Residential summer camp for children with end-stage renal disease.

Abstract

Residential summer camps exist for children with all varieties of chronic illness with the goal of improving their quality of life. This paper describes the development and implementation of a summer camp for children 9-18 years old who receive long-term peritoneal dialysis or who have received a kidney transplant. Thirty-five to forty children regularly participate in activities such as water olympics, survival hikes and campouts while continuing to receive their medical needs from trained personnel. A study to evaluate the impact of a summer camp revealed less patient hopelessness and improved self-esteem following the 1-week camping experience. Attendance at camp provided the medical staff with a unique perspective of childhood illness, while the period of respite for the parents was uniformly welcomed and may contribute to the prevention of parent burnout. It is hoped that the success of this camp and others like it will lead to the development of similar experiences for other children with chronic disease.