Testimonials

In July 2011, the inaugural Camp TAG was launched at Tall Pines Day Camp in Williamstown, New Jersey. Camp TAG has been held through the years in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, California, Ohio, and Tennessee. Created as a place for kids with food allergies to just be kids, the experience was made memorable not only by the fun activities but also by the fact that the kids felt safe and reassured in an environment free from their food allergies. Through the hard work of Camp TAG founder Eleanor Garrow, the camp staff, and many volunteers, we were thrilled that Camp TAG was a total success! However, don’t just take our word for it. Read what some of our families had to say about their Camp TAG experience.

“Camp TAG brings together kids that often feel left out and creates a community where they feel safe, supported, and that they belong. Camp TAG is the highlight of our summer!”
~ Molly, Camper, Ohio

“Camp TAG is really fun and makes people feel safe! We can rely on Eleanor and the counselors. It makes you feel like you can do anything, even with food allergies."
~ Ellie, Camper, Ohio

“Even though I do not have food allergies, it still felt like the safest environment for all. My favorite part was making the skits and new friends.”
~ Emily, Camper, Ohio 

“Camp TAG is special for our family. Somehow five days fills our cup to last the whole year. It is more than archery and crafts - plenty of camps can give kids those experiences. What makes Camp TAG special for our kids is being around peers who accommodate the same obstacles daily. At camp, they practice advocating together; they even include non-allergic siblings. The real-world practice the kids get while role-playing at Camp TAG carries them through the school year. It echoes in their head at the lunch table and gives them confidence during the happy birthday song at the party. There is strength in the games they play at Camp TAG.

For parents it is special because it is the one thing that is easy. When each day is planned and nothing is spontaneous, staying prepared for all scenarios with food allergies is exhausting. Camp TAG week is the safest week of my family’s year. My kids are surrounded by people who are trained to spot anaphylaxis, who are confident with epinephrine autoinjectors, and truly care for campers and teen counselors like they are worthy and unique. My best testimonial is this: the first thing I do when I meet another allergy family is tell them about Camp TAG. To back me up, there is a good chance my kids will sing the Camp TAG song, just to show how much they love it. We have told families in the allergist waiting room, at the playground, and at school open house. Camp TAG is just that special.”
~ Amanda, Justin, Helen, and Mary, Ohio

“We are so grateful for Camp TAG. It overwhelms my heart for our daughter to be able to participate in a summer camp program, to run around and play games and hang out with other kids who understand her concerns, and to have a week of freedom from anxiety about food allergies. What Eleanor, the FAACT team, and teen counselors do for these kids and for their families is just so amazing—the group dinner, the pajama party movie night for the kids, the social for the parents, the education component for the caregivers - Camp TAG is more than a summer camp and more than just a week! It’s a community of the best kind: supportive, caring, and such an incredible gift.”
~ Leslie, Alabama

“My son has participated in Camp TAG as a teen counselor for two years, and he has so much fun. He is already looking forward to next year! I am so grateful for the opportunity Camp TAG provides for my son to practice leadership, empathy, and to gain a stronger understanding of his own personal health and safety needs all while just having fun outdoors. While the goal of Camp TAG is for kids to have fun, I also feel so assured that safe protocols are in place and the kids can feel safe while just being kids. Camp TAG has welcomed him into a community of kids across the country who face typical growing pains as well as the additional challenge of navigating living with food allergies. It feels close because of the shared experience and kindness of these families involved. Participating in Camp TAG, I feel supported in raising a healthy teen who will know well how to care for himself and for others.”
~ Susan, Texas

“This was our family’s first experience attending Camp TAG, and it was beyond a dream come true for our family! My husband and I had always wanted our daughters to be able to have a real summer camp experience, however they never could before due to our eldest daughter’s many, life-threatening food allergies. That was until we discovered Camp TAG!

The camp was like the kind you see in a movie and can only dream of attending. The FAACT team was very friendly, and the camp was jam packed with countless fun, engaging, and educational activities. It’s unbelievable how many things our daughters were able to participate in, in just one week of camp.

Truthfully, we also had never left our girls anywhere aside from with their Grandparents or at school, until Camp TAG, and we felt completely at ease doing so.

This was hands down, THE BEST experience that we could have ever provided our daughters with! We can’t recommend Camp TAG enough!”
~ Monique, Massachusetts

“Camp TAG was an incredible experience for my daughter! She has had 5 anaphylactic reactions in her life and going to camp never seemed like a possibility. She had the time of her life and said she felt like “a normal kid”. She loved having fun and hanging out with kids like her, and I loved meeting other families who understood what we go through every day. It was truly a life-changing experience for both of us! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.”
~ Rose, California

“My daughter with multiple food allergies has attended Camp TAG for the past two years. It's one of the only places she feels truly safe. Camp TAG is an incredibly special place and means the world to our family!”
~ Shannon, North Carolina

“…it was AMAZING!!!! It was the most inspiring, empowering experience we’ve ever been able to provide [our daughter] with. It was the first and probably the only program we have ever sent [our daughter] to that we didn’t have to even worry about the food situation, and for [her] younger brother, it was a good opportunity to teach food allergy awareness and safety.”
~ Julie, New Jersey

“I can’t thank Eleanor Garrow-Holding enough for Camp TAG. It was a wonderful experience for my 4-year-old son to be educated by people (adults and children) other than myself, husband, and family on food allergies.” ~ Kerri, Maryland

“I have to say that Camp TAG is not only great for the kids, but for us parents as well. It means so much to me to meet other parents of food allergy kids who know what life is like trying to keep our kids safe! Thank you so much for all your hard work!! This is the best week ever!”
~ Lisa, New Jersey

“My son had so much fun today and cannot wait to go back tomorrow. Thank you to Eleanor Garrow-Holding and all the volunteers at Camp TAG for making my son’s dream of going to camp come true!!”
~ Amanda, South Carolina

“Camp TAG is so amazing in so many ways. It’s already made a huge difference in my son’s life. We are excited for the rest of the week …I loved how the kids at my table were all comparing their allergy bracelets and loving them like accessories and not having to feel different – instead a new sense of belonging!”
~ Kim, New Jersey

“I just wanted to let you know that you did an OUTSTANDING job putting this together and that ALL the children left with a new feeling of comfort with both their feelings about their allergies and meeting new children who have the same conditions as they do.”
~Frank, New York