. By working together, parents and camps can lower the risk of tick-borne diseases and make the environment safer by:

Training Camp Staff & Counselors – Teach them how to properly check for and remove ticks.

Including Tick Checks in Daily Routines – Camps should schedule group tick checks after hikes and outdoor play.

Sending KiDS MiTT with Campers – Parents can provide their child with a KiDS MiTT to use daily.

Sharing Tick Safety Materials – Camps can distribute guides on tick prevention and removal.

Real Parents’ Stories: Why They Love KiDS MiTT for Outdoor Activities

Parents who have used KiDS MiTT rave about its ease of use and effectiveness:

“My son came home from camp tick-free thanks to KiDS MiTT! He loved how easy it was to use.” – Sarah M.

“I always worried about ticks at camp, but now I send my kids with KiDS MiTT, and they feel confident doing tick checks.” – Jason T.

Keep Campers Safe: Send KiDS MiTT to Camp!

Help your child stay safe and tick-free at camp.

Order KiDS MiTT today to include in your child’s camp bag!
Encourage camps to integrate KiDS MiTT into their safety routine for a tick-free summer