Winter encampments

[Walkman]

We have a new cadet with a grass allergy. The cadet is OK for short durations outside, but in talking with the parents a whole week at MIWG encampment would be too much.

I'm looking for recommendations for winter encampments in more Northern areas where if there isn't snow, at least the foliage is dormant. This cadet is very active in winter sports, as it the time of the year when the allergy isn't an issue.

[Huey Driver]

We have a new cadet with a grass allergy. The cadet is OK for short durations outside, but in talking with the parents a whole week at MIWG encampment would be too much.

I'm looking for recommendations for winter encampments in more Northern areas where if there isn't snow, at least the foliage is dormant. This cadet is very active in winter sports, as it the time of the year when the allergy isn't an issue.

Winter? Snow? Lack of foliage? IMHO, sometimes the bitter cold makes it just as hard to breathe as any allergy, but it sounds like the New Hampshire Wing Winter Cadet Leadership Academy is the encampment you are looking for. Hopefully the website will be updated in the next few weeks.

[Airplane girl]

I went to the NH wing winter encampment last year, and from what I remember it got pretty cold towards the end of the week so no one was spending a lot of time outside. On the first few days when it was slightly warmer we did stuff like PT outside on grass, so I don't know if that would be a problem. It didn't snow when I was there, but that doesn't mean there won't be snow if you go. There was a pretty serious snowstorm right after encampment was over as people were going home.

Also, if for some reason the cadet can't go to New Hampshire, there's also a winter encampment in Oregon.

[TheSkyHornet]

As someone who has his own afflictions with allergies, I find that I am less susceptible to problems when I travel far outside of local area (i.e., Washington, D.C., Florida, Nevada, Arizona...I live in Ohio).

I don't think shooting for winter as a way to freeze over all of the pollen is necessarily a good solution. It might be making things far worse and miserable, especially for someone who hasn't experienced encampment to begin with.

[Capt Thompson]

I wonder if a reasonable accomodation might be made for the Cadet at MIWG Encampment next year? Maybe he/she could be excused from mail call and PT and stay indoors during those times. Other than that as I remember drill was pretty much in a parking lot and classes were all indoors.

It seems an accomodation might be a more reasonable solution than having the Cadet drive or fly several hours and spend hundreds on travel to find a Winter Encampment. Is this a new Cadet that has some time to knock out an Encampment, or are they going for Mitchell and need to get one for promotion?

[TheSkyHornet]

I wonder if a reasonable accomodation might be made for the Cadet at MIWG Encampment next year? Maybe he/she could be excused from mail call and PT and stay indoors during those times. Other than that as I remember drill was pretty much in a parking lot and classes were all indoors.

It seems an accomodation might be a more reasonable solution than having the Cadet drive or fly several hours and spend hundreds on travel to find a Winter Encampment. Is this a new Cadet that has some time to knock out an Encampment, or are they going for Mitchell and need to get one for promotion?

Allergy chit 

[Capt Thompson]

What would we do if a Cadet was handicapped? Make a reasonable accomodation and give them something else to do while the others are taking part in the activity they are unable to, and include them in everything else. I see no difference here, excuse him from PT, Mail Call and if needed Drill, and give him an alternate activity while his Squadron is doing those activities.

[PHall]

So there is no medication this cadet can take to lessen their bodies reaction to the pollen?

[SarDragon]

Zyrtec works for me; Claritin works for My Sweetie. Both are OTC. I'm not sure what the minimum age is on them.

[Slim]

We have a new cadet with a grass allergy. The cadet is OK for short durations outside, but in talking with the parents a whole week at MIWG encampment would be too much.

How short is short?  Morning PT is usually about 20-25 minutes a day, and I believe they actually do it on the basketball courts as opposed to the grass.  Evening sports and mail call are in the evening, and usually last about an hour and a half total.  Classes are mostly indoors, drill is on pavement, though some formations and waiting for meals is sometimes on grass.  Accommodations could probably be made, but remember that all of that time counts as contact hours under the encampment curriculum, and missing 20% of those hours/completing less than 80% of encampment is an automatic no-go. It's definitely worth it to start making contact with next year's encampment commander soon to start discussing what could be worked out.  I can hook you up with his email address (via PM) if you want.

I'm looking for recommendations for winter encampments in more Northern areas where if there isn't snow, at least the foliage is dormant. This cadet is very active in winter sports, as it the time of the year when the allergy isn't an issue.

For where you are, your best bet might be the spring encampment in Illinois.  It's held at NTC Great Lakes over two weekends, usually around April.  Upside, it's kinda close to you over there.  Downside is that it's four round trips to Chicago.  There's other options out there as well.  SER, TXWG, and IIRC KSWG hold encampments in the week between Christmas and New Year.  I know we've sent a contingent from the east side down to TX the last couple of years.  RIWG used to hold a spring encampment right around Easter, week before or after.

Another option is to wait a year or two (depending on how old the cadet is) to see if they grow out of it.  It's not uncommon for kids to build up a resistance to childhood allergens as they age.  I was allergic to pet hair and dander until I was about 13 or 14, haven't had a problem since.  Or, get him on a medication like Zyrtec, Claritan, or Allegra.

[Walkman]

Thanks for the replies.

The cadet is brand new and 12, so we have a bit of time to work this out, I just wanted to get starting thinking through it now so it doesn't end up being an issue later.

The parents say that the cadet is good for snow and cold/winter activities. Apparently when the snow hits in MIWG is when the cadets is the most active.

Not having been to MIWG encampment and not knowing this cadet very well, maybe the first thing is to connect with the encampment CC and start there, then move on if it looks like it won't work. I've heard about KSWG winter encampment.

I think that I'll want to get this moving quickly though. This cadet is very motivated, just a hair over 30 days from join date to Curry. Dad tells me this one is working on PT at home daily.

[JC004]

It might help to know what the cadet's doctor would recommend, as well as whether the cadet has ever traveled to a different climate. 

I have allergy- and exercise-induced asthma.  I had a nasty asthma attack at encampment WIWAC (running the mile...I was having an asthma attack, but I pushed myself to complete it, overdosed on the inhaler, made the whole situation worse, then ended up on oxygen for a while...but hey, I completed the mile).  Humid climates get to me, but when I was in dryer places, much different story. 

I can get congested basically for weeks.  I'll go to the mountains and it starts clearing up instantly like magic.  Last time, it was so bad, I had an awful cough and as I got deeper into the mountains and it started to drain, I had to collect a ton of tissues at gas stations.  The cough stopped completely while I was there and I could actually feel my sinuses finally draining out like some kind of river.      I had to keep the napkins with me for the first night for random drainage, then it was completely gone.  Place matters.

Now if you have RICH parents, you could always do a test....send the cadet to a bunch of places across the country, do a lap around the airport, then report back before getting on the return plane.      If not, let the doctor (preferably an allergy specialist) know there could be season/geographic options and see what he/she says.

[Slim]

As an aside...

Not having been to MIWG encampment

You really ought to think about changing that.