Earlier this month 49 campers ranging from 11 to 63 years old enjoyed 5 nights of fun-filled camp activities at Prader-Willi California Foundation’s special PWS session at Camp Harmon. The camp is set in a beautiful area with huge Redwood trees, a pretty stream to wade in and look for fish or tadpoles, and other trees which provide a canopy of shade over the entire area. It was in this amazing setting that campers enjoyed activities including:
- Kickball
- Tie-dying T-shirts
- Arts & Crafts
- Visiting the farm which includes rabbits, goats, pigs, chickens and a pig
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Giant Swing
- Horse-drawn buggy rides
- Movie Night
- Bingo
With 39 camp counselors, in addition to the PWCF staff who stay throughout camp, there are plenty of people to ensure supervision and assistance to campers of all abilities. Camp staff also includes a Camp Director, an administrative person, two nurses, and the chef with his kitchen staff of 4. Plus to meet the unique needs of our campers, the PWCF staff goes up prior to the camp session to train the counselors and staff, many of whom have worked our session in prior years. PWCF staff also oversee the camp menu to ensure calorie controlled snacks and meals and help prepare the activities schedule.
Our PWS session is something campers, counselors and parents all look forward to! Some of the returning camp counselors said that the PWS session is the week they look forward to most. One camper said that the camp and the counselors made him feel like this is his home. And of course parents and caregivers enjoy the 5 nights of respite from the daily demands of Prader-Willi syndrome.
If your loved one with PWS is between the ages of 8 and 65 look for information next spring about how to sign-up. And if your loved one attended this year and you haven’t completed our survey please do so now.
