Published on June 15, 2010
Kids Can Breathe Easier, Even When Summer is in the Air
Camp Wikidas: Wisconsin's Only Camp for Kids with Asthma
Summer is about having fun. Swimming, biking, and baseball are just a few summer time favorites among kids. But what if your child was always afraid to participate because of his or her asthma?
Camp WIKIDAS, a weeklong summer camp for kids ages 8 through 13 with moderate to severe asthma is just days away. Camp takes place at Camp Wawbeek, a 400-acre site one mile northeast of the Wisconsin Dells in Columbia County.
Dean Clinic Allergist/Immunologist & Camp Wikidas Founder J. Brent Kooistra, MD organized the annual event as a special summer retreat in 1982. Now in its 29th year, nearly 2,000 kids have attended the camp in partnership with the American Lung Association.
Children on daily asthma medication participate in swimming, rope and rock climbing, canoeing, hiking and other fun and challenging activities. Campers also attend instructional sessions where they learn how to manage their asthma in daily life. They forge relationships with children like themselves, realizing that other kids struggle with asthma, too.
Medical staff members are on-hand throughout the camp, including physician allergists, registered and practical nurses, respiratory therapists and pharmacists. These dedicated health care professionals supervise the daily administration of medications and provide 24-hour medical care for the campers.
