“At Camp, he’s a little boy again.
He gets to play and have a good time – instead of thinking about his illness.”
- Bill, father of Kyle, age 4
- Teen Camp
- Family Camp
- Dialysis Camp
- Winter Conference
- Scholarship Program
Camp BRIDGES Teen Camp
Since 1994, a week long camp has been held at Children's Harbor at Lake Martin, Alabama each year for children ages thirteen to eighteen who have received heart, lung, liver or kidney transplants.
The campers meet in the morning at Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama and ride a bus to Children's Harbor. Parents are not invited to attend Teen Camp in order to facilitate independence -- a cornerstone of the BRIDGES mission.
Daily activities include fitness activities, crafts, and water sports. Counselors facilitate group discussions and provide lessons on self perception, self confidence, and self efficacy. Other important topics of discussion at the group meetings include medication, career counseling, and nutrition.
Special social activities at camp include shopping, dining, and dancing. The entire camp is free to all campers.
Counselors for Teen Camp include approximately ten 20-year-old transplant patients who have attended Teen Camp at a younger age. The professional camp staff includes at least one nurse, several counselors, two doctors, and The BRIDGES Foundation staff.
Camp BRIDGES Family Camp
Due to the popularity of the winter conferences, many families of children with transplants requested a weekend camp for children aged twelve and under, and their families. The first annual weekend long camp for children with heart, kidney, and liver transplants was held in the fall of 2003.
The BRIDGES Foundation pays the camp expenses for each family so they may attend at no charge.
Activities at camp include special social events, group meals, swimming, boating, games and crafts. The parents participate in educational programs to learn about coping skills, peer support, financial issues, nutrition, and medication.
In only its second year, this camp doubled in size of campers and volunteers. The camp also began adding patients awaiting transplantation, and their families, so they could spend time with children who are already living with a transplant.
Since 2005, the BRIDGES Foundation has provided funding to send children receiving kidney dialysis treatments to a special camp that met their medical needs and gave them the same camp experience that they would received at Camp BRIDGES. Because of the extreme medical requirements such as dialysis facilities for dialysis treatments every other day, Camp BRIDGES is currently unable to host dialysis patients at their camps.
BRIDGES Winter Conference
Since 1998, the BRIDGES Foundation has held an annual conference for patients up to age 22, and their families, who are dealing with organ disease and transplantation.
The conference includes several educational sessions with topics such as nutrition, financial information, career counseling, and compliance issues. The younger transplant patients engage in activities such as medical bingo and nutrition and pharmacy games. Parents and teens receive critical advice and information about educational, emotional and healthcare related support initiatives available to patients.
Lunch is free for all attendees. Peer socialization and support is an integral part of the conference.
BRIDGES Higher Education Scholarship Program
In 2004, The BRIDGES Foundation launched a scholarship program for graduating seniors going on to further their education beyond high school. Interested students apply for the scholarships during teen camp. Up to $1,000 is offered to two students.