As a member of the team I get to share different information relating to Children’s Mercy Hospitals. Though the information is sponsored, the opinions are my own.
- What are their interests?
- What are they good at?
- What do they want to learn?
- What activities do they want to try?
- What skills do they want to improve?
- How much time can they handle being there?
Last year we found a fantastic summer camp that was incredible. They had age appropriate activities, stretched them to try new things, introduced them to new activities they hadn’t ever done and helped them learn and grow in a unique way. They ended up loving canoeing, archery and didn’t mind getting dirty discovering nature. I’m so glad to have found this camp that is so amazing and appropriate for my children.
- When: June 6 – July 29, 2016 (8am – 5pm)
- Where: Kansas City Christian School, Prairie Village, KS
- Cost: equivalent of 80 hours of personalized treatment
- Attendees: 6 – 14 years old
- Note: this camp is run by Children’s Mercy
Camp ChiMer for kids with kidney disease
- When: June 5 – 9, 2016
- Where: Lake Doniphan, Excelsior Springs, MO
- Cost: Free
- Attendees: 9 – 17 years old
Camp Joint Adventures for kids with juvenile arthritis
- When: June 20 – 23, 2016
- Where: Rotary Club Youth Camp Lee’s Summit, MO
- Cost: $100/child; scholarships available
- Attendees: 7 – 15 years old
Centerview Food Allergy Management for kids with food allergies of all kinds
- June 24 – 26, 2016
- Where: Location TBD
- Cost: TBD
- Attendees: Grades 1 – 6
To get more information about each of the camps and learn how to register, click the links associated with each camp.
I think one of the huge benefits of sending kids with unique health related needs to the appropriate camp is for the opportunity to meet kids just like them. How nice it would be for them to have friends that understand their struggles, pains, how daily life goes. I love this opportunity for these kids to get together to get help and build friendships. Not only is making new friends fantastic, the ratio of kids to medical professionals that specialize in the different diagnosis is 1:1 or 1:2. That is amazing attention to each child!
I have a friend who has a daughter that has Hydrocephalus. Every other year she attends a conference where there are classes that teach about the latest research and is able to connect with people who also have Hydrocephalus. She has gone to this traveling conference several times so she always looks forward to connecting with her friends at the conference. She and her family love this conference as a time to learn and reconnect with old friends. Since the Kansas City summer camps don’t travel like that conference, it’s easier to connect with the kids that deal with similar issues.
This summer whether your children’s summer camps with be about sports, music, art, or a unique health situation, each can be a fun time for children to make new friends with similar interests and experiences. There are a lot of benefits of sending your children to summer camp, just make sure it is one that is appropriate.
Have you started thinking about summer camps for your kids? How do you prioritize camps for your kids?
Heather says
Thank you for such a good list! I love that you and Children’s Mercy have highlighted camps that are inclusive of children who may not be able to go to “traditional” camps. I know my ten year old stepdaughter is so excited to finally be able to ride the “ten and up trails” this summer; it’s such a great childhood rite of passage. Good to know more and more kids can be included!
Gwendolyn Mulholland says
Choosing a summer camp for your child is very important and with many children have health/allergy concerns it is more important to make sure you are careful.. Thanks for sharing these camp ideas. I have pinned it so others can read this information.
jenise says
Some of my best childhood memories are from summer camp so I’m a big believer that it’s something every kid needs to experience. And I really do like that now you can find camps for kids with specific special needs. I don’t think they had those around when I was little. Now, no kid needs to get left out.
Sage says
I love the idea of health need related camps because I think it helps kids to meet people who face similar challenges, and whom they might not otherwise meet. In Denmark, there’s a much less structured approach to summer vacation. Schools let out in July and go back in mid-August, so the break is relatively short and there are more breaks throughout the year.
Cassie says
I had no idea that there were so many summer camps that tailored themselves to the special needs of some children. It really is inspiring that there are so many people willing to create an environment where children with all sorts of challenges can have fun during the summer. I want to research what camps are available in my area now.
Lux G. says
It’s fun and exciting for parents as well, is it?
I hope you find the right camp for the kids. Enjoy!
Aileen Adalid says
These are such great tips! In the place where I was born in though, summer camps are not a thing so it’s so great that you have these for your kids! 😀
Terri Beavers says
We always went to our own church camp, then my kids did, and now my gran- kids do. They love it but they’ve also expressed an interest in going to more camps this year. Abby would have to go to one with allergy management in mind.
vidya sudarsan says
Great tips. I did not realize there were camps for children with special needs. So happy to see this list becuase these kids need such kind of socializing and learning.
roch says
Usually summer camps here involve the kids into sports. I’m glad that you have those great options for your kids. They will learn more about health and nutrition this summer!
Katie says
I remember going to summer camp once when I was a kid. It was a YMCA camp with no air conditioning. I think that’s where I lost all interest in the great outdoors. 🙂 Ha! I would have picked something with A/C.