7/23/2010 9:48:00 AM Camp Soaring Eagle takes kids to special heights
Camp Soaring Eagle sponsored the group to attend the Kentucky camp, but it is aware of other illnesses and hopes to sponsor 350 children this year who would otherwise not be able to do the things other kids do.
Camp Soaring Eagle is the only medically-based camp in Arizona that pays attention to a variety of childhood illnesses rather than one specific issue.
VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK --They are all smiles. Big smiles! It was great fun like they have never had before. Five kids from the Verde Valley, among 15 from across Arizona, just returned from a week at camp. Any kid would have fun riding a horse, hiking, being outside and enjoying the fresh air and friends.
When they huddle around the campfire for skits the first night, there is no fire to make smoke. They don't mind. Smoke would just complicate their fun. Without a campfire, they don't have to worry about protecting themselves or being embarrassed about coughing and wheezing.
Everybody here suffers from asthma.
These kids are special and the camp is special, too. The Camp is the Center for Courageous Kids in Kentucky. It is one of the trips and activities sponsored by Camp Soaring Eagle, a medically aware camping program based in the Village of Oak Creek, which supports regular kids who daily deal with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.
Hope Diaz of Camp Verde is one of those kids with a big smile. Her mom, Heather, is also smiling. She also knows well the restrictions placed on a child with asthma. She also has had asthma all her life. So did her mother. "I always felt different from anyone else," she said.
"When I went to camp, there were a lot of things, I couldn't do because I had asthma. I couldn't do the running and I always felt different from anyone. So for Hope to have a chance to go and participate like everyone else, knowing that no one is going to make fun of her and take part just like everyone."
It's tough to be left out of activities when you are young.
Heather recalls she first discovered Hope had asthma when she got sick at 6 months old. "We didn't have insurance, then and just let it go, thinking it would get better."
When Hope began turning blue, she called 911. The little girl, now 10 years old, was in an oxygen tent for a week.
Camp Soaring Eagle sponsored the group to attend the Kentucky camp, but it is aware of other illnesses and hopes to sponsor 350 children this year who would otherwise not be able to do the things other kids do.
Before last week's camp, Hope had never before been away from home and her mom. Justin Aleman from the Village also had never been on a jet plane before.
Justin and Hope beam when they talk about riding a horse, fishing, dancing. There is a lot of variety and activity at the Camp for Courageous Kids.
"We walked everywhere, a lot of dancing, chanting, jumping and swimming pool," Hope said.
One night, the 150 or so children tried to set a world record for eating the most spaghetti without silverware.
Juan Morales and his wife, Maria Elena, escorted the kids to Kentucky for the week. He is operations manager and a recruiter. He said the kids from Arizona were delighted at night since they had never seen fireflies before and there were hundreds in Kentucky
Some of the Verde Valley children were identified by pediatrician Dr. Jane Sanson. She said such an opportunity has never before been available for local kids. Juan and others talk to schools about the program and help identify children who may become candidates.
There are 25,000 children across Arizona who have special medical needs.
Camp Soaring Eagle Executive Director Jennifer Perry said it is not the intention to teach kids how to cope with their condition.
They already hear those things from doctors and family. These camp is for kids to have fun in a normal way.
Studies show that children who do not need to worry about their treatments and medications and are surrounded by their peers who understand their experiences and feelings, the result is extremely positive medically and psychologically.
The camp based, in the Village of Oak Creek, has three parts, said Perry. The Flying with Camp Soaring Eagle is a travel program allows kids to attend some of the best medically based camps in the country at no charge where they can play and laugh with other kids from around the world. The program accepts kids from 7 to 17.
Two trips are planned this year to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Conn., the camp started by actor Paul Newman.
Those activities will accept kids with cancer, hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, HIV or metabolic syndrome
Younger kids can join in retreat camps with their parents.
The first week of August, nine children and their parents will be part of a Family Retreat Week in Sedona for young kids with cancer to be held the Briar Patch Inn in Oak Creek Canyon. Rob Olsen and his family have donated the entire lodge for the retreat.
Families who are struggling with childhood illnesses can step away for a week with other families ands share the challenges and successes.
Beginning in September through early December, a series of six Camper Weekends will be held for kids with specific illnesses at the Jackpot Ranch in Camp Verde
Perry said Soaring Eagle is the only medically-based camp in Arizona that pays attention to a variety of childhood illnesses rather than one specific issue.
The program was launched by the Max James Family Foundation. Camp Soaring Eagle also gets funds from the Well Fargo Foundation and from private donors.
Eventually, the camp wants to establish a permanent base in the Verde Valley. But, first, they want to establish the program and help kids enjoy
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, July 23, 2010
Article comment by:
Jennifer Perry
Thank you very much for the great article. I would just like to clarify that Camp Soaring Eagle is not a member of the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps at this time. But is following their model and methodology in medically based camping and hopes to at some time apply for complete membership.
