Activities — Rock Wall, Ropes Course, Zip Line, Leap of Faith
A fun challenge that safely helps kids break out of their comfort zone. With 3 different climb difficulties, the Rock Wall is loved by everyone from brand new beginners to experienced height lovers. Set 20 feet above the ground, campers' hard work is rewarded with a refreshing zip-line down. Feeling courageous? Try the Leap of Faith, a carefully monitored free-fall that is sure to get your heart pumping!
Rolling oak-studded hills at Camp Arroyo in Livermore, California; about 30 miles east of the San Francisco Bay; Livermore hills overlooking the Livermore valley; populated with deer, wild turkeys, and rabbits.
CAMP GO BeYOND is set amid rolling oak-studded hills at Camp Arroyo in Livermore, California. Camp Arroyo is a beautiful, modern facility managed by Reflect Kindness. The quiet oak-studded hills populated with deer, wild turkeys, and rabbits overlook the Livermore valley, about 30 miles east of the San Francisco Bay.
What campers can expect — community, acceptance, confidence
Campers can expect excellent attention from well trained and committed counselors who also have IBD, acceptance and friendships that last a lifetime, a safe, secure environment where kids feel free to talk about anything because everyone understands, and to gain self confidence. Many campers are surprised when they participate in activities they never dreamed of doing.
Camp mission — free IBD camp where kids can just be kids
CAMP GO BeYOND is a FREE camp where kids and adolescents with IBD can just be kids. Located in the beautiful Livermore hills, camp is a one week whirlwind of fun activities. Our mission is to provide a free camp experience where children ages 7-17 diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, can have fun in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment.
Parent communication — daily Facebook updates, email letters, no calls during camp week
CAMP GO BeYOND's mission is to immerse children in a new environment where they can relate to other kids with IBD and have fun. We do not allow visits or calls from parents during the camp week. We do encourage kids to write to their parents and we can email letters to parents on a daily basis. Our Facebook page is updated each day with new photos and posts of the day's activities so parents can see what a great time their children are having. Campers are not permitted to bring cell phones to camp.
Our primary motivation at Camp Go Beyond is to provide an excellent summer camp experience for kids with IBD. We recognize we may be alienating some campers by reinforcing social norms related to the binary idea of genders. When a camper is registered, parents will have the option to choose a cabin that corresponds to their camper's gender or a gender-inclusive cabin. Camp staff will respect the pronouns the campers choose for themselves. Campers and staff who intentionally use the wrong pronouns to antagonize others will be considered bullies and that will be addressed by our leadership.
Medical staff — Dr. Mel Heyman, UCSF pediatric gastroenterologist
CAMP GO BeYOND was created as a labor of love by Dr. Melvin Heyman, Director of the Pediatric IBD Program at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital and Foundation Chairman. Dr. Mel is Professor of Pediatrics, Director of the Pediatric IBD Program, and Training Director in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. He has trained over 75 pediatric gastroenterologists and has been providing medical direction for IBD Camp since it first began in 2001. He was awarded the highly esteemed UCSF Chancellor's Award for Public Service in 2014.
Medical staff — Nurse Betsy Haas-Beckert, IBD patient and nurse practitioner since 2002
Betsy Haas-Beckert, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition joined the UCSF Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition in 1983. As a person who has also had ulcerative colitis, she is a wonderful role model for the campers. Nurse Betsy has volunteered to care for our campers since 2002.
Medical staff — Nurse Laura Cooke, pediatric IBD nurse practitioner since 2003
Laura Cooke, CPNP, is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who joined UCSF's Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition department in July 2003. She spends 100% of her time working with children who are diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Nurse Laura has been a volunteer member of the camp medical staff since 2003.
