RE: Re: Camp experiences...for a younger child (7 yo)

[Guest guest]

Our camp in Oregon is different. It is a three day weekend for the entire

family, which I really like. The average age of the children in our support

group is probably 3-5 years old. So this way all the children, the parents, and

siblings can enjoy camp. I know that n would never have gone to camp alone.

Each and every child is different about camp.

Unfortunately, our camp in Oregon wasn't around when n needed it. This year

is our third year, and it is fantastic. (n, 22, systemic)

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 22, 2011, at 9:54 PM, " audra " <wynhama@...> wrote:

> Our camp is like that, and we aren't allowed to go either. I wouldn't

hesitate. Our camp is so wonderful. They are careful with the meds. They are

careful with sunscreen, liquids, etc. They have a 1:1 counselor ratio at our

camp. They have wonderful food. There are docs and nurses on staff full time.

They have fun activities with plenty of rest times. It is just amazing. They

develop lifetime friendships, and look forward to each summer. This would be a

week where he could just be a kid and everyone else is like him. Everyone takes

meds, everyone hurts and needs to rest, etc.

>

> Now for you, it will be hard. It is hard to let go. It is hard to relax. But,

it allows to know he will be okay without you. He learns to trust the camp

staff, and realizes that he is going to be fine. I think this is good practice

for spend the nights, and eventually college.

>

> Audra

> 14 poly 07

> Peyton 13 poly 08

>

>

> >

> > On Monday saw the rheumy...thankfully he's still doing well on Enbrel,

MTX, and folic acid...yay!

> >

> > While there the rheumy mentioned Camp Boggy Creek (we are in South Florida)

For him this summer. It's a year round camp that allows kids with different

chronic and life threatening illness to spend a week at camp with kids who share

their same disease. So in mid June they are having arthritis/rheumatic

kids...for a week...for free...for ages 7-16. will be almost 8 by that

time.

> >

> > The only drawback is we aren't allowed to go. Our rheumy is typically there

(but may not be there this year) so he wouldn't know anyone. He is a shy

child..but he REALLY wants to go...he'd be 5 hours from home but only two hours

from his grandparents.

> >

> > Has anyone had experience with a camp like this? Especially with a younger

child? I've heard nothing but great things about this camp...but I am a mom and

I worry. But i also think it would be great for him to spend time with other

kids with JIA...a great boost for his self esteem.

> >

> > Thanks.

> > & , 7, poly...nystagmus...SPD...

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Speaking from the perspective of a counselor at camps for kids with arthritis,

it is very hard for the parents to leave and sometimes the kids are a little

homesick. BUT we try to keep them busy and introduce them to new friends, and

honestly by the next day they dont want to leave!!! I have worked at Camp JRA

in pennsylvania since 1997 and I think that out of the 1,000+ kids that have

gone through the program, one has gone home homesick. Its a great experience

and all of the counselors are specially trained! I would highly recommend

sending your child, even at a young age!!!

le

(JRA diagnosed at 8 - 32 years old)

From: bc.price@...

Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:04:20 -0700

Subject: Re: Re: Camp experiences...for a younger child (7 yo)

Our camp in Oregon is different. It is a three day weekend for the entire

family, which I really like. The average age of the children in our support

group is probably 3-5 years old. So this way all the children, the parents, and

siblings can enjoy camp. I know that n would never have gone to camp alone.

Each and every child is different about camp.

Unfortunately, our camp in Oregon wasn't around when n needed it. This year

is our third year, and it is fantastic. (n, 22, systemic)

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 22, 2011, at 9:54 PM, " audra " <wynhama@...> wrote:

> Our camp is like that, and we aren't allowed to go either. I wouldn't

hesitate. Our camp is so wonderful. They are careful with the meds. They are

careful with sunscreen, liquids, etc. They have a 1:1 counselor ratio at our

camp. They have wonderful food. There are docs and nurses on staff full time.

They have fun activities with plenty of rest times. It is just amazing. They

develop lifetime friendships, and look forward to each summer. This would be a

week where he could just be a kid and everyone else is like him. Everyone takes

meds, everyone hurts and needs to rest, etc.

>

> Now for you, it will be hard. It is hard to let go. It is hard to relax. But,

it allows to know he will be okay without you. He learns to trust the camp

staff, and realizes that he is going to be fine. I think this is good practice

for spend the nights, and eventually college.

>

> Audra

> 14 poly 07

> Peyton 13 poly 08

>

>

> >

> > On Monday saw the rheumy...thankfully he's still doing well on Enbrel,

MTX, and folic acid...yay!

> >

> > While there the rheumy mentioned Camp Boggy Creek (we are in South Florida)

For him this summer. It's a year round camp that allows kids with different

chronic and life threatening illness to spend a week at camp with kids who share

their same disease. So in mid June they are having arthritis/rheumatic

kids...for a week...for free...for ages 7-16. will be almost 8 by that

time.

> >

> > The only drawback is we aren't allowed to go. Our rheumy is typically there

(but may not be there this year) so he wouldn't know anyone. He is a shy

child..but he REALLY wants to go...he'd be 5 hours from home but only two hours

from his grandparents.

