For Kids with CKD: Kidney Camp at Frost Valley (NY)

Applications for the Ruth Gottscho Dialysis and Children’s Kidney Program at Frost Valley YMCA are now available for SUMMER 2011!

http://www.frostvalley.org/kidney

Frost Valley was the nation’s first camp to offer children with kidney disease a chance to experience traditional summer camp while receiving their vital dialysis treatments. Thirty five years later, we continue to provide the medical resources necessary to make camp happen for children with kidney disease, within a mainstream residential camp environment.

Each child experiences the traditional sleep-away camp experience, while gaining confidence and independence during what may be their first time away from home. Campers are able to meet other children with medical problems similar to their own, and are able to be “teachers” to their counselors and fellow campers. They may learn new skills or improve techniques for managing and coping with their medical condition. Most importantly, the children participate as fully as possible in all camping activities, and meet a diverse group of campers and camp staff from around the country and around the world.

Children between the ages of 8-17, who are on dialysis, post-transplant, or in chronic renal failure, are eligible to attend. The program is based in our state-of-art dialysis unit in the new Guenther Wellness Center at Frost Valley. We are equipped for hemodialysis, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), as well as care of the post-transplant and pre-dialysis camper. The unit is staffed by experienced pediatric nephrologists and nephrology nurses, under the supervision of the Children's Hospital at Montefiore. Special attention is given to the individual medical, social, and developmental needs of each child. Treatment schedules are arranged to allow for maximum participation in camp activities. Back-up medical facilities are provided locally by area hospitals in the Catskills region, and by the Children's Hospital of Montefiore, in coordination with the campers' home facilities.

This year we will be running two sessions, starting July 3 and July 17. We particularly encourage applications for children on hemo and PD, but also accept campers with CKD in need of medical supervision at camp, as well as post-transplant campers.

Visit http://www.frostvalley.org/kidney for applications forms and more information.