By Sarah Henderson
Arkansas: Camp Nopokamee
Summer camps provide safe opportunities for children as they learn how to cope with life away from home, problem-solve, engage in critical thinking, and feel like they belong.
Kentucky: Center for Courageous Kids Camp
When a child has a medical challenge, we are often reluctant to send them to camp. Scary possibilities creep into the mind, and fear begins to take root. Let’s explore what happens when our children with a bleeding disorder attend camp.
The bleeding disorders community has many camps designed specifically for children with hemophilia, VWD, and other bleeding disorders. The skills, friends, and experiences your child will gain at camp are priceless.
As parents of children with a bleeding disorder, we have spent the first many years of their life protecting them from the world. The thought of sending your child off for the first time without you can be gut-wrenching. Just knowing you won’t be able to see and assess them and monitor bleeding prevention and treatment for a week is a hard pill to swallow. Adding to the stress is knowing these kids are going to participate in a lot of unfamiliar activities that we may have not considered acceptable due to the risk involved. A very important thing to remember is that the people you would call if a bleeding episode happened are the very people who will be diligently watching your children at camp!
The medical staff stands by, interacting and teaching your child how to participate safely! Campers may find a new sport or hobby they never knew they would love. While at camp they will also spend time learning about their bleeding disorder. As parents, we sometimes forget our children will need to fully understand and be prepared to handle their disorder on their own. At camp, they can take responsibility and learn to become accountable for their bleeding disorder care. Kids need to learn and practice being independent so they can be ready to manage their own health as they grow to adulthood.
Many adults have fond memories of summer camp. Our children with bleeding disorders shouldn’t be excluded from these childhood adventures and friendships. At camp, kids find others who have similar life challenges and can make truly valuable, lifelong friendships.
There are many helpful things you can do to prepare your child for attending camp the first time. If your child knows you are feeling apprehensive about sending them, they will likely pick up on it and begin to feel anxiety as well. Talk about the experiences they will have from a positive perspective, and be excited for them! Be available to answer any questions they may have about camp. Ask chapter staff, HTC staff, or other parents for details about the specific camp so you are ready and able to answer your child’s questions. If possible, look at pictures of the camp from previous years as posted on the camp website, in newsletters, or on social media to show your child all the fun activities and the smiling faces of the campers.
A packing list will be provided upon camp registration. When packing, remember – camp is about kids having fun, making friends, and learning about themselves! Camp is NOT about what brand of clothes or shoes they are wearing or who has the best material possessions. Don’t put unnecessary pressure on your child by sending expensive or irreplaceable items. Let them have fun playing and getting dirty by packing old clothes and shoes that can get lost or ruined. Belongings will be stained, torn, shoved in corners or under bunks, packed up with wet clothes, or possibly used in the pranking of another cabin!
When packing, keep in mind not every item will make it back home. If your child is lacking old, worn-out clothes to pack, a trip to a resale shop could save a lot of money in the event their clothes don’t make it home. That’s also a great place to buy a duffel bag or backpack that may be ruined at camp.
There are various places to find camps that are good for our kids with bleeding disorders. First, right here in this newsletter is a list of camps around the country! Other parents are a great resource and are usually happy to share where their kids went to camp and about their experiences. Many adults with bleeding disorders may have fond memories to share about where they attended camp as a youth, or even now as a counselor. Your HTC and local chapter will be able to point you in the direction of local camps as well.
Summer camps provide your child with the opportunity to learn, engage, try new things, and play the same as a child without a bleeding disorder. The programs are specifically geared toward children with a bleeding disorder and are designed and implemented in a way that is safe and enjoyable. Your child will gain knowledge and experience around their specific bleeding disorder, learn independence, gain confidence, make lifelong friends, and enjoy a sense of belonging. Find your local camp, and register today to ensure your child doesn’t miss out on this life-changing experience!
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