> >

> > Has anyone had experience with a camp like this? Especially with a younger

child? I've heard nothing but great things about this camp...but I am a mom and

I worry. But i also think it would be great for him to spend time with other

kids with JIA...a great boost for his self esteem.

> >

> > Thanks.

> > & , 7, poly...nystagmus...SPD...

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I know that at Camp JRA there is a mixture, but what we do is we have daily

educational sessions to let the kids know that arthritis is a very

individualized disease and that they need to remember to have good communication

with their parents and their doctors to try to prevent any problems that can be

prevented. I was diagnosed with jra when I was 8 and I didnt meet anyone else

with the disease until i was 14 years old. looking back i really wish that i

could have met someone else like me - whether they looked like they had it or

not. Just someone to talk to would have helped me a lot!!

le

(JRA diagnosed at 8 - 32 years old)

From: jobobperry@...

Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:55:02 +0000

Subject: Re: Camp experiences...for a younger child (7 yo)

Just curious about the camps. Are there kids there whose arthritis is not

that noticable as well as kids who are more impacted? Just curious because, I

think it would be a good experience for my 11 year old, but I don't want her to

get scared that her arthritis will get really severe. She is an anxious child

and I would not want the experience to cause her more stress. THe way she is

now, her arthritis is hardly noticable, (98% of the time). I think this kind of

camp would help her, as she does need to rest more than non-JRA kids. I think it

also would be good to meet children who experience some of the same challenges

that she does. Anyone's opinion here?

Jo

>

> > >

>

> > > On Monday saw the rheumy...thankfully he's still doing well on

Enbrel, MTX, and folic acid...yay!

>

> > >

>

> > > While there the rheumy mentioned Camp Boggy Creek (we are in South

Florida) For him this summer. It's a year round camp that allows kids with

different chronic and life threatening illness to spend a week at camp with kids

who share their same disease. So in mid June they are having arthritis/rheumatic

kids...for a week...for free...for ages 7-16. will be almost 8 by that

time.

>

> > >

>

> > > The only drawback is we aren't allowed to go. Our rheumy is typically

there (but may not be there this year) so he wouldn't know anyone. He is a shy

child..but he REALLY wants to go...he'd be 5 hours from home but only two hours

from his grandparents.

>

> > >

>

> > > Has anyone had experience with a camp like this? Especially with a younger

child? I've heard nothing but great things about this camp...but I am a mom and

I worry. But i also think it would be great for him to spend time with other

kids with JIA...a great boost for his self esteem.

>

> > >

>

> > > Thanks.

>

> > > & , 7, poly...nystagmus...SPD...

>

> > >

>

> >

>

> >

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think the camp has been the greatest experience for my daughter.  She knew no

one when she got on the bus to go 4 hours to the camp in Wisconsin.  When she

came home 7 days later she had friends for a lifetime.  They email, text, talk

all the time.  She has informed her dad and I (she is now 17, 18 in a month)

that the girls from camp were talking about getting a tattoo that says Lean on

Me on their foot.  It is a song that was played at the camp graduation this

summer.  If given the chance send your child it is the best thing in the world

for them.   even came home with questions for her doctor one year

because

she saw other medications and approaches to treatment that she discussed with

him. 

Maureen 

________________________________

From: P <jobobperry@...>

Sent: Wed, March 23, 2011 10:55:02 AM

Subject: Re: Camp experiences...for a younger child (7 yo)

 

Just curious about the camps. Are there kids there whose arthritis is not that

noticable as well as kids who are more impacted? Just curious because, I think

it would be a good experience for my 11 year old, but I don't want her to get

scared that her arthritis will get really severe. She is an anxious child and I

would not want the experience to cause her more stress. THe way she is now, her

arthritis is hardly noticable, (98% of the time). I think this kind of camp

would help her, as she does need to rest more than non-JRA kids. I think it also

would be good to meet children who experience some of the same challenges that

she does. Anyone's opinion here?

Jo

>

> > >

>

> > > On Monday saw the rheumy...thankfully he's still doing well on

Enbrel,

>MTX, and folic acid...yay!

>

>

> > >

>

> > > While there the rheumy mentioned Camp Boggy Creek (we are in South

Florida)

>For him this summer. It's a year round camp that allows kids with different

>chronic and life threatening illness to spend a week at camp with kids who

share

>their same disease. So in mid June they are having arthritis/rheumatic

>kids...for a week...for free...for ages 7-16. will be almost 8 by that

>time.

>

>

> > >

>

> > > The only drawback is we aren't allowed to go. Our rheumy is typically

there

>(but may not be there this year) so he wouldn't know anyone. He is a shy

>child..but he REALLY wants to go...he'd be 5 hours from home but only two hours

>from his grandparents.

>

>

> > >

>

> > > Has anyone had experience with a camp like this? Especially with a younger

>child? I've heard nothing but great things about this camp...but I am a mom and

>I worry. But i also think it would be great for him to spend time with other

>kids with JIA...a great boost for his self esteem.

>

>

> > >

>

> > > Thanks.

>

> > > & , 7, poly...nystagmus...SPD...

>

> > >

>

> >

>

> >

>

>

>

>