Summer Camps with Children’s National Medical Center

Each summer, Children’s National offers camps for children with various medical conditions. These are organized through the Neurology Division and include camps for conditions such as Asperger’s syndrome, Tourette syndrome, neurofibromatosis, and epilepsy. As of summer 2010, additional condition-specific camps have been added, including camps for children and teens learning to manage diabetes, obesity, heart conditions, and sickle cell. The camps began with the name Brainy Camps, and as campers say, “you have to be smart to live and play with a chronic condition.”

For many years, Children’s National summer camps have proven to be an effective way for children and teens to learn more about their condition and to develop adaptive behaviors. At all of the camps, children and teens learn from peers and adult volunteers who live effectively with these same health conditions. Pediatric specialists including doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, physical therapists, and students serve as the camp staff. High school and college students with the same conditions are important role models for the campers.

The camps allow children and teens ages 7 to 16 to:

• establish social connections
• obtain emotional support from others (children, teens, and adults) with the same condition
• learn to understand their condition and manage it effectively
• build self-advocacy, self-worth, and gain independence

Campers participate and choose from activities including hiking, arts and crafts, canoeing, fishing, team sports, a low and high ropes confidence course, camp Olympics, swimming, yoga, and drama. Support groups and educational programs promote knowledge, skill development, and social connections.