Kidney campers will have a variety of supervised individual and group activities to choose from each day, and will usually partake in a camp-wide evening activity as well. Each morning, your camper will find themselves presented with a wide range of outdoor summer diversions; including swimming and water sports, a high ropes course, archery, hiking, arts and crafts, and much more. Please be aware that many of the activities are water based activities.
Single-sex cabins with around 20 fellow campers and two counselors
Ages
7–15
Activities
Waterfront
Swimming
Land Sports
Archery
Outdoor Adventure
Hiking
More activities
arts and crafts
biking
boating
games
high ropes course
nature walks
team sports
water sports
Clues to fit
Kidney Camp — parent testimonial on belonging and friendship
"Thank you so much for a great week! My daughter had fun and made a new friend (a girl in her cabin who is the sister of a boy who was in Kidney Camp). We think my daughter and her sister may be ready to stay overnight next year! She's looking forward to it, and thank you again for putting this together for the kids. She was with a really nice group of girls. She has trouble making friends at school, so it was so nice for her to be able to play games and have fun with her fellow campers." – Julia, Kidney Camp parent
YMCA Camp Duncan is one of Illinois' most beloved summer camps. Situated on the shores of Fish Lake and spread out over 300 beautiful acres of woodland, this retreat gives children the opportunity to experience the outdoors, learn new skills, build character, and make life-long friends.
We know that a diagnosis of kidney disease can be especially challenging for children and teenagers. That's why we've teamed up with physicians, child life specialists, dietitians, teachers, and families to develop a series of fun, educational events focused on helping young patients and their loved ones navigate the hills and valleys of a kidney disease diagnosis. Our Kids and Teens programs offer patients, families, and caregivers the opportunity to learn more about kidney disease, get insight into health management, and gain perspective on what to expect in the future. It is our goal to empower young kidney disease patients with education, and to connect them to communities and resources they may not have known were out there.
Kidney Camp — mission and purpose for young patients
Kidney Camp is a specially designed summer excursion that lets kids and teenagers diagnosed with kidney disease take a break from their every day concerns, and revel in a classic camp experience. By bringing young patients together, we show them they are not alone in their fights — and most importantly: we remind them that it is still very much possible to run around, enjoy their childhoods, and have some fun.
