A summer camping experience is something all children should enjoy. Summer camp is an opportunity for fun, friendships and personal growth. But what summer camp does a child with a congenital heart defect attend?
The camps listed below are places where kids with heart defects/disorders can enjoy a summer camp experience:
California
Camp Del Corazon
11615 Hesby Street North Hollywood, CA 91601-3620
Telephone: (818) 754-0312 FAX: (818) 754-0842
Email: Information@campdelcorazon.org
Website
Camp del Corazon Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit corporation, providing a free of charge summer camp for children with heart disease. All proceeds are spent on the camp, and it’s programming, and staffed entirely by volunteers.
Camp Taylor
5424 Pirrone Road
Salida, CA 95368
Phone: 209-545-4715
Email: Kimberlie@kidsheartcamp.org
Website
Established in 2002, Camp Taylor now offers six unique camp programs catering to the need of young people with heart disease. All camps are staffed with Pediatric Cardiac professionals, trained program leaders and awesome people who desire to make a difference in the campers’ lives!
Florida
The Boggy Creek Gang
30500 Brantley Branch Road
Eustis, FL, 32736
Phone: (352) 483-4200
Fax: (352) 483-0358
E-mail: info@boggycreek.org
Website
The Boggy Creek Gang camping experience is more than a fun-filled getaway. The gang teaches children how to better cope with the day-to-day challenges they face, and offers educational and supportive programs to parents, siblings and other family members. The lessons learned through our programs allow families to better communicate and to understand more fully the difficulties chronically ill children face. In turn, those children also learn about caring for themselves through seminars and support groups led by The Boggy Creek Gang professional staff.
Georgia
Camp Braveheart
3495 Brittany Way
Kennesaw, GA 30152
Telephone: 1-888-988-9979 or 770-919-2775
Email: campbraveheart@angelfire.com
Website
The mission of Camp Braveheart is to create a positive life experience for all children with complex heart defects through a camping program that promotes: self esteem, socialization among peers, support from other families dealing with complex heart defects, and so much fun!
Louisiana
Camp Bon Coeur
A Rehabilitative Cardiac Camp
P.O. Box 53765
Lafayette, LA 70505
Telephone: (337) 233-8437
Website
Camp “Good Heart” is a non-profit two week residential cardiac camp designed to give children with acquired or congenital heart defects an opportunity to participate in a summer camp program.
Massachusetts
Edward J. Madden Memorial Open Hearts Camp
250 Monument Valley Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Phone: 413-528-2229
Email: hearts@openheartscamp.org
Website
The Edward J. Madden Memorial Open Hearts Camp is a camp located in the Berkshires, in western Massachusetts, for children ages 8-13 who have had, and are fully recovered from, open heart surgery or a heart transplant. The camp operates three age specific sessions, and one ‘Special Hearts’ session for children who have special psycho-social needs that are related to their heart surgery. The camp is free for children to attend, and has been in operation for over 40 years.
Maryland
Dragonfly Heart Camp
P.O.Box 454
Chestertown, Maryland 21620-0454
Phone: 443-480-9578
Email: director@dragonflyheartcamp.org
Website
Dragonfly Heart Camp is a very special summer camp for children who have received a heart and/or lung transplant, or are diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension. It is the first camp in the country that is specifically designed to accommodate children with these complex cardio-pulmonary conditions. Dragonfly Heart Camp is located on the beautiful grounds of Echo Hill Outdoor School on Maryland’s Eastern Shore along the Chesapeake Bay.
Minnesota
Camp Odayin
P.O. Box 2068
Stillwater, MN 55082
Telephone: 651.351.9185
Fax: 651.351.9187
E-Mail: info@campodayin.org
Website
Camp Odayin’s Day Camp is for children with heart disease that are 6 and 7 years of age and the Residential Program is for children with heart disease between 8 and 17 years of age, who would benefit from connecting with other young people who may share similar health, emotional, and social concerns.
Missouri
Camp Rhythm
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Phone: 314.454.2287
Email: camprhythm@bjc.org
Website
Camp Rhythm is a 5-day/4-night camp for children who were born with a heart defect or developed a heart problem that required intervention and ongoing follow-up care prior to the age of 18. The camp also includes a day camp for younger children (ages 5-7) born with a heart defect. These children will attend camp for three days during the week.
