Camp Inspiration: A summer oasis for ventilator-assisted youth
Camp Inspiration, located at Double H Ranch in New York's Adirondack Park, is a family program for campers aged 5-21 who require respiratory assistance. IVUN spoke with Chris Woll, MD, and Suzanne Barry, DO, to learn more about the camp experience.
Camp Inspiration, located at Double H Ranch in New York's Adirondack Park, is a family program designed for campers aged 5-21 years old who require respiratory assistance, such as BIPAP, CPAP, supplemental oxygen, or other respiratory device. Held annually, Camp Inspiration gives campers and families the opportunity to participate in activities such as swimming, the high ropes course, arts and crafts, talent shows, and sharing stories around the campfire.
Since the Double H Ranch officially opened its doors on July 4, 1993, it has served over 80,000 children dealing with life-threatening illnesses from around the world. It was the second "Hole in the Wall Camp" in what has become a worldwide network of not-for-profit recreational and therapeutic experiences for children with serious illness, called the SeriousFun Children's Network.
Courtesy Double H Ranch
IVUN spoke with Chris Woll, MD, Medical Director of Double H Ranch, and Suzanne Barry, DO, Director of Camp Inspiration, to learn more about the Camp Inspiration experience.
How it got started
IVUN: Tell me a bit about Camp Inspiration and Double H Ranch and how it got started?
Chris Woll: The Double H Ranch was created as a joint vision between movie icon Paul Newman and local entrepreneur Charlie Wood. This was the second camp in what came to be known as the SeriousFun Children's Network, which is an organization founded by Paul Newman aiming to provide camping experiences to children suffering from serious illnesses free of charge. Now there are over 30 domestic and international camps and programs within the SeriousFun Children's Network.
Camp Inspiration started in 2002 with the vision of Dr. Ray Walsh, a Pediatric ICU physician, in an effort to provide a safe summer camp experience for children in need of respiratory assistance. This program is held at the Double H Ranch for children between 5 years and 21 years of age requiring assistance, such as supplemental oxygen, CPAP, BIPAP, or a ventilator. The child's family is welcome to join for this program free of charge.
Benefits of attending camp
IVUN: What are some of the benefits of attending camp for ventilator-assisted children?
Suzanne Barry: Children who come to Camp Inspiration are among some of the most isolated children due to the complexity of their day-to-day medical management. At heart, they are just like any other children who want to see others like themselves to feel included and accepted. Camp allows them a setting where they can do this, meeting other children and families like their own while participating in various activities, many of which are new to them and previously thought unattainable, including swimming and zip-lining! We have seen the camp experience and relationships formed while at camp carry these children through the year with renewed excitement of something to look forward to.
Courtesy Double H Ranch
A typical day at camp
IVUN: What does a typical day look like at Camp Inspiration?
Chris Woll: A typical day for the campers include meal times in the dining hall with the entire camp community followed by a day of programming including activities such as fishing, boating, swimming, petting small animals, team sports, and the high ropes course. After dinner, there is usually a camp-wide activity that everyone can participate in such as campfires, game night and the talent show.
Support staff on site
IVUN: What type of support staff does the camp have on site?
Chris Woll: The number one goal of Camp Inspiration is to provide a safe experience for the campers and their families. In order to provide a safe experience, we always have our general non-medical staff, nurses, respiratory therapists and pediatric critical care or emergency medicine physicians present on site.
Courtesy Double H Ranch
Advances in ventilator technology
IVUN: How have advances in ventilator technology and medical care impacted the camp experience over the years?
Suzanne Barry: Advances in ventilator technology have given opportunities to children to attend camp who may have not otherwise been able to in the past. Over time, portable ventilators have been improved to meet the needs of various sized children allowing for earlier transition from hospital-grade ventilators that historically was not always possible. Simplification of the ventilators to include features such as built-in airway clearance techniques have allowed children at camp to continue their preventative regimens in a less invasive manner so that the camp experience has few interruptions.
For information about how to attend Camp Inspiration, visit www.doublehranch.org/programs/summer-camp/camp-inspiration/.