Camp Wanakita

Camp Wanakita
The Hemophilia Society
The Canadian Hemophilia
p
Society exists to improve the
quality of life for all persons with
hemophilia and other inherited
bleeding disorders and to find a
cure.
Hemophilia Ontario is a chapter
of the Canadian Hemophilia
Society.
Society
Camp Wanakita
The Camp
p Wanakita
Bleeding Disorders
Program allows children
and youth living with
bleeding disorders to
participate in a residential
summer camp program.
The Camp Wanakita
Bleeding Disorders Program
Our challenge was to create a camp atmosphere
where children and youth living with bleeding
disorders would be safe, while allowing them the
freedom to participate fully in camp life. The
result is the bleeding disorder program
program, a
program that has been operating successfully
for over 15 years.
One of the unique features of the bleeding
disorders program at Camp Wanakita is that
children living with bleeding disorders are fully
integrated into the regular camp program.
At camp, children with bleeding disorders
participate in activities that they may have
otherwise not had an opportunity to engage in
previously;
i
l activities
ti iti such
h as a hi
high
h rope course,
canoeing, kayaking, swimming and hiking.
Our Nurses
During the first two weeks of
th h
the
hemophilia
hili program att
Camp Wanakita, six nurses
from hemophilia clinics
across the province are on
hand to supervise
p
infusions,,
treat injuries and to ensure
the health and well being of
campers.
Self Infusion
A key learning component for youth at
Camp Wanakita is self-infusion
self-infusion. Selfinfusion is the administration, by intravenous
injection, of clotting factor concentrates by
the individual who is living with a bleeding
disorder.
Self infusion confers a great sense of
control over ones bleeding disorder. Under
the supervision and guidance of the clinic
nurses, children as young as 7 years old
learn to administer their own treatment at
camp.
When youth self administer their very first
infusion, they are videotaped so that they
p
with family
y
can share the experience
members when they return home.
Our Objective
To p
provide an integrated
g
camp
p experience
p
for children and youth
y
with bleeding
g
disorders with the purpose of:
•Providing children & youth living with a bleeding disorder an opportunity to learn how to self
infuse, and learn how to maintain a positive self care regime.
•Providing a safe environment where children & youth can network with each other and
establish bonds with other children experiencing similar health situations.
•Providing qualified hemophilia nurse specialists to be on site for care and education support.
•Providing a fun, integrated summer camp experience where children and youth with bleeding
disorders can experience what it is like to be a child first and “patient” second.
Outcomes
•Numerous campers have learned to self infuse and
many perform their first self infusion while at camp. In
2008, we had 6 children perform their first infusion
independently.
•Those who infuse
f
for
f the first
f
time receive a
videotape of their self infusion to share with family.
•We encourage leadership and ongoing peer to peer
support.
•Stronger working relationships are often established
between nursing staff and campers providing the
children with an opportunity to interact with their clinic
nurse in a fun environment.
•Children/youth develop more independence; many
go on to participate in leadership training.
•Over the years, former campers have returned to be
employed as camp counselors.
•Many inner city children get to experience nature for
the first time and learn about the environment while
participating
p
p
g in outdoor activities that might
g otherwise
be unavailable to them.