Video: Every Case Tells a Story| Webinar: ACR/CHEST ILD Guidelines in Practice

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

  • Conditions
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis
    • Gout and Crystalline Arthritis
    • Myositis
    • Osteoarthritis and Bone Disorders
    • Pain Syndromes
    • Pediatric Conditions
    • Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Sjögren’s Disease
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
    • Systemic Sclerosis
    • Vasculitis
    • Other Rheumatic Conditions
  • FocusRheum
    • ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis
    • Gout
    • Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • Guidance
    • Clinical Criteria/Guidelines
    • Ethics
    • Legal Updates
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence
      • Other ACR meetings
      • EULAR/Other
    • Research Rheum
  • Drug Updates
    • Analgesics
    • Biologics/DMARDs
  • Practice Support
    • Billing/Coding
    • EMRs
    • Facility
    • Insurance
    • QA/QI
    • Technology
    • Workforce
  • Opinion
    • Patient Perspective
    • Profiles
    • Rheuminations
      • Video
    • Speak Out Rheum
  • Career
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Awards
    • Career Development
  • ACR
    • ACR Home
    • ACR Convergence
    • ACR Guidelines
    • Journals
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
    • From the College
    • Events/CME
    • President’s Perspective
  • Search

Juvenile Arthritis Camps Offer Kids Freedom, Fun & Education

Linda Childers  |  Issue: October 2018  |  October 18, 2018

“The great thing about Camp Cambria is seeing all the kids become great friends, regardless of their abilities,” Dr. Correll says. “Their days are filled with activities—canoeing, horseback riding, archery and waterskiing—and at night we have structured educational time.”

Dr. Correll says at night the campers, who range in age from 8–17, form groups within their designated cabins to discuss issues related to their condition.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

“One night, we may have a dietitian or nurse talking about diet and medications, and the next, a psychologist may discuss coping skills,” Dr. Correll says.

Dr. Correll says volunteering at an arthritis camp allows her the chance to evaluate how well her young patients manage their rheumatic disease. “Volunteering at camp has allowed me to see how arthritis impacts the daily lives of my patients. I typically arrive at camp in the morning and have breakfast with the kids, and later I’ll join in on the camp activities.”

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Dr. Correll notes that Camp Cambria has a “Med Shed,” where campers receive their medications as needed during the day and also get treated for rashes, bug bites, fevers and other symptoms that may arise while they’re at camp.

“It’s wonderful to see so many kids realize they aren’t alone in coping with arthritis,” Dr. Correll says. “Many of the campers return to camp again the following year, and the friendships they make at camp last beyond the summer.”

Volunteer and refer: For information on volunteering at future arthritis camps or to locate a nearby camp to refer pediatric patients, click here.

More photos: Click the images below to load the camp photo gallery.

At Camp Milagros in Livermore, Calif., many campers enjoy their first experience away from home, where they can just be a kid, rather than an arthritis patient.
Campers get the chance to enjoy simple pleasures, such as making friends and figuring out the perfect way to toast marshmallows.
The entrance to Camp Cambria in Minnesota greets campers who arrive for one memorable week each year.
A camper tackles the rope course at Camp Wekandu. Activities are adapted to the campers’ ability levels.
Campers check the ropes before beginning their next challenge.
Campers increase their confidence and self-esteem by experiencing new activities.
Helmets are required for certain camp activities, such as zip lining, to ensure a safe and secure camping experience.

Linda Childers is a California-based journalist who contributes health articles to a number of national media outlets. Her stories have appeared in The California Health Report, Arthritis Today, Neurology Now, Nurse.com, Minority Nurse, Lifescript.com and many other publications. An award-winning writer, Ms. Childers lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, son and rescue dog.

Page: 1 2 3 4 | Single Page
Share: 

Filed under:ConditionsPatient PerspectivePractice Support Tagged with:Arthritis FoundationJuvenile Arthritis (JIA)Juvenile Arthritis Camps

Related Articles

    A Lack of Pediatric Providers Can Have Long-Term Consequences

    April 17, 2021

    As with rheumatology care in general, the current demand for pediatric rheumatologists is greater than the supply of providers available. That imbalance is expected to increase significantly by 2030 unless action is taken, according to a new workforce study published in Arthritis Care & Research.1 The lack of pediatric providers is a serious problem that…

    The 2022 ACR Awards of Distinction

    December 8, 2022

    During ACR Convergence 2022 in early November, the ACR honored a group of individuals who have made significant contributions to rheumatology research, education and patient care by announcing the recipients of the ACR’s 2022 Awards of Distinction, as well as the 2022 ACR Masters, recognized for their contributions to the field. See the November issue…

    The Pediatric Rheumatology Workforce: Too Many Kids, Too Few Providers

    November 9, 2022

    “Fifty percent of kids with rheumatic disease are taken care of by adult providers,” says Jay J. Mehta, MD, MS, attending physician and fellowship program director, Department of Rheumatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and a co-author of the ACR’s recent pediatric workforce shortage study.1,2 “But adult rheumatologists may not have specific training in the rheumatic…

    Supporting Rheumatologic Care for Pediatric Patients

    January 10, 2022

    As chair of the Pediatric Rheumatology Special Committee, Colleen Correll, MD, MPH, is supporting efforts to increase the pediatric rheumatology workforce as a whole and pediatric rheumatology representation in the ACR.

  • About Us
  • Meet the Editors
  • Issue Archives
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Copyright © 2025 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies. ISSN 1931-3268 (print). ISSN 1931-3209 (online).
  • DEI Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Preferences