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The Camp » The
Experience
The Experience
Camp does kids a world of good! While all children are special,
when serious illness strikes a child, that child and his
or her family have some very special needs. Aside from the
dramatic interruption of a child’s physical, emotional,
and social development, it can take away the natural joy
and optimism that comes with childhood. Camp is a place where
the magic of youth can be restored in an environment that
can support the special medical needs of each camper.
Camp is not only a place for children who are terminally
ill, but also a place where children who will survive their
illnesses can grow and develop the skills necessary to thrive
for the rest of their lives. Many of our campers come to
camp with physical and/or developmental disabilities that
make it difficult to be self-sufficient. Some will wear wigs
to cover up for the loss of hair due to treatments. Some
have feeding tubes. Others need chemotherapy or platelet
replacement. Many are not used to physical activities of
any kind. Some children have had to face other’s cruelty
or misunderstanding because of their scars, conditions, or
the way they look. Most are used to being treated in terms
of their medical conditions and not just as children.
At Flying Horse Farms, these same children learn what they
can do, not what they cannot do. Camp is a place where we focus
on the possible, a place where kids can just be kids. Campers
serve as role models for one another and begin to see themselves,
often for the first time, not as victims, but as strong and
capable leaders.
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