Children's Health camps role explained

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 297, 1 August 1989, Page 9

Children's Health camps role explained

There are seven health camps for children in New Zealand aged between 5 and 12 years.

Children from Waimarino and Waiouru region go to the Rotorua Camp which occupies three hectares of land overlooking Lake Rotorua, on the way to the Blue and Green Lakes. Facilities include four very colourful, well equipped

dormitories, large recreational facilities, arts and crafts room, library and a covered heated swimming pool. The school, situated at the camp, has three teachers and one teachers' aide. Rotorua Health Camp caters for 60 boys and

girls at any "one time and runs a programme of camps covering 48 weeks of the year. For attendance at Health Camp the word "Health" is used in its widest sense - physical, social and emotional. There are many and varied social, environmental stresses that affect the general health of a child. Health camps aim to provide a changed of environment by short term residential placement for physically,

socially and emotionally disadvantaged children and thereby promote their total health. The children usually stay at camp for seven weeks, apart from school holidays, when camps are shorter. Children attend school while at the camp as normal. Their programme aims to develop self confidence in many areas and academic progress can be made. However, it is

not a true remedial programme. Outside normal school hours children are supervised by childcare staff. A registered nurse is responsible for the total health care of the children, including the supervision of special diets, running daily clinics, liasing with G.P.'s; specialists; medical officers and hospitals. Children are referred to health camps for numerous reasons. A few examples are: enuresis (bed wetting), encopresis (soiling),

asthma, epilepsy, ear problems (long term), obesity, special needs, abuse, behavioural problems, family circumstances. Health camp provides a stable, secure, caring environment in which a child affected by these stresses can recover and be assessed. Individual programmes are run for individual cases according to the child's needs. Regular contact by families is encouraged by visiting, telephone contact with staff and letter writing (on both the parents' and child's part).

Most children are taken to camp by their families and the family is invited to discuss problems or concerns about their child with camp staff. When the child goes home plans are made for ongoing support and guidance for both the child and family. It costs about $10 a week to send a child to Health Camp. For admission to Health Camp your first contacts are your child's teacher and the Public Health Nurse

Helen

Pocknall

Public Health Nurse