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Join the Award Winning SUN AWARE Camp Certification Program

The SUN AWARE Sun Safety Certification Program

is developed by Melanoma Canada to help protect children and teens from skin cancer by supporting camp owners, directors and staff in implementing best practices in sun safety. The SUN AWARE Sun Safety Certification Program offers a free and easy-to-follow training program. The program has been endorsed by the Ontario Camps Association (OCA) and is a past winner of the Public Education Award presented by the Canadian Dermatology Association.

Program proudly developed by Melanoma Canada

- Sun Safety Is Impotant -

What Camp Owners & Directors Should Know

HARMFUL UV RAYS

When children and staff are outside and the Ultraviolet (UV) Index is 3 or higher, there is risk of harm to their unprotected skin and eyes.

PEAK HOURS

The UV Index regularly reaches 5 or higher between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (DST) from May to August, but rarely exceeds 10 in Canada.

SKIN CANCER RISK

A single blistering sunburn before the age of 20 increases the risk of developing melanoma later in life.

YOUTH AT RISK

Infants, young children, and people with fair skin that burns easily are especially vulnerable to UV exposure. Certain people with health conditions or who are on medications may also be particularly sensitive to UV radiation.

- Protect Your Campers -

Children are Particularly Vulnerable to Sunlight

During the early years of a child’s life, their skin is especially vulnerable to UV radiation. Even one or two blistering sunburns significantly increases a young person’s risk of developing skin cancer and melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer later in life.

Camps across Ontario, including owners, directors and their staff should develop and adhere to a Sun Safety Policy to help protect campers from excessive and unprotected sun exposure. Children and youth need special attention as they require additional assistance. By providing education on safe sun practices and messaging to parents, and providing constant reinforcement by counsellors and camp nurses, you can help prevent skin damage and skin cancer. Additionally, the youth are at a high risk because an individual’s lifetime sun exposure occurs by the age of 20, as children spend a majority of their time outdoors during their youth.

The SUN AWARE Sun Safety Certification program is a free and easy training program designed to support camp owners, directors and staff in implementing best practices in sun safety.

Camp Robin Hood continues to be supportive champions of sun safety and raising awareness of these important prevention messages amongst campers.
I wish I had sun safety information like this when I was young!
This is such an important program. With the nature of the families staying with us, we take sun safety very seriously and Melanoma Canada is one of our biggest supports in keeping our kids safe.!
Camp Robin Hood
Ottawa Senators Summer Hockey Camp
Ronald McDonald House

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