Dates for our Kidney Kids Camp 2010 have been announced!
Monday 27 September to Friday 1 October 2010
At a venue in Sth Australia - watch this space!
The Kidney Health Australia National Kidney Kids Camp is held every 18 months with the goal to provide an environment where entertainment and structured, adult-supervised activities are available for Kidney Kids with access to medical treatment. Camp provides the following benefits as it provides:
- an environment where entertainment and structured, adult-supervised activities are available for Kidney Kids with access to medical treatment
- opportunities for Kidney Kids to develop informal support networks and interact with peers with similar health issues
- respite for families and carers
National Kidney Kids Camp 2009
Held from 14 to18 April 2009 in Nth Palm Beach on the Gold Coast in sunny Queensland, was attended by largest number in the camp’s history - over 60 Kidney Kids joined in the fun.
The Camps’s theme prompted lots of special treats and surprises including; Polynesian dance and percussion sessions and friendly tribal team challenges - raft building, catapulting, bouldering and pool games. The highlight for many of the kids campers was the action packed day visiting Dreamworld.
When you see the joy on the faces of the kids attending in these action shots from camp and read the camp diary, it gives you a personal understanding of the impact of this holdiay camp.
|
|
'Mayday, mayday!'
The Big RED airline reported a missing aeroplane somewhere in the South Pacific after a freak tropical storm. On crash landing, local natives were reported to have found the passengers and crew of the LOST aeroplane – location unknown!
Aloha! Don’t worry the friendly natives looked after all the stranded passengers. After they unpacked and settled into their huts everyone prepared themselves for a week of activities packed full of fun. The children explored the new land called Tallebudgera with all their new and old friends. In the afternoon everyone enjoyed some games together (kite building and sand sculpturing) and then the children were welcomed by the island’s tribes.
|
|
|
|
|
'Beat your chest – can you hear the sound of the drums?’
After breakfast it was time for all the survivors to band together and plan their rescue and on the side, experience what this newly found land had on offer; tribal challenges, raft building, bouldering, catapulting and lots more! After lunch the Polynesian drums were inviting as they called all the children to participate in tribal tradition and music. When the sun set, neighbouring natives gathered to partake in a Luau (feast & celebration) and celebrated with Polynesian rhythms and dance. With faces painted they put on their grass skirts and listened to the Haka at its very best!
|
|
|
|
|
‘Adventure to the other side’
Venturing deeper inland the survivors and crew searched for a new world, Dreamworld!
A whole day passed with not a worry about being LOST as all the survivors forgot where they were and enjoyed the thrills and spills on all the rides at Dreamworld.
|
|
|
|
|
‘Sound your war cry and gather your tribe for some friendly rivalry’
Back by popular demand - the traditional ‘Kidney Kids Camp Concert’. The natives helped all the bedraggled survivors summon up the strength to fight till the end as they battled the contest to be the first ones found. All the survivors were encouraged to join in the tribal traditions and making the biggest Luau yet.
Were the natives friendly or just plain wild?
|
|
|
|
|
‘SOS - LOST now found’
The survivors packed their belongings and made sure to leave no trace. The SOS signals had been spotted from above.
Queen Kukana on Ruapehu Mountain had spoken -the rescue planes and vehicles were on their way and were ready for boarding.
Until next we meet - Aloha!
|
|
Our Special Thanks!
On behalf of all the children and Kidney Health Australia we would like to thank the following supporters
of our 2009 National Kidney Kids Camp:
Our Co Host - Queensland Child & Adolescent Renal Services
 Hospital management and staff of the paediatric renal units from:
Monash Medical Centre, Victoria
Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane
Royal Children's Hospital,Victoria
The Mater Children’s Hospital, Brisbane
Women's & Children's Hospital, South Australia
Related renal services with significant contribution:
Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd
Eli Lilly Australia Pty Limited
Fresenius Medical Care
Genzyme Australasia
Gold Coast Health Services Management and Paediatric Unit
Robina Dialysis Unit, Robina Hospital, Gold Coast Health Services
Community Supporters: 
AAC ID Solutions
ACP Magazines Ltