Camp Wyatt helps Utah kids breathe easier
Children who have asthma live with the fear that they may experience an attack and not get the help they need in time. They miss out on doing things that other children do because it might cause them to have an attack. Camp Wyatt wants to change that.
“Children and parents lock themselves inside and live in a bubble,” said Spencer Slade, program coordinator for The American Lung Association in Utah. “We’re trying to get away from that.”
About 28 years ago, the American Lung Association in Utah founded Camp Wyatt so that children with asthma can do all of the camp activities from which they might otherwise be excluded. The children also learn asthma management techniques.
“We mix fun with asthma education,” said Slade. The camp is especially good for non-compliant children who learn better management techniques.
Located at the Utah Elks’ Camp Wapiti just south of Tooele City, the camp offers 24-hour medical supervision and is open to every child ages 8 to 14 regardless of asthma severity. Camp is scheduled to start on July 11, 2011, and end July 15, 2011.
The camp is staffed with physicians, registered nurses and trained camp counselors. Slade said that long-standing relationships with the University of Utah School of Nursing and Pharm. D. programs and Weber State’s Respiratory Therapy programs make recruiting volunteers easy.
It costs the American Lung Association in Utah about $700 per camper to hold camp. Parents are asked to pay $200.
“There is no financial reason to turn away a child,” Slade said. Camperships are available and about 40 percent of the campers receive some sort of financial assistance.
Slade expects between 70 and 80 campers this year, but “would like to see 100.” Those attending the camp will need to have seen a physician and have his or her written approval to attend the camp.
If parents would like to register their children for camp or they have any questions, they can call (801)484-4456. The deadline for camp applications is July 5, 2011.
Those who wish to make a donation to the American Lung Association in Utah may do so here.
This article was originally published at examiner.com. Links updated Feb. 2017.
“Children and parents lock themselves inside and live in a bubble,” said Spencer Slade, program coordinator for The American Lung Association in Utah. “We’re trying to get away from that.”
About 28 years ago, the American Lung Association in Utah founded Camp Wyatt so that children with asthma can do all of the camp activities from which they might otherwise be excluded. The children also learn asthma management techniques.
“We mix fun with asthma education,” said Slade. The camp is especially good for non-compliant children who learn better management techniques.
Located at the Utah Elks’ Camp Wapiti just south of Tooele City, the camp offers 24-hour medical supervision and is open to every child ages 8 to 14 regardless of asthma severity. Camp is scheduled to start on July 11, 2011, and end July 15, 2011.
The camp is staffed with physicians, registered nurses and trained camp counselors. Slade said that long-standing relationships with the University of Utah School of Nursing and Pharm. D. programs and Weber State’s Respiratory Therapy programs make recruiting volunteers easy.
It costs the American Lung Association in Utah about $700 per camper to hold camp. Parents are asked to pay $200.
“There is no financial reason to turn away a child,” Slade said. Camperships are available and about 40 percent of the campers receive some sort of financial assistance.
Slade expects between 70 and 80 campers this year, but “would like to see 100.” Those attending the camp will need to have seen a physician and have his or her written approval to attend the camp.
If parents would like to register their children for camp or they have any questions, they can call (801)484-4456. The deadline for camp applications is July 5, 2011.
Those who wish to make a donation to the American Lung Association in Utah may do so here.
This article was originally published at examiner.com. Links updated Feb. 2017.