Nevada
Camp Mend-A-Heart
Children’s Heart Foundation
3006 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 690
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: (702) 967-3522
Fax: (702) 967-3523
E-mail: info@chfn.org
Website
Founded in 2004, Camp Mend-a-Heart is the first medically supervised camp meant for children with heart conditions in Nevada. Hosted at Rapport Leadership International in Alamo, Nevada, Camp Mend-a-Heart rolls out the red carpet for their heart kids and allows them to be free from worry of their heart condition, to be a kid and forge friendships that last a lifetime. Since the first year of Camp Mend-a-Heart, it has grown from an overnight stay to four days and three nights of camp fun.
New York
Hope With Heart
P.O. Box 737
Harriman, NY 10926
Fax: (845) 360-5433
Email: mail@hopewithheart.com
Website
Established as a summer camp experience, Hope With Heart, provides year round support and friendships for its campers. The camp, now in its tenth year, is unique because it accepts high-risk children with limited life expectancies. The camp has children with varied heart problems such as valve replacements, pacemakers and transplants. At Hope With Heart our philosophy and policy is simple – if a child has a serious heart problem she or he belongs at Hope With Heart. Hope With Heart works equally with every child brought to its doorstep, or rather, its swimming pool.
North Carolina
Victory Junction
4500 Adam’s Way
Randleman, NC 27317
Phone: 877-VJG-CAMP or 336-498-9055
Website
Victory Junction has enriched the lives of more than 11,000 children and families since opening in 2004 and welcomed children from 47 states and three countries.
No child or family incurs that cost thanks to generous donors. Since 2004, 9,234 volunteer positions have been filled. Last year, volunteers sacrificed an estimated 76,222 hours to assist at Victory Junction. Victory Junction serves 24 chronic medical conditions and serious illnesses. Twenty-seven hospitals partner with Victory Junction to deliver exceptional health care to campers with a variety of needs. The camp is built on 84 acres and donated by Richard and Lynda Petty.
Ohio
Camp Joyful Hearts
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Joy Outdoor Education Center
10117 Old 3-C Highway
Clarksville, Ohio
Phone: 513-636-7257
Website
Camp Joyful Hearts occupies 315 acres of trees, trails, fields and meadows overlooking a river valley. Three handicap accessible cabins with indoor bathrooms and hot showers will house campers near the air-conditioned dining hall. Any child or adolescent with a congenital or acquired heart disease, ages 8 to 18, may attend. Teens with heart disease, ages 16 to 21, can volunteer as leaders-in-training and assist counselors with the younger kids.
Pennsylvania
Camp Victory
P.O. Box 810
Millville, PA 17846 Call:
Phone: (570)458-6530
Email: fun@campvictory.org
Website
We believe that children who experience chronic health problems or catastrophic illness, or who are physically or mentally disabled, need help and encouragement to cope with their lifelong challenges. Recognizing the sense of isolation and frustration these challenges can bring to the children and their families, Camp Victory ‘s founders ensured that the design and building of the various facilities would incorporate their special needs. At Camp Victory, partner groups with specialized knowledge and training operate camps for children who live with chronic health disadvantages. The children receive the greatest possible care, support and personal growth, have much fun and make many friends.
Tennessee
Cardiac Kids Camp
LeBonheur Children’s Hospital
Camp Location: Camp Lakeshore in Eva, Tenn.
Website
What: A fun-filled week at camp with other children just like them. The camp is designed to provide education about heart diagnoses and promote healthy lifestyles.
Who: Children age 8-16 who are currently under a cardiologist’s care for a congenital heart condition or rhythm disorder.
How much: Camp is free due to the generosity of Le Bonheur donors.
Texas
Camp Moss
(held at Camp John Marc)
2824 Swiss Ave
Dallas, TX 75204
Phone: (214) 360-0056
Fax: (214) 368-2003
E-mail: mail@campjohnmarc.org
Camp Moss Website
Camp John Marc Website
Camp Moss exists to improve the quality of life for Texas children with cardiac disease by providing the exciting experience of summer camp in a safe environment with necessary daily medical treatment. Its goal is to enhance campers’ self-esteem by encouraging relationships with others who have heart disease and to cultivate an “I can do it” attitude in each camper.