This summer, I had a life-changing week as a medical volunteer at Camp Wonder in Rutledge, Georgia. Camp Wonder is a camp designed specifically for children and adolescents with chronic (and often rare) skin disorders. When I initially submitted my application to be a medical volunteer, I thought it would be a great opportunity to expand my knowledge of skin diseases and pediatric dermatology, but it was so much more.
Upon the campers’ arrival, I, along with the other medical staff, was tasked with completing intake of the campers’ medications and wound dressings. This was my first moment of realization of how heavy the burden of skin disease can be in children. Many of the campers had feeding tubes and medications that needed to be administered several times a day just for maintenance. Several campers with blistering diseases, such as epidermolysis bullosa (a disorder that, to be honest, I had only seen in textbooks until this point), had flown in with extra luggage to accommodate their medications and wound dressings. These kids were incredibly resilient and truly excited to be in a place where they felt comfortable being themselves with others who could relate to them. Mind you, most of these children had flown across the country without their parents and did not know anyone else.
During the week at camp, there were numerous fun activities for both campers and counselors to participate in, including archery, arts and crafts, a zipline, kayaking, a high ropes course, cooking classes, and more. Every evening at camp, there was a different event, such as movie night, a carnival, prom, or a talent show. Just like any other summer camp (especially in the Georgia heat), one of the most popular activities for the campers was pool time. After the pool, campers with blistering dermatoses were assigned times for dressing changes with the medical staff. This was another revelation for me. The campers with epidermolysis bullosa are dealing with painful blisters, open sores, corneal abrasions, and other issues that they take in stride daily. One pre-teen camper that I was assigned to was so well-versed in dressing changes that he asked for occasional help with popping his blisters or holding a dressing wrap, but he mostly wanted to listen to music and chat while he changed the dressings on his own.
I am so thankful to have been a part of Camp Wonder and to have had the opportunity to help some amazing kids have fun and be themselves. It was incredibly rewarding to see campers with chronic, life-altering skin diseases simply be normal kids at camp, and I am humbled to have been a part of it, however small. Camp Wonder definitely lives up to its name.
If anyone (medical professional or otherwise) is considering volunteering, I highly recommend it! Applications can be submitted at https://www.csdf.org/sign-up.
Jenny Laminack resides in Alpharetta, Georgia, with her husband, Joey. She enjoys traveling and hiking in her free time. She has worked as a dermatology PA since 2015 and has been with the Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Diseases since 2017.
Medical Volunteers, Photo Courtesy of Camp Wonder
Carnival Night, Photo Courtesy of Camp Wonder
Prom at Camp Wonder, Photo Courtesy of Camp Wonder