Support & Community
Camps for CHD Kids
The following is a list of camps for CHD kids. If you know of any other camps, or have any comments/questions, please e-mail info@achaheart.org.
California
Camp del Corazon
The camp is held on Catalina Island.There are sessions for teens ages 13-17 and for children ages 7-12.
Contact Camp del Corazon at:
- Camp del Corazon
11615 Hesby Street
North Hollywood, CA 91601 - Telephone: (818) 754-0312
- Fax: (818) 754-0842
- E-Mail: info@campdelcorazon.org
- Website: www.campdelcorazon.org
Camp Taylor
The camp is located at Camp Arroyo nestled in the beautiful foothills of Livermore, California, on 138 acres of serene landscape. It is a nonprofit, free camp, which accepts children ages 6-17. Camp Taylor allows its heart campers to bring a sibling along to enjoy the camp experience with them and it has a complete pediatric cardiac staff on site.
Contact Camp Taylor at:
- Camp Taylor, Inc.
P.O. Box 1722
Modesto, CA 95353 - Kimberlie Gamino, Executive Director & Co-founder
- Telephone: (209) 545-4715
- E-Mail: gamino5@hotmail.com
- Website: www.kidsheartcamp.org
Florida
The Boggy Creek Gang
The Boggy Creek Gang Camp is a permanent, year-round center where young people with life-threatening illnesses can come at no charge to them or their families. The camp accomodates children ages 7-17.
Contact The Boggy Greek Gang at:
- The Boggy Creek Gang
30500 Brantley Branch Road
Eustis, FL 32736 - Telephone: (352) 483-4200
- Fax: (352) 483-0358
- E-mail: info@boggycreek.org
- Website: www.boggycreek.org
Georgia
Camp Braveheart
Camp Braveheart is a special place where kids can be kids. Staffed with physicians and nurses from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and volunteers from the community, Camp Braveheart is a camp where children and teens who are affected by heart disease and heart transplant recipients have a chance to do the things that other kids do, with no worries of medical procedures, and no fear of being different from their peers. Campers, ages 7-18, stay busy with activities such as horseback riding, arts and crafts, archery, mountain biking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, tennis, mini-golf, and rock wall climbing. The camp is located at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, Georgia (1 hour outside Atlanta). Attendance is free.
Contact Camp Braveheart at:
- Camp Braveheart
3495 Brittany Way
Kennesaw, GA 30152 - Telephone: (770) 919-2775
- Toll-free: (888) 988-9979
- E-mail: campbraveheart@choa.org
- Website: www.choa.org
Louisiana
Camp Bon Coeur
Camp Bon Coeur is for boys and girls who are 8-16 years of age, and who have had major corrective open heart surgery, pacemakers, transplants, or a major heart disease. Only 50 campers per session will be accepted. Full and partial sponsorships are available. Camp Bon Coeur is currently located on the grounds of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
Contact Camp Bon Coeur at:
- Camp Bon Coeur, Inc.
A Rehabilitative Cardiac Camp
P.O. Box 53765
Lafayette, LA 70505 - Telephone: (337) 233-8437
- E-mail: info@heartcamp.com
- Website: www.heartcamp.com
Maryland
Dragonfly Heart Camp
We at Dragonfly Heart Camp offer children with heart disease and pulmonary hypertension a camping experience that will build strength and confidence, as well as empower, educate, and cultivate life-long friendships. Dragonfly Heart Camp is located on the beautiful grounds of Echo Hill Outdoor School on Maryland's Eastern Shore along the Chesapeake Bay. Camp is held for one week in the summer and open to campers ages 7–17. Camp is free to all campers. In 2008, camp is limited to 20 campers. We are taking campers on a first-come basis.
Contact Dragonfly Heart Camp at:
- Dragonfly Heart Camp
P.O. Box 454
Chestertown, MD 21620 - Telephone: (443) 480-9578
- E-mail: director@dragonflyhearcamp.org
- Website: www.dragonflyheartcamp.org
Massachusetts
Madden Open Hearts Camp
This camp is situated in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Each session runs for 2 weeks and is free to attend. There are four different sessions offered during the summer. Approximately 13 boys and 10 girls from the ages of 7-12 are allowed to come per session.
Contact Madden Open Hearts Camp at:
- Madden Open Hearts Camp
250 Monument Valley Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230 - Telephone: (413) 528-2229
- Fax: (413) 528-6553
- Website: www.openheartscamp.org
Minnesota
Camp Odayin
Camp Odayin is for children ages 6-17 with heart disease. We offer resident, day and family camp programs. Our state of the art facilities offer campers the opportunity to strengthen self-confidence, gain independence, develop life skills, and meet other young people with similar health, emotional and social concerns. Fully staffed with pediatric cardiologists and nurses, we offer parents a worry free way to confidently send their child to summer camp. A non-profit organization, Camp Odayin is fully funded through grants, fundraisers, and donors—as the only charge to attend is a $25 registration fee per camper. At Camp Odayin, kids play . . . worries rest . . . and fun happens.
Contact Camp Odayin at:
- Camp Odayin
P.O. Box 2068
Stillwater, MN 55082 - Telephone: (651) 351-9185
- Toll-free: (866) 963-2946
- Fax: (651) 351-9187
- Website: www.campodayin.org
Nebraska
Camp Brave Hearts
- Contact: Jennifer Strawn
- Telephone: (402) 955-4350
- E-mail: jstrawn@chsomaha.org
New Hampshire
Camp Meridian
Camp Meridian is for children 8-12 years old, who are born with heart disease. It is free of charge.
- Seacoast Children's Cardiolog
Building 1, Suite 103
2064 Woodbury Avenue
Newington, NH 03801 - Telephone: (207) 580-0337
- E-mail: info@campmeridian.org
- Website: http://campmeridian.org
New York/New Jersey
Hope with Heart
Hope with Heart lasts for one week and is located in Orange County, New York. It is FREE to attend.
Contact Hope with Heart at:
- Hope with Heart
P.O. Box 618
Hewitt, NJ 07421
- E-mail: hopewithheart@hotmail.com
North Carolina
Camp Kaleidoscope
Camp Kaleidoscope is a camping program for children and adolescents treated at Duke University Medical Center for chronic illnesses and other health problems. Each session is a week long. The camp is free.
Ohio
Camp Joyful Hearts and the Hopeful Hearts Family Retreat Weekend
Camp Joyful Hearts is held at Joy Outdoor Education Center, 10117 Old 3-C Highway, in Clarksville, OH, approximately 50 minutes from Cincinnati and 75 minutes from Columbus. The camp occupies 315 acres of trees, trails, fields, and meadows overlooking a river valley. Three handicap accessible cabins with indoor bathrooms and hot showers will house campers near the air-conditioned dining hall. Any child or adolescent with a congenital or acquired heart disease, ages 8 to 18, may attend. Teens with heart disease, ages 16 to 21, can volunteer as leaders-in-training and assist counselors with the younger kids.
Contact Camp Joyful Hearts at:
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
3333 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 - Contact: Betsey Adler
- Phone: (613) 636-4770
- E-Mail: betsy.adler@cchmc.org
Children's Hospital Heart Camp
Hope with Heart last for one week and is located in Orange County, New York. It is FREE to attend.
Contact Children's Hospital Heart Camp at:
- Children's Hospital
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH 43205 - Contact: Mary Rummell
- Phone: (614) 722-2530
- Heart Camp - Weekend camp for cardiology/thoracic surgery patients ages seven to 18
Oklahoma
CHAMP Camp
CHAMP(Children with Heart Abnormalities have Much Potential) Camp is a week-long camp designed to promote friendships, support networks, knowledge base, and coping skills among children with heart disorders and their siblings.
The camp serves children ages 7-16 years of age as resident campers, and 4-8 years of age as day campers. Children with heart problems ages 15 and older function as junior counselors, assisting the counselor and camping staff.
The camp is located at Shepherd's Fold Ranch in Avant, Oklahoma, approximately 15 miles north of Skiatook. Nurses are on-site at all times, and physician/pediatric cardiologist coverage is available at all times by phone or in person.
Contact CHAMP Camp at:
- Contact: Debi Lammert, RN, CNS
- Contact: Mary Rummell
- Telephone: (918) 494-5470
- E-mail: DSLammert@SaintFrancis.com
Pennsylvania
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Heart Camp
This camp is for kids ages 8-16 from the United States and Canada. The camp takes place in Camp Kon-O-Kwee, a YMCA camp in Fombell, Pennsylvania. Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Heart Camp accepts 16- and 17-year-olds who are interested in attending camp into its junior counselor program. All heart patients 18 and older can come as counselors and staff.
Contact Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Heart Camp at:
- Contact: Mary Ann Brethold
- Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Children's Heart Center
3705 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2583 - Telephone: (412) 692-5540
- Website: www.chp.edu/centers/03heart_camp.php
Camp Victory
- P.O. Box 810 Millville, PA 17846
- Telephone: (570) 458-6530
- E-mail: fun@campvictory.org
Tennessee
Cardiac Kids Camp
The annual Cardiac Kids Camp is designed for children ages 8-18 with cardiac-related diagnoses. Nurses, physicians, cardiovascular technologists, volunteers and former heart patients serve as counselors for the camp. The camp is held at Lakeshore United Methodist Campground in Eva, Tennessee.
Contact Cardiac Kids Camp at:
- LeBonheur Children's Medical Center
50 North Dunlap Street
Memphis, TN 38103 - Telephone: (901) 572-4562
Texas
Camp Moss
Camp Moss is one of the many camps held at Camp John Marc. The camp is held the 4th week of June each year.
Contact Camp Moss at:
- P.O. Route 329
Meridian, TX 76665 - Telephone: (817) 635-8811
- Fax: (817) 635-4441
Virginia
Camp Holiday Trails
A Charlottesville-based program that gives children with special health needs a joyful summer camp experience
Contact Camp Holiday Trails at:
- P.O. Box 5806
Charlottesville, VA 22905 - Telephone: (434) 977-3781
- Fax: (434) 977-8814
- E-mail: chtinfo@nexet.com