Programs for children living with health conditions.
ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital partners with other organizations to create these fun, safe and inspiring residential camp experiences for children living with certain health conditions.
Children’s Miracle Network
As a Children’s Miracle Network hospital, our patients, families and community benefit from the generous donations that make possible many of the services we offer. In order to provide the best care for kids, we rely on community support, as Medicaid and insurance programs do not fully cover the cost of care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network has helped fill those funding gaps by raising more than $7 billion, most of it $1 at a time through Miracle Balloon icon campaigns. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.
Learn more about how you can support the best care for kids through the Children’s Miracle Network.
Camp Needles in the Pines
This one-week residential experience is held each year for children with type 1 diabetes, ages 8 to 14. Activities include swimming, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, archery, crafts, rifle range, tenting, education and support to develop improved self-care skills for your child’s diabetes care. The camp is located at Camp Boddie Boy Scout Camp in Blounts Creek, NC. The cost is $250, and full or partial scholarships are available.
Insulin, meters and strips are provided. If your child takes any medications (other than insulin), please send them with your child to camp. If your child wears an insulin pump, bring pump supplies with you. The medical staff members are volunteers from regional hospitals, schools and universities as well as community members with diabetes. If you are a health care professional interested in volunteering, contact Mindy Saenz at [email protected].
Victory Junction Camp
Victory Junction Camp enriches the lives of children with serious illness or chronic medical conditions by providing life-changing camping experiences in a safe and medically sound environment. Victory Junction, located in Randleman, NC, also offers a “Neurology Week” for children with brain injuries and their families, in addition to Family Weekends throughout the year. Maynard Children’s Hospital is one of the founding hospitals of Victory Junction. Visit Victory Junction for information about the camper application process and volunteering to help.
Camp Rainbow
Camp Rainbow is a week-long summer camp experience for children, ages 6-18, treated at ECU Health who are diagnosed with cancer, hemophilia and other chronic blood disorders. Camp Rainbow was developed in 1982 and is conducted by the ECU Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. Physicians, nurses, social work, and child life team members coordinate the camp and provide 24/7 medical care and emotional support for campers. Camp Rainbow is held at the Refuge located in Ayden, North Carolina. The Refuge is a beautiful camp facility with eastern North Carolina farmhouses converted into bunk houses with rooms and bathroom facilities, a large pond for fishing, canoeing and paddle boarding, and a large water park with a climbing structure and a water slide.
Camp Rainbow’s goals include building self-confidence and independence, learning new skills, and reducing the isolation children with chronic conditions often feel by building life-long friendships with other children and teens who have a similar condition. Many of our camp volunteers are young adult cancer, hemophilia and bleeding disorder patients who provide support and become mentors for the campers. Camp activities include swimming, canoeing, fishing, nature exploration, archery, paddle boarding, crafts, music and outdoor sports. Campers also participate in educational and support sessions to learn more about their diagnoses, learn healthy living skills, build self-confidence and develop strategies to cope with chronic illness. Camp Rainbow is the only camp for children with cancer and hemophilia located in eastern North Carolina.
If you would like additional information about Camp Rainbow and our other Rainbow Services programs for children with cancer and bleeding disorders or would like to know how you can help, please contact Tamika Mackey at 252-744-1170 or at [email protected].
Camp Hope
Camp Hope Is a week-long camp for children, ages 6-18, treated at ECU Health who are diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Camp Hope was developed in 1991 and is conducted by the ECU Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that changes the shape of red blood cells impairing their ability to carry oxygen and blocking blood flow within the body. Children with sickle cell disease have frequent severe pain, are more susceptible to infection and tire more easily. Physicians, nurses, social workers and child life team members coordinate the camps and provide 24/7 medical care and emotional support for the campers. Camp Hope is held at the Refuge located in Ayden, North Carolina. The Refuge is a beautiful camp facility with farmhouses converted into bunk houses with rooms and bathroom facilities, a large pond for fishing, canoeing and paddle boarding, and a large water park with a climbing structure and a water slide.
Camp Hope’s goals include building self-confidence and independence, learning new skills, and reducing the isolation children and teens with sickle cell disease often feel by building life-long friendships with campers who also have sickle cell disease. Many of our camp volunteers/mentors are young adult former campers who also have sickle cell disease and can understand the challenges and offer expert advice. Camp activities include swimming, canoeing, fishing, nature exploration, archery, paddle boarding, crafts, music and outdoor sports. Campers also participate in educational and support sessions to learn more about sickle cell disease, learn healthy living skills, build self-confidence and develop strategies to cope with their condition. Teen campers participate in sessions to prepare for the transition from pediatric to adult medical care including information about college and employment, health insurance, self-care skills, communicating about their diagnosis, and self-advocacy. Camp Hope is the only camp for children with sickle cell disease located in eastern North Carolina.
If you would like more information about Camp Hope or the other Rainbow Services programs or would like to know how you can make attending Camp Hope possible for children with sickle cell disease, please contact Tamika Mackey at 252-744-1170 or at [email protected].
Camp WholeHeart
Camp WholeHeart is a weekend camp held in the fall created to provide a positive life experience for children and teenagers, ages 7 to 17 years, living with complex congenital heart defects. Camp goals include reducing isolation, increasing self-esteem and developing friendships among children with similar medical conditions.
Campers will participate in theme-based fun, leisure, and educational activities to increase physical activity and nutrition awareness in order to promote a healthier lifestyle. This is the only camp of its kind in eastern North Carolina.
For more information, contact Dr. Priti Desai at 252-328-2866, email [email protected] or contact the Pediatric Cardiology office at the Brody School of Medicine at 252-744-5601.
Need help or have a question?
Call 252-816-3714