Asthma Camp
Asthma Camp is an educational and fun summer camp where children with moderate to severe asthma learn to better manage and control their disease.
Camp Superkids 2012
Sunday June 24 - Friday June 29, 2012
YMCA Camp Ihduhapi, Loretto, MN
(You are responsible for transportation for your camper. The American Lung Association in Minnestoa does not provide transportation.)
Ages 7-15
7-13 year olds will participate as Camp Superkids campers.
14-15 year olds who have been a Camp Superkids camper in previous years have the opportunity to be Junior Leaders (JLs). JLs participate in leadership training, team-building activities, organize theme day, and help the camp cousnelors in their assigned cabin.
How to Apply
Registration for Camp Superkids 2012 is now open. You can find more information about Camp Superkids in the brochure. Please fill out the Application Form in the brochure, or you can fill-out this printer-friendly option. Complete and return to Cynthia Isaacson via mail (490 Concordia Ave St. Paul, MN 55103), fax: 651-227-5459, or email cynthia.isaacson@lungmn.org.
After you submit your registration form you will receive a camp packet with camper health forms. Six pages need to be filled out by a parent/guardian and 2 pages need to be completed by your child's physician. All campers need an up-to-date physical that occurs between July 2, 2011 and June 23, 2012. If you child has already had a physical you just need to get the forms to the doctor's office to fill out. If your child still needs a physical please make an appointment and bring the paperwork with you to the physical.
Camper Health Forms Packet
Payment
Camp costs $495/camper. Camp families have a few payment options including health care coverage, campership, installment plan, or payment in full.
Health Care Coverage:Four Minnesota-based health care companies are able to cover the cost of their members with asthma. If your child has one of the following health plans, they might qualify for a free campership to cover the entire cost of camp:
- Medica Choice Care
- Medica Minnesota Care
- Metropolitian Health Plan
- Prime West Health
Campership: Need-based camperships are available through the American Lung Association in Minnesota. At the time of registration please include a 2010 or 2011 IRS tax form 1040/1040EZ or verification of free or reduced school meal program. Camperships are given on a sliding scale. Campers who qualifies for free school lunch are eligible for a full campership for the entire cost of camp. Campers who qualify for reduced school lunch are only required to pay a $50 deposit.
Installment Plan: Families can opt to pay for half of camp ($250) at the time of registration and the last half ($245) two-week prior to camp. You can submit a credit card number on the registration form or include a check. If you pay the first half with a check, you will be billed for the final payment.
Payment in Full: Families can pay the entire cost of camp with the registration or pay a $50 deposit to hold a place for your camper and get billed for the remaining $445 that is due two weeks prior to the start of camp.
Education
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At educational sessions, campers learn what asthma is, how asthma attacks start, how they can be avoided, and how asthma can be better managed
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They learn the difference between medications they take to prevent attacks and the medications they take to help stop an attack
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Providing support for the families of children with asthma can be just as important as educating the child themselves. Our Lung HelpLine provides year-round support to answer any questions campers and their families may have - free of charge
Medical Staff
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The American Lung Association in Minnesota recruits highly skilled doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists to provide medical supervision and instruction at asthma camp 24 hours-a-day.
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Our highest priority is camper medical safety. For every eight campers, we have one medical staff.
Recreational Activities
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Campers enjoy swimming, canoing, sailing, water skiing, ropes course, arts & crafts, all-camp games, fishing & more depending on location.
Camp Objectives
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The objective of asthma camp is to improve the physical condition and psychological outlook of children with asthma as well as to educate campers and their families about how to best manage their care
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Providing support for the families of children with asthma can be just as important as educating the child themselves. Our Lung Helpline provides year-round support to answer any questions campers and their families may have – free of charge
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Above all, children learn that they're not alone with their asthma and that there are kids out there just like them. Campers learn about their asthma in a friendly and welcoming environment without fear of being teased or feeling different.
Parent Testimonials
“Matt loves Camp. If the subject of camp comes up, he always has something to tell you that happened. Most of the time he is laughing so hard he can never finish the story. Every year his knowledge about asthma increases…Matthew looks forward to this camp every year. In fact, I have a calendar in our kitchen that has the date in it. Matthew already has [it] marked with the words Asthma Camp!"
“Other camps, they look at you like a deer in headlights – he needs to take his medicine, and stay away from allergens; here’s his inhaler – at Asthma Camp, Danny was just like everyone else.”
"[Sue] seems a little more relaxed with carrying her inhaler. She knows that there are other kids out there that have [asthma] too...She seems to better understand why she needs her daily medication.”
YMCA Camp Ihduhapi
YMCA Camp Ihduhapi has a strong missionto fosters physical, mental and spiritual growth by providing a fun-filled, challenging and supportive environment in which to learn about nature, others and oneself. With the full-day of camp programing, fun recreational activities, and outstand camp counselors, your child will have an amazing time. Learn more about camp experienceyour child will have during Camp Superkids.
