Summer Camp

Summer camp is awesome! I think every child with hemophilia should be able to go to hemophilia camp. It’s a chance to interact with other kids who are facing the same challenges and do things “normal” kids get to do. During their week at hemophilia camp, Kristin and Alex can get away, be like other kids for a change, and do a lot of cool stuff. In fact, they get to do more at camp than I let them do at home!

Hemophilia summer camps are sponsored by the National Hemophilia Foundation and its local chapters. Most camps have several sessions that run from Sunday through Saturday. The local camp, here in Oregon, is great. Siblings can go. A nurse and a hematologist from our HTC are at each session, along with other adults who have bleeding disorders. The camp offers a rock climbing wall, horseback riding, archery, swimming, hiking, canoeing, and arts and crafts. The kids can go out camping overnight and participate in a team activity called Flying Squirrel, where they get into a harness and actually “fly.” Alex even learned how to self-infuse at camp.

Both Alex and Kristin really love camp. Each year they make new friends, and over the years they still keep in touch with kids they have met at camp. Kristin has friends from camp who live as far away as New York and France. Every time we go to a local hemophilia function, Alex sees his buddies from camp. They’re just like old classmates; they have a great time whenever they are together. I think these friendships are so important because camp may be the one place to meet other kids who understand what it’s like to live with a bleeding disorder.

One year Kristin had been hit in the face with a baseball and had terrible bruises. Some of the kids in her class at school made comments like “Did your mother hit you”? When she got to camp, everyone understood right away what had happened. Other kids had had similar experiences, so Kristin didn’t need to explain anything. After being a camper for a number of years, Kristin wanted to help younger children, so she took advantage of the opportunity to become a junior counselor. Last year she was a counselor at our camp here in Oregon and a hemophilia camp in Northern California. She is looking forward to working at more camps this year.

The entire hemophilia camp experience is very positive. The kids get a lot of moral support from each other. I am sure they also draw strength from the stories and experiences they share. They gain confidence from the adults who understand their condition and don’t keep them in a “glass bubble!” They learn that they can be just like everybody else and see that they can lead normal lives when they grow up.

Are you interested in learning more about hemophilia camps in the U.S.?

Do you have a child who might benefit from attending a hemophilia summer camp, or a teenager who might be interested in being a counselor? If so, contact your local chapter or HTC to find out if they sponsor a summer camp or can recommend one in your area. You can also visit the National Hemophilia Foundation’s Web site for a directory of summer camps for children with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.

Before your child begins any physical activity, always consult with a doctor or Hemophilia Treatment Center to make sure the activity is right for him or her.