One of the highlights of my year is Hand Camp. Each year (see previous posts), I have shared a brief post but for those of you without a Hand Camp experience, I will briefly describe. This is a camp run by the Shriners Hospital team including the occupational therapists, recreational therapists, social workers and nurses. Planning is a year long process and Camp Lakewood in Potosi, Missouri has been our camp site each year. Approximately 15 families (including the child with a limb difference, parent(s), siblings) join with junior counselor, staff and team members to create an amazing weekend of learning, bonding, and growth. Hand Camp allows kids to see and interact with others with birth differences that may be similar to their own. It allows kids and families to interact with our amazing group of junior counselor who have successfully navigated childhood and adolescence and have such wonderful stories and experiences to share. And it allows all to participate in great camp activities including horseback riding, archery, rock wall climbing, and so much more.
There are so many reasons that I enjoy Hand Camp. A few include:
– Seeing kids and families outside of the hospital environment
– Watching kids with notable hand differences accomplish so much (i.e, climbing the rock wall)
– Seeing kids and junior counselors interact
– Listening to the junior counselors as they share a lifetime of wisdom with parents of younger campers. These lessons can be very emotional but the experience is incredible.
– Watching kids bond.
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| Two amazing kids who met and bonded at Hand Camp. |
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| A more spontaneous and ‘natural picture’. The girls share an a difference with ulnar deficiency of the left arm. |
Hand Camp 2017 was a success. Already looking forward to next year.