Camp Oasis

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My son is going this year. Jmrogers4 has a son that has been. There are several on here that have been but now I can't think of the others.
 
My son goes to Camp Oasis in Washington State. It is incredible! He had made many friends who he keeps in contact with throughout the year and they have developed a great support system if any of them is having issues/problems. As they put it "No one else really understands" It has also helped anytime the GI has talked about a procedure or new medicine - he will say so and so from camp had that is on that.

They have so much fun and it's not all about IBD but it is nice for them to be with kids like them - maybe a little smaller, thinner or have an NG tube. All getting medicine. Jack says he doesn't feel different there.

I don't know which one your son would attend but I would definitely recommend it.
 
I registered Savannah to go this year here in Texas after talking with Marni's mom. She has some videos posted somewhere in here. I think it will do her some good to be around other kids with IBD.
 
Ooohhh, that's so great! I told Marni about Savannah, so I'll be sure to let her know to keep an eye out for her and be a buddy to her. There's a possibility they'll be in the same cabin because the youngest kids are all put together, and so far, there has always been empty bunks in Marni's cabin. On the other hand, Marni said, this year, she moves up to the next cabin. She's ten.
 
Kermit, I believe that Camp Oasis kind of varies from state to state as far as duration and facilities. Our camp, in Texas, only goes for three nights. I wish, after all the paperwork and clearances our kids have to go through to go to camp at all, it would be for a week. But, the counselors and a staff are mostly volunteers, so I suppose it would be hard to get volunteers to take off work for a whole week.

The camp here in Texas is on a property called Camp John Marc. It's a camp facility about an hour away from Waco, in the heart of Texas ranch land, that is set up to host camps who cater to organizations who represent kids with illnesses: IBD, diabetes, heart disease, etc. So, there's a full medical "shack" there on the grounds. They have a lake, a pool, a zip line and climbing tower, animals, and archery pit, a beautiful dining and activity hall, etc.

We have two locations in Texas, one in Austin, and one in Dallas, where kids meet a bus that takes them to the camp site. The first year, I drove Marni there myself. It was supposed to be a four hour drive, but it took me 8 hours! Yes, I got lost. The camp site is down a very hidden, dirty, country road, far from the main country road that is far from the state highway that is far from the interstate. LOL. I never knew such remote places existed until I went to Meridian, Texas. But, once you get there, it's beautiful. And that time of year, the deer are out all over the place at dusk.

The buses pick up at a location in those cities where they kids are all screened by the doctor before they are cleared to get on the bus. They go over the paperwork with us and do a quick eval to make sure the kids are in good enough health to go.

They have such a great time there. Everyone there has the same issues, and they do fun activities like skits about pooping, art projects like coloring their colons, LOL.

I urge you to send your child. You won't regret it.
 
Gus has been twice. He is looking forward to going again this year. Our camp is the Painted Turtle in Lake Hughes, CA.

The staff is wonderful. They have everything covered from the medical side. They really do give the kids an amazing camp experience...just like any other kid. I wish I had the courage to send him a year or two sooner!

Last year they even offered a sibling camp two of our other kids attended that and it was just as wonderful for them. This year all three of the other kids will go.

If you have the opportunity...go!
 
Kermit, my daughter went last year she was 14 and although had a good time doesn't care to go back. She loves softball and that's the week of high school try outs. She said the food was terrible all processed!! Imagine that :) all in all it was a good experience and I'm glad she went at least once

Momoftwinboys, yep daughter attended Missouri
 
Alex went first time last summer and can't wait to go back this summer. It's a great program.
 
I'm not a parent but I do have Crohn's and I was a camp counselor last year at the Willow River, MN Camp Oasis. It was unbelievable how appreciative the kids are for the camp. They get to relate with kids on a whole new level. It was very heartwarming and I would recommend this camp to any child with IBD.
 
I have to add how AMAZING all the camp counselors are. Such a joyous and positive time for the kids. Thank you Breuerc for volunteering!
 
We live very close to our Camp Oasis location. It is actually one of Paul Newman's "Hole in the Wall" camps: The Painted Turtle, located in Lake Hughes, CA.

Camp had to be cancelled this year (for all kids, for all diseases) due to the recent Powerhouse Fire that raged through the area. This would have been my son's third year as a Crohn's camper and the second year for my other three kids to attend the sibling camp. All were disappointed at the cancellation.

The good news is that all of the buildings were still standing after the fire ravaged the area. All of the vegetation is gone, but the buildings are still standing! Camps were cancelled to give the staff and volunteers time to address the smoke damage and give the entire camp and extra "sterile" cleaning (very important for some of the diseases they host). Everyone has high hopes that the camp will be able to re-open next year.

Here's a link to their facebook page, for anyone who is interested: https://www.facebook.com/paintedturtlecamp?fref=ts
 
Oh how sad! Glad the buildings are still there and there is hope for next year. I think I few of the kids Jack goes to camp with have gone to Painted Turtle in the past, they really liked it.
Jack leaves in just a little over a week for camp and is getting very excited. This will be his 4th year and this is the first year since he has gone that some other kids from here will be going.
 
We received Savannah's approval yesterday :) Looks like she is going to Camp Oasis @ Camp John Marc here in Texas...

Wow that is a bummer about the Painted Turtle Camp in Cali... There isn't another camp they can send these kids to???
 
Sorry to hear about Painted Turtle Camp. I'm glad that not all was lost at that camp :(. Jaedyn is looking forward to camp in about 10 days as well.
 
Alex was so looking forward to his 2nd year at Painted Turtle this summer, we are so disappointed. I'm glad the camp was saved and can be cleaned and ready for next summer.
 
There were a couple of camps that still had some openings...one was in MN the other was in MO.

I keep thinking, it would be wonderful if the kids could get together for a social event.

What do you think Jenn? Somewhere between San Diego and Palmdale???
 
Vtfamily - looks like Anaheim is about halfway. Angels game? Downtown Disney? Would be cool if CCFA sponsored something since camp was lost, maybe I'll ping them. They have some other kid activities through the year I know. Nothing replaces Camp Oasis of course. :(
 
Jenn said:
Vtfamily - looks like Anaheim is about halfway. Angels game? Downtown Disney? Would be cool if CCFA sponsored something since camp was lost, maybe I'll ping them. They have some other kid activities through the year I know. Nothing replaces Camp Oasis of course. :(
Click to expand...

Jenn,

Painted Turtle does have events through out the year for the kids and their families...building community and self-promotion for fund raising. I agree that it would be nice if the CCFA would at least send an e-mail to the camp families and measure the interest in a group event...like an Angels game (with CCFA shirts for all, so we make an impact in the crowd :smile:). Downtown Disney would be fun (just saw it for the first time a couple of weeks ago on a field trip to CA Adventure with Gus), but more difficult to create interaction for the kids.

Ohhh, how about a harbor cruise, dinner or whale watching??? Even if we had to pay our own way, it's a sure fire way to isolate us as a group for the duration!! :lol2:

Keep us posted on what happens when you contact the CCFA. On the one hand, don't want to "overwhelm" them, but on the other hand, happy to speak-up if that is what they need to get interested in the concept.

Cheryl
 
They posted a few pictures from Camp Colman and it looks very rainy (go figure for Western Washington) but the only pictures that had Jack in them he was smiling so I don't think the rain is bothering them
 
Last year, we got a CD with a picture presentation and oh my gosh, the smiles on all the kids faces, it was so amazing!
 
Our 13yo son will be attending Camp JohnMarc in Texas for the first time in two weeks. He's excited but also a little nervous about being around other kids like himself. He was just diagnosed in jan and a lot of things are still very new for him. Is anyone available who knows what age group divides the junior and senior groups and what types of activities that they sign up for?
 
Atliana, my daughter will be a 4th time camper this summer. She's 10. I don't know about how they divide up the age groups, but if you don't get an answer, please private message me, and I'd be happy to get the info for you. I have one of the counselors who will probably be your son's counselor's phone number in my cell phone. We've gotten to know him pretty well via the CCFA functions and camp.

Stacey
 
Thank you for the reply. I was going to try and reach Varnessa today and see if she knew. My bigger concern is treys apriso enema that he has to have each night before bed. For obvious reasons he likes to have a little privacy but I don't see that as an option. I wonder if anyone on this forum has dealt with a similar medication and how it was administered.
 
Atliana, I've been in the clinic at John Marc, and I think it won't be a problem for him to have his enema in private. That's not something they would expect him to do with an audience.

As far as age breakdown, Marni wasn't very helpful. There's a group of the youngest kids age 9/10 and under. Then there's the next age group, which is the one she thinks 13 year olds are in. But she wasn't absolutely sure. I'm sorry I couldn't be more help.

Tell your son to say hi to Marni if he crosses her path. She's ten, but it's her fourth year.

Stacey
 
There seemed to be a lot of age groups in Jaedyn's Camp Oasis this year. The nursing staff was really good to help meet all of our particular needs, and if your medical staff is anything like ours, I don't think the enemas will be a problem at all.
 

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