By

Meredith Smith RN, BSN

The end of the school year brings lots of things to look forward to.  Most kids get to sleep a little later, spend more time with friends, no homework, and having more time to do their favorite activities.  Some of those activities might be sports, hiking, camping out, and just enjoying life outdoors. 

Every summer kids go to camp to participate in these fun activities.  Kids with serious health conditions find it difficult to go to camp because of the worry about health care if they get sick while they are away from home.

                Special camps are available for kids with certain chronic illnesses.  These camps have great activities and a staff trained to focus on the specific health needs of the camper.  The two most common childhood illnesses that might prevent a kid from going to camp are asthma and diabetes.  This article contains info about camps for kids with each of these illnesses.

                Champ Camp is a camp for kids with asthma.  Two of the sponsors are the American Lung Association and the Colorado Asthma and Allergy Society.  It is for kids ages 7-14 and is held at Glacier View Ranch near Boulder.  The dates are July 19-25.  Activities include archery, arts and crafts, canoeing, hiking, rock climbing, ropes course, soccer, and swimming.   Kids learn about asthma, how to cope with asthma, and talk with other kids who have asthma.  All the campers are asthmatic and can share their thoughts and experiences.  The camping staff is trained to treat kids with asthma so parents and kids can feel safe about Champ Camp.  Scholarships are available for families who meet the financial criteria.  You can get more information about Champ Camp at champcamp@lungcolorado.org.

                The American Diabetes Association sponsors Camp Colorado for kids ages 8-17 who have diabetes.  It is held at Eagle Lake camp in the Pike National Forest near Colorado Springs.  Camp dates this year are June 28 through July 3.  Activities at camp include archery, canoeing, rifle range, swimming, crafts, camp Olympics, capture the flag, a flight simulator, aqua jump, and a zipline. 

                The camp is staffed with one ADA trained diabetes counselor for every four campers.  Campers are encouraged to learn something new about diabetes management while at camp and most kids take away some new knowledge that is specific to their own stage of development.  They meet other kids who have diabetes and can learn and share ideas about how to handle situations while growing up with diabetes.   Kids learn from other kids who experience the same concerns and feelings.

                Applications for Camp Colorado need to be submitted by May 29.  They are accepted on a first come, first served basis.  Applications can be done online.  Scholarship money is available for qualified campers.  You can get more info at www.diabetes.org/diabetes-camp/about-ada-camp-colorado.jsp.