Normally, it's time for kids to pack their bags, kiss their parents goodbye, get on a bus, and head to Camp John Marc. Last year, 1,081 kids, 175 employees and 231 volunteers went through some form of this ritual.

But as we all know, nothing is normal right now.

The circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic meant the cancelation of all summer camps. Well kind of, because while kids won't be going away this summer, they can experience camp from the comforts of their homes.

For several years now, a volunteer program called Happy Camper brought the camp experience year round to the medical center. This summer, Cook Children's will bring a new program called "Happy Camper at Home" to kids who would have attended a diagnosis-specific camp.

Katie Campbell, Child Life manager at Cook Children's, said a lot of kids count on camp for their socialization during the summer. Cook Children's Camp for Kids allows patients to learn about their diagnosis and be encouraged by others who share their same challenges.

"A lot of the kids who have chronic illnesses, at school they may be the only person in their class with diabetes, or they may not know anyone else at school with asthma," Campbell said. "They get a chance in the summer to go camping for a week with kids who are just like them. It doesn't feel as isolating or different. That's something campers will miss this summer is having that opportunity to be with people that share the same challenges and seeing their medical team in a different location. It's different to see their doctor in their regular clothes when you come to the clinic vs. shorts and T-shirt or in their trunks swimming at the pool with you."

So while kids wouldn't be able to attend, the experience to be a part of camp life was too important to cancel entirely. With a lower census than usual because of COVID-19, Child Life specialists focused on creating a different camp environment from home.

"Once we decided to shift gears and do something different, we started meeting weekly, and then everyone got creative and hit the ground running," Campbell said. "Our hope is for kids to opt-in virtually. They will get to come by the medical center in mid-June and pick up their 'swag boxes' with a bunch of branded camp stuff as they would usually get. They will get things like a T-shirt, a flashlight, water bottles, a deck of cards, those kinds of things. But then we also started to think about what activities we could offer the campers."

A YouTube page with content created by Cook Children's Child Life Zone staff will be available for the campers to watch. Just like any other summer, the campers will receive a mix of fun and education through watching YouTube. The YouTube channel will be available to all kids, even for those who aren't a part of the camps.

The channel will offer cooking, crafts, games and scavenger hunts. The medical teams related to a child's specific condition will provide short diagnosis education videos. Plus, kids can watch the Laughter League, Cook Children's clown program, perform comedy and circus skills, origami lessons and more.

More confined to the campers themselves, a private Instagram account will be available during the summer, which will be the home of a live talent show, dog visits, crafts and more.

"The hope is to build a little bit of a community within Instagram," Campbell said.

Campbell has been at Cook Children's for 21 years, and this is the first time that her summer won't center around attending or planning a camp. She said she would miss going, but this summer will offer some unique positive aspects that generally wouldn't take place.

"One cool thing about doing camps virtually is for the first time we'll be able to include kids with cystic fibrosis in our camping program," Campbell said. "Those kids can't go away to camp because of isolation restrictions around having CF. They can't be together in a community setting. So it will be neat because those kids will be able to engage in camp programming when they haven't formally had camps they could attend in the past."

Another interesting aspect of virtual is that other family members will get a taste of what camp is all about during the summer. Other than Camp Sanguinity, siblings of patients aren't allowed to go to camps.

"I think it will be fun to see what conversations kids will have with their parents and siblings about what happens at camp," Campell said. "My hope is it fills in some of the blanks for families of why camp is so important. Maybe, parents get a chance to watch over their kids' shoulders or the brothers and sisters share in some of the activities. I hope it brings the spirit of camps into everybody's house, and other people in the families benefit from it."

Camps for Kids includes specialized camps that give kids the opportunities to catch a fish, ride a horse for the first time, shoot a bull’s-eye at archery, challenge themselves on a ropes course or fly down a zip line.

They can also learn about their diagnoses and make friends that are just like them. Camp counselors work to provide a safe and therapeutic environment that allows these children and youth to share the experience of going to camp.

For campers this is an opportunity to spend time with others who don’t have to be told how something feels or what it is like – they know.

“These kids understand each other. They’ve been there. They all have someone here with the same concerns whether it’s baldness or scars or easily fatigued or just looking different from surgery or disease,” said Jill Koss, director of Family Services at Cook Children’s. “No words have to be spoken because you automatically understand why someone has no hair or a port in their chest or they look different. There’s no explanation that needs to be given.”

Cook Children’s medical staff is also a big part of Camps for Kids. Along with the staff’s emotional support, patients are treated by physicians, nurses and clinical staff from Cook Children’s.

Joel Steelman, M.D., an endocrinologist at Cook Children's, has been involved in medical summer camps since he worked at a camp for cerebral palsy patients as a resident. He's done diabetes camps almost every year since the late 1990s. 

Dr. Steelman said these camps are an opportunity for education and learning more about what's necessary for daily care and health. Many of the adults and counselors at the camps have the same medical condition as the campers.

"I think it's important for campers to see these role modes," Dr. Steelman said. "I think the medically based summer camps are great. They offer the opportunity for kids with various chronic medical needs to participate in fun activities with a group of adults, who understand and manage their medical needs. It adds a routineness to the summer camp experience. All the children who attend have very similar medical needs as opposed to attending an average camp where that wouldn’t be the case. There would be the potential issue of adults and other campers misunderstanding the additional care and monitoring needed for that particular camper." 

Thanks to the generosity of our community, all camps are offered at no costs to patients and their families. Your gift to Camps for Kids will allow our patients the opportunity to experience a life-changing camp experience.

To donate:

This year's North Texas Giving Day designee is Camp for Kids. Camps for Kids is a donor funded program ensuring that all campers’ fees are provided. Each camp is targeted to provide memorable experiences to campers with a similar diagnosis. Join us by providing these deserving children an experience that will impact them for the rest of their lives.

The incidence of anxiety and depression in pediatrics is due in part to overscheduled children and families. Here are some suggestions on how to slow down and find some down time with your family.

1. Gardening: My children’s happiest moments have been picking tomatoes and digging out potatoes in their grandparent’s garden. In describing her experiences in the garden, their grandmother, Jean Mangham writes “I love to get outside to feel the sun, smell the dirt and hear the birds sing. My garden provides me with a place to see the miracle of life. Put a small seed into the dirt and with just a little nurturing, you produce a fruit or a flower. Gardening also provides me with a great sense of pride, and how important that is to pass along to my grandchildren.”
2. Kathleen Wayland, a music teacher, writes, “Relaxation is a learned behavior. A child’s day, even one spent at home, can be very stimulating, offering a little, unstructured quiet time. Having some quiet time with your child provides an opportunity for you to model relaxation for your child and let them know they can relax, even when it’s not naptime or bedtime. This is also a wonderful opportunity for some bonding time to deepen your connection with your child. Holding, rocking, singing and cuddling are all ways to have a quiet, bonding time that will relax both of you. Children need time to be stimulated and engaged, and they also need time to be at leisure. This down time is physically necessary for the brain to process the learning that occurs during structured activities and interaction.”
3. One of my yoga instructors once said, “If you can breathe, you can do yoga.” The practice of yoga and meditation promotes physical and mental wellness. Heidi McGall, a trained yoga instructor teaches kids relaxation: “I have kids close their eyes and imagine a balloon in a big empty blue sky. Imagine anything that is bothering them – schoolwork, family life, things that are nagging them. Imagine tying all those troubles to the balloon. Then they set the balloon free. It floats off into the blue sky out of their vision and they are left with the perfect blue cloudless sky. Then take a big inhale and exhale and open their eyes.”
4. Take your children outside. Being near trees and under a blue sky are inherently relaxing. Go for a walk, take a bike ride, plan a camping trip. Read the book, “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louvs. He describes why being in nature is important for children. He lists nature activities for kids and families. Have you and your kids seen the movie The Lorax? You should. It is a thoughtful look at the value of nature in the lives of our children.

And to quote another wise sage, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller.