At the end of September, the tiny coastal town of Grantville, located at the entrance of Victoria’s beautiful Gippsland region, played host to a group of heart teens, volunteers and HeartKids staff for our VIC/SA/TAS Teen Camp for 2024.
Over four days, a group of 32 campers took part in activities designed to help them forge connections with other heart teens, develop knowledge and skills to help them manage their health and – of course! – have fun.
HeartKids Teen Camps are held multiple times a year in different states, giving heart teens all across the country the chance to attend. Specifically for teens aged 13-17, these events allow young people living with childhood-onset heart disease an opportunity to develop friendships with peers and build confidence, all within a safe environment.
This year’s Grantville camp at Bayview Adventure Camp saw a mix of previous Teen Camp attendees and new faces take part in a number of exciting activities, all under the leadership of HeartKids staff and volunteers. Over the four days, campers were able to challenge themselves on the high ropes course, explore the A Maze’n Things theme park in Phillip Island, connect with each other over an African drumming circle and campfire, and test their knowledge at a trivia night.
Teens were also able to learn more about managing their health as they grow at an informative Health Panel, led by experienced nurses Trisha, Henry and Bec, and HeartKids’ Teen and Young Person Transition Program Coordinator and RN, Margot Pitman.
While the activities and games ensure plenty of opportunities for fun, the true highlight of Teen Camp are the friendships that develop. For many returning campers, Teen Camp is a chance to catchup with friends made at previous camps, who they may never get to see in-person normally. For new campers, it’s a chance to build friendships with people who understand them for the first time.
Despite the fact that they may live miles apart, campers stay connected between camps, providing invaluable support to each other. Friendships forged at Teen Camp often continue into adulthood and allow young people to build strong support networks that help them tackle the challenges of growing up with childhood-onset heart disease.
The below story, shared by the parent of a Teen Camp attendee, is just one example of the important part these friendships play:
Morning everyone! I hope everyone is having the best day. I just wanted to say how amazing being part of this foundation is. My daughter met new friends at the last HeartKids camp and today she is staying home from school because one of the friends she met at camp is having a procedure done where they have to be awake and this friend has asked her to stay with them over the phone because they are extremely nervous about the procedure. She came to me last night and asked if she could stay home from school so she can support her new friend while they go through this and of course I said yes. (She normally won’t stay home from school for anything.) I think it’s amazing that it can bring kids together to support each other through their most scary times and also have someone that can understand what they are going through. I appreciate everyone involved in this so much.
HeartKids Teen Camps are open to all heart teens aged 13-17. You can learn more about upcoming Teen Camps at https://www.heartkids.org.au/support/young-people/teen-camps/
