This summer may look different, but we will still have opportunities to connect at JA Camp. Our new virtual JA Camp experience brings the magic of summer camp to all campers with JA, wherever you happen to be! While we cannot replace being in person together, we are excited to give campers an alternative option for connection and fun.
The Arthritis Foundation is proud to offer free, at-home summer camp experiences across the United States for kids and teens withjuvenile arthritisand related childhood rheumatic diseases. Juvenile arthritis (JA) camps are sponsored nationally by Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity and Foundation (AOII), as well as supporting partners Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, and the Saal Family Fund in memory of Jessica Saul. Thanks to sponsorship and donations, virtual camp is provided at no cost to families.
Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity’s Executive Director Kaya Miller shares, “For many of our members, our support of the Arthritis Foundation Camp program is one of the most compelling aspects of our work together. Chapters and members are especially passionate about fundraising the dollars that help children and youth attend a JA summer camp. AOII understands this passion and is proud to champion this important JA initiative.”
我们的虚拟JA夏令营将提供一些传统的夏令营项目，如正念、运动、艺术和工艺、夏令营歌曲等等。营员将通过直播视频互动，让他们有机会看到熟悉的朋友和咨询师的面孔。所有虚拟JA营员也将被邮寄一本活动手册。通过我们的夏令营项目，甚至是虚拟的，营员可以更好地了解自己的诊断和治疗，建立强大的同伴支持网络，并培养他们在日常生活中成为有效的领导者、倡导者和捍卫者所需的技能。一位来自我们加州青少年休养营的露营者分享道:“我觉得虚拟JA营真的帮助我找到了与JA进行大学和独立医生预约的选择。”
Volunteer co-camp director Claire Peckenpaugh from Camp KODA in Utah shared, “Camp KODA has been a vital resource for our kids living with rheumatic conditions in the Intermountain West region. By moving camp to an online, virtual platform, we’ve been able to safely connect with those from all over our market, Utah, Idaho and Montana, as well Nevada and Wyoming. While online camp isn’t the same as the annual in-person camp, we are thrilled to have kids and young adults connect with one another to discuss challenging topics such as: advocacy, living with chronic conditions and mental health. Thanks to the help of our volunteers and medical staff from Primary Children’s Hospital, we’ve had the opportunity to host 59 kids at our virtual camp this year! The fundraising efforts of both the National and Local Arthritis Foundation chapters have given us this opportunity to provide a safe environment for our kids living with chronic illness to come together and realize there are other kids out there just like them. As we’ve told the kids time and time again, we are stronger together as a community.”
Visit ourcamp websiteto register for an Arthritis Foundation Virtual JA camp today. We hope to connect with you online!