During the week of camp parents are encouraged to send mail to their campers. Note: you might consider dropping the letter in the mail on Friday or Saturday before camp to make sure it gets there mid-week. The mailing address to send your camper mail is:
Camp Superkids
YMCA Camp Ihduhapi
PO Box 37
Loretto, MN 55357
Directions
Directions from the Minneapolis and St. Paul area are as follows:
From Highway 55:Take Highway 55 west to County Road 19, turn left (south) and travel through Loretto to County Road 11. Turn right on County Road 11 (west) for 3/4 mile. Turn left onto Ihduhapi Road at the camp sign. Follow road to the end. Staff will be in the parking lot to greet and assist in finding cabins.
From Highway 394:Take Highway 394/County Road 12 west to County Road 29 and turn right (north) just before Maple Plain at the light. County Road 29 becomes County Road 19, stay on 19 to County Road 11, just before the town of Loretto. Turn left onto 11 for 3/4 mile. Turn left onto Ihduhapi Road at camp sign. Follow road to the end. Staff will be in the parking lot to greet and assist in finding cabins.
Check-In
Check-in will begin on Sunday June 24 at 12:30 p.m. for Junior Leaders and 1:00 p.m. for all other campers. Please bring your camper to the YMCA Camp Ihduhapi located at 3425 Ihduhapi Road Loretto, MN 55357. Be sure to bring an outstanding paperwork with. During check-in you will:
- Pick up your camper passport
- Deposit spending money to the camp store (cash only). Any money not spent during the week will be returned at check-out.
- Meet with a member of our behavior staff
- Meet your camp nurse, drop off medication, and complete any final paperwork (this might include a visit to the doctor's table)
- Get checked for head lice
- Get your picture taken
- Meet your camp counselor
*If your child has sever food allergies you are welcome to bring supplemental/replacement food and snacks in a brown paper bag clearly marked with your child's name.
Packing List
All items are strongly encouraged.
- Towels/Washcloth
- Dirty laundry bag
- Sleeping Bag
- Swimsuit
- Flashlight
- Pillow
- Pajamas
- Long & Short Sleeved Shirts
- 2 pair long pants
- 4-5 pair shorts
- 5-6 pair socks
- 2 pair shoes
- 5-6 sets of underwear
- Jacket or hooded sweatshirt
- toothbrush & toothpaste
- comb/brush
- books
- mosquito repellent (no aerosol spray)
- Kleenex Tissue
- sunscreen (no aerosol spray)
- soap in a box container
- stationary & stamps
- playing cards
- Other personal items
Check-Out
Pick-up time will be Friday, June 29, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. Reminder! A Photo ID is required to pick up your camper. You will receive a bag filled with your camper's medication a parent letter explaining what your child learned at camp and how he or she did, and an Asthma Action Plan to continue to keep your camper's asthma well controlled.
Camp Superkids in the News
March 2011 edition of Minnesota Parent highlighted a three-page article about Camp Superkids. Both Cynthia Piette Isaacson, Director of Camp Superkids from the American Lung Association in Minnesota and Joey Cottew, Camp Manager for the YMCA Camp Ihduhapi gave interviews.
July 2011 Minnesota Monthly: Fresh Air, Shannon Olson reminisced about her experience at Camp Superkids 33 years ago and speaks of her doctor, Dr. Cushing, the founder of Camp Superkids.
Camp SuperKids 2011
Thank you for help in making Camp Superkids 2011 possible!!!
This year we had 127 campers ages 7-15 with persistent asthma attend the five-night residential Camp Superkids held at the YMCA Camp Ihduhapi in Loretto, Minnesota.
10 physicians, 8 pharmacists, and 60 nurses and respiratory therapists volunteered their time to staff Camp Superkids’ Health Services around the clock!
Campers came from all across Minnesota with 40% coming from Minneapolis/St. Paul,40% coming from Great Metro area and 20% coming from Greater Minnesota.
95% of campers received financial assistance to attend Camp Superkids. Thank you to the four health plans that generously sponsored their members(total = 91) to attend Camp Superkids:
- Medica Health Plan = 17
- Metropolitan Health Plan = 4
- Prime West = 4
- UCare = 64
The American Lung Association in Minnesota provided full or partial scholarships to 31 campers. Scholarships were based on the federal eligibility for free or reduced school lunch. We couldn't have held Camp Superkids without the generous support of many businesses, foundations, and individual donors! Thank you to:
- Fred & Catherine Anderson Foundation
- Margaret Rivers Funds
- Mercy & United Hospitals
- Kopp Family Foundation
- Data IQ
- QRS
