It’s that time of year! School is out and your kidney kid has nothing to do with his free time. Why not sign him up for Kidney Camp. There are several summer camps across the country catering to children with kidney disease.

The summer camp experience is a rewarding opportunity for all children. Summer camp provides children with the opportunity to try new activities such as horseback riding, hiking, swimming and a chance to make new friends. This can be especially rewarding for kidney kids who are usually hooked up to a dialysis machine in their free time.

As a parent with a special needs child, your concerns focus on both your child’s healthcare and the camp’s ability to provide the medical assistance needed should an emergency happen. The staff at these camps is more than willing to answer any concerns you may have. The medical staff at kidney camp is accustomed to handling and administering any necessary medicine.

The summer camp experience is a rich American tradition with more than 140 years of history. Summer camp teach self-respect, self worth, self-esteem and leadership skills and build personal confidence. These are qualities every parent wants to see in their child.

Below is a list of camps across the country. For more information, please contact the camps directly.

Camp Holiday Trails

June 24 – Aug. 10

400 Holiday Trails Lane

Charlottesville , VA 22903

Phone: (434) 977-3781

Fax: (434) 977-8814

http://www.campholidaytrails.org/index.php

Camp Boggy Creek

Aug. 6 – 11th

30500 Brantley Branch Road

Eustis , FL 32736

Phone: 866-Go-Boggy or

352-483-4200

www.BoggyCreek.org

Camp Sunshine

July 29 – Aug. 3

35 Acadia Rd.

Casco , ME 04015

Phone: (207) 655-3800

Fax: (207) 655-3825

http://www.campsunshine.org/

The Little Turtle

June 24 – July 1

1300 4th Street, Suite 300

Santa Monica , CA 90401

Tel: (310) 451-1353

Fax: (310) 451-1357

http://www.thepaintedturtle.org/turtle/

Camp Aldersgate

July 15 - 20

2000 Aldersgate Road

Little Rock , Arkansas 72205

Phone: (501) 225-1444

Fax: (501) 225-2019

http://www.campaldersgate.net/default.aspx

The June Rusche Hamarah Camp for All

July 1-6

6301 Rehburg Road

Burton , TX 77835

Phone: (979) 289-3752

Fax: (979) 289-5046

http://www.campforall.org/index.cfm

Frost Valley YMCA

June 24 - Aug 24

2000 Frost Valley Road

Claryville , NY 12725

Tel: (845) 985-2291

Fax: (845) 985-0056

http://www.frostvalley.org/

YMCA Camp Copneconic

July 8-13

10407 N. Fenton Rd.

Fenton , MI 48430

Ph: (810) 629 9622

http://www.campcopneconic.com/

Camp Okawehna

1633 Church Street ,

Suite 500

Nashville , TN 37203

Phone: (615) 342-0445

Fax: (615) 329-2513

http://www.dciinc.org/camp/camp.htm

Camp ChiMer

Aug. 5-9

National Kidney Foundation of

Kansas and Western Missouri

6405 Metcalf Avenue, Suite 204

Overland Park , KS 66202

Phone: (913) 262-1551 or

(800) 444-8113

http://www.kidneyksmo.org/chimer.htm

Victory Junction Gang Camp

June 26 – July 1

4500 Adam’s Way

Randleman , NC, 27317

Phone: (336) 498-9055

Fax: (336) 498-9090

www.victoryjunction.org

Camp Orkila

July, 24 - 31, 2007

YMCA Camping Services

909 Fourth Avenue

Seattle , WA 98104

Ph: 206-382-5009 or

206-382-5001

Fax: 206-382-4920 - FAX

http://www.seattleymca.org/page.cfm?ID=0096

For more information on summer camps for kidney kids, log onto the American Camp Association Web site, www.ACAcamps.org. It has a complete list of summer camps across the country. ACA is a community of camp professionals with 6,700 plus membership. You can also contact the organization by phone by calling (765) 342-8456.

This article originally appeared in the May 2007 issue of aakpRENALIFE.