Learn To Grow, Inc. team members, Denise Smith and Neka Gilliam
served as Camp Counselors/ Asthma Ambassadors at the American Lung
Association’s Camp Breathe Easy held at Camp Twin Lakes in Winder, GA
from June 7– June 13, 2014. Camp Breathe Easy is a six-day, five-night
residential camp for children ages 7-13 with asthma from Augusta,
Atlanta and Athens. Children with an asthma diagnosis from mild to
severe are eligible to attend the camp.
The goal is to promote self-confidence and responsibility in campers while helping them to learn to manage their own asthma. Campers are offered the excitement and fun of a traditional summer camp, with the unique advantage of an environment and staff responsive to their health concerns. Campers are encouraged to explore a variety of interests including swimming, fishing, archery, canoeing, tennis, ropes course, arts and crafts, and lots more. In addition to camp activities, an extensive asthma education curriculum is incorporated into the camper’s week.
This includes topics such as asthma triggers, early warning signs, physical clues, current treatments, and self-management. Professional asthma educators (respiratory therapists, health educators, physicians, nurses, etc.) conduct all educational programs. The curriculum is age and grade level appropriate, and fun and experimental in nature.
Denise Smith and Neka Gilliam were also asked to work with the, Leaders in Training (LIT), who are former campers ages 15-17 that now work as leaders to assist campers and counselors in the implementation, direction, and maintenance of an excellent program of care and enrichment for children with asthma in a safe, healthy, and fun environment throughout the week. Also to foster leadership skills, Denise and Neka facilitated the Teens Against Tobacco Use (T.A.T.U.) training to all of the teens; this is a tobacco education program designed to help teens develop strong leadership skills while influencing younger children to live tobacco-free lifestyles.
The goal is to promote self-confidence and responsibility in campers while helping them to learn to manage their own asthma. Campers are offered the excitement and fun of a traditional summer camp, with the unique advantage of an environment and staff responsive to their health concerns. Campers are encouraged to explore a variety of interests including swimming, fishing, archery, canoeing, tennis, ropes course, arts and crafts, and lots more. In addition to camp activities, an extensive asthma education curriculum is incorporated into the camper’s week.
Denise Smith and Neka Gilliam were also asked to work with the, Leaders in Training (LIT), who are former campers ages 15-17 that now work as leaders to assist campers and counselors in the implementation, direction, and maintenance of an excellent program of care and enrichment for children with asthma in a safe, healthy, and fun environment throughout the week. Also to foster leadership skills, Denise and Neka facilitated the Teens Against Tobacco Use (T.A.T.U.) training to all of the teens; this is a tobacco education program designed to help teens develop strong leadership skills while influencing younger children to live tobacco-free lifestyles.