Girl Scout Camp

[Guest guest]

The camp has to listen to you, and comply with your requests. If they give you any problems bring up the Americans with Disabilities Act. With an organization like Girl Scouts, you really should not have a problem. They are very focused on equality, and pride in the girls. Best wishes, hope your girls have alot of fun.

,Mommy to (9), (7), Bre-Anne (6), Grace (2) and our newest arrival is due Sept. 20thFor the latest baby info, and to see our family check out:www.BabyCountDown.com?baby=4007

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. I hope I did the right thing...I'm sending who

has Mito/CVS/Gerd to a girl scout camp for 5 nights and 6 days with

her older sister next month. I my struggle to keep her life as

'normal'as possible; I may have made a mistake. Her sister asked

today if she had to take Nikki to the nurse everytime she needs to

take her meds-I told her that she HAD to take her. Chelsey, our older

daughter has been there the last 5 summers and really wants to

go with her. I'm worried the camp nurse may not understand her

illness and her 'needs.' I can't trust Chelsey to remember everything

but I'm afraid if I make too big of a deal when I meet the camp nurse

they'll turn her away.

When the girls check into the camp-we have to turn in all health

records and medications. It's a huge production line of girls going

in and out and I'm afraid I won't have enough time to fully explain

the situation. I have been reading the posts about the MDA camps and

I too, received all the info regarding them but we're just not there

yet. My husband and I have been reluctant to accept our family's fate

and 's destiny.

What should I do? I have the letter from her Doctor regarding crisis'

but the fear she will not eat enough calories or drink enough liquids

is more a fear than anything...Help. I'm feeling very scared.

Mom to (9) CVS/GERD/Mito

Chelsey (13)

[Guest guest]

Hi, -

I was a Girl Scout Leader for 7 years, and the organization as a whole is very interested in including girls of all abilities and needs. Disclaimer - my kids are not diagnosed with anything except Carnitine deficiency (yet). My oldest daughter went to Girl Scout camp for three years, and was away for 2 weeks the last year. There should be an RN staffing the camp. Your service unit will know who that person will be, and you can contact her ahead of time to discuss your daughter's medical needs (because there will be a long line at check-in!). There should also be an arrangement with a nearby doctor and hospital for emergencies. has severe asthma, allergies, migraines, and severe ADHD. She does well (usually) on her meds, but needs monitoring. Her "bag" of meds filled the whole camp drawer, but nobody seemed to mind. She carried her emergency meds in a fanny pack, and they reminded her to keep drinking and kept an eye on her for symptoms, but not in an intrusive way. The goal was for her to remember to get to the nurse herself for meds, but if she didn't head that way someone would remind her. Since they use a buddy system, there will always be another girl to go with her - it doesn't have to be your older daughter. The girls loved to visit the nurse, who had candy and a TV, as well as a fan! did fine, and had a wonderful time. I know that our old camp now has email, so that you can chat with your daughter daily - maybe yours has this as well. They didn't have email when went.

I was crazy enough to take her sister, - who is multiply disabled and medically fragile, uses a Gtube and is on the ketogenic diet for epilepsy, and who was a Brownie at the time - overnight camping for 3 days twice! I went with her both times, once with a 6 week old baby (I told you I was crazy)! The camp could not have been more accommodating, and she had some great experiences that she otherwise never would have had. The other girls in her troop were glad that she came.

Send her! You can always call the camp director to check up on her. You can always pick her up if you need to. She'll make great memories.

Kathy

Girl Scout Camp

Hi everyone. I hope I did the right thing...I'm sending whohas Mito/CVS/Gerd to a girl scout camp for 5 nights and 6 days withher older sister next month. I my struggle to keep her life as'normal'as possible; I may have made a mistake. Her sister askedtoday if she had to take Nikki to the nurse everytime she needs totake her meds-I told her that she HAD to take her. Chelsey, our olderdaughter has been there the last 5 summers and really wants togo with her. I'm worried the camp nurse may not understand herillness and her 'needs.' I can't trust Chelsey to remember everythingbut I'm afraid if I make too big of a deal when I meet the camp nursethey'll turn her away. When the girls check into the camp-we have to turn in all healthrecords and medications. It's a huge production line of girls goingin and out and I'm afraid I won't have enough time to fully explainthe situation. I have been reading the posts about the MDA camps andI too, received all the info regarding them but we're just not thereyet. My husband and I have been reluctant to accept our family's fateand 's destiny.What should I do? I have the letter from her Doctor regarding crisis'but the fear she will not eat enough calories or drink enough liquidsis more a fear than anything...Help. I'm feeling very scared.Mom to (9) CVS/GERD/MitoChelsey (13)Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

[Guest guest]

Kimberley Kretzmer wrote:

Not that I dont think a normal camp could accomadate

her but we dont want her left out while everyone else are roasting marshmallows

and drinking hot chocolate!

I don't remember ever doing those when I used to go

to Girl Scout camp. Did they actually say they were doing those?

I would ask - maybe it wouldn't even be an issue. Or, maybe it would

only be an issue depending on which sort of GS camp she attended, since

the activities can vary so much from one to another.

Lynne

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My youngest is too going to Girl Scout Camp, however I am going with her as a VIC in camp. Where do you live? Here is what I did as I too had the same concerns. First of all let me tell you, Girl Scouts will want to take her as they receive United Way Funds and it is a big thing in there numbers game to show that even ill children were a part of a girl scout camp. I am a girl Scout leader as well. I know that sounds bad, but I am just being honest. First of all, call the council and ask to speak to the head of the summer camps. Explain to her first about your daughter and her special camp needs. This person should in turn connect you with the head of what ever session your girls are attending. This person then should connect you directly with the VIC (Volunteer In Camp) that will be assigned to your daughter. I would give that person all the info that you need her to know. I always start out with, Now please keep in mind I am probably giving you way more info that you need to have, but just in case. I also for MDA camp wrote down a list of possible signs and symptoms that the counselors were to watch for. They said it was very helpful. My kids just returned and had the time of their lives!!!!!! As I posted it was a bit rough for me, but after hearing all their stories, as much as I hate to admit it, I have to kiss Rick Boles and his staff for their encouragement. It will be far less hard to send them next year I totally believe. Anyway back to girl Scout camp, Don't put the burden on your older daughter to take her for her meds. That is not her job. Let her enjoy camp. The Camp nurse and her Vic are totally in charge of that. You can also request a phone conference with the camp nurse prior to leaving for camp, which I highly recommend. You are so right, It is crazy the day of camp check in and there really isn't a lot of time. Do it all before hand and when you get there, they will be ready for her and you! LOL I hope this helps you out some and relieves your mind a bit.

Hugs

o