Summer Camps & Guardianship: Custody Forms for Traveling Kids

Summer camp guardianship paperwork can feel like the last thing on your packing list, yet it is the single step that prevents medical, legal, or airline emergencies from turning a child’s dream adventure into a frantic phone call home. As thousands of Florida families wave goodbye to vans bound for North Carolina mountains or airport gates headed to STEM space camps, July is the crunch point for securing summer camp guardianship documents that satisfy state law, satisfy airlines, and satisfy camp directors.

1. Florida Temporary Custody by Extended Family (Form 12.970)

If the child will spend more than a few weeks out of state under the care of an aunt, grandparent, or adult sibling, Florida’s Supreme-Court-approved Petition for Temporary Custody by Extended Family (Form 12.970 a) offers court-sanctioned authority to make all parental decisions, from doctor visits to school enrollment. A judge’s signature carries more weight than a simple notarized letter and can calm any camp director wary of liability.

Summer camp guardianship tips

• File in the circuit court of the child’s Florida county at least 30 days before departure.

• Both legal parents must sign unless their rights have been terminated.

• The order can last up to one year—perfect for kids who spend entire summers with relatives.

2. Parental Travel Consent Letter

Even when no court order is needed, airlines and border agents look for a notarized Child Travel Consent outlining travel dates, flight numbers, destination, and the name of the temporary caregiver. Use a template that meets U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidelines and add the clause: “This consent remains valid through July 31 2025 unless revoked in writing.”

Because some carriers still reject digital signatures, print two originals and keep PDFs in a secure cloud folder. Redundancy is the backbone of bulletproof summer camp guardianship logistics.

3. Medical Consent Under Florida Statute 743.0645

Florida’s Medical Consent for Minors statute lists who may authorize care when parents cannot be reached—starting with a power-of-attorney holder and cascading down to grandparents, adult siblings, and stepparents. Camps routinely insist on a signed “Authorization for Treatment of a Minor” quoting §743.0645 so their infirmary—or a local ER—can act fast.

Summer camp guardianship must-do: Attach copies of both sides of the child’s insurance card plus a short allergy/medication list to the consent form. In an emergency, staff will have everything in one sleeve.

4. Airline Unaccompanied-Minor Form

If your 9- to 14-year-old is flying alone, every U.S. carrier requires its own Unaccompanied Minor Service form (and fee). Details vary (Southwest uses carbon copies; Delta issues QR codes), but all ask for drop-off and pick-up contacts and often refuse handwriting changes at the gate.

Summer camp guardianship checklist

1. Pre-fill the PDF in block capitals.

2. Print a spare copy in case the first gets coffee-stained.

3. Confirm the receiving adult travels with the ID shown on the form.

5. Camp-Specific Powers of Attorney & Health Forms

Most accredited camps run in-house clinics and want their own limited power of attorney granting medical decision-making for routine issues like sutures or X-rays. These forms often expire after one session, so reuse last year’s packet only after confirming it shows the 2025 revision date. Camps on federal land (e.g., inside a national forest) may ask for additional liability waivers—include them in your summer camp guardianship folder even if they duplicate state forms.

6. Emergency Contact & Pickup Password Sheet

Build a laminated cheat sheet that lists:

Field	Detail (example)
Child’s name & DOB	Jamie Taylor • 05/14/2013
Camp address & 24-hr phone	Pine Ridge Camp, Blue Ridge, NC • (828) 555-1212
Pickup password	Firecracker 47
Backup adults & cells	Aunt Sara (407-555-0198), Grandpa Lee (352-555-7711)

Airline staff, bus drivers, and camp nurses love this one-pager, and kids feel empowered knowing the “password” that proves a safe hand-off—another layer in reliable summer camp guardianship planning.

Special Situations for Divorced or Blended Families

Florida parenting plans usually contain a travel clause. If yours is silent or demands written consent, draft that consent now. Judges frown on last-minute injunctions to block a trip when the other parent had weeks to object. Update the plan to recognize recurring summer camp guardianship routines—especially if one parent lives abroad or the child uses a foreign passport.

Fast Answers for Packing-Night Panic

Does a notarized letter replace Form 12.970?Sometimes, but camps hosting children for six weeks or longer prefer the court order.

What if my teen turns 18 mid-session?Guardianship ends at 18, but airline and camp forms still need emergency contacts—update dates accordingly.

Are e-signatures okay?Many airlines still require wet ink for unaccompanied minors; Florida courts accept e-filed petitions but demand notarized originals for custody orders.

These quick fixes uphold the integrity of your summer camp guardianship file.

Mid-July Action Plan

Date	Task	Responsible
July 1	File Form 12.970 (if camp > 30 days)	Parent / attorney
July 2	Notarize Child Travel Consent	Both parents
July 5	Pre-pay airline unaccompanied-minor fee	Traveling parent
July 6	Upload PDFs to cloud & share with camp	Tech-savvy teen
July 8	Pack laminated emergency sheet	Grandparent
July 9	Verify IDs match airline form	Pickup adult

Stick to this timeline and your summer camp guardianship kit will be mission-ready before the first firefly lights up.

Bottom Line

Summer camp guardianship is not bureaucracy for its own sake; it’s the quiet safety net that lets a homesick nine-year-old see a doctor at 10 p.m., authorizes a counselor to replace a lost inhaler, and ushers your child through a crowded connection with zero friction. By combining Florida’s court order, statutory medical consent, airline paperwork, and airtight emergency contacts, you transform potential chaos into confident adventure—for the kids, the caregivers, and yourself.

Need help tailoring a power of attorney to your family’s unique situation? Call Absolute Law Group before that camper trunk slams shut and ensure your summer camp guardianship bundle is flawless from takeoff to pickup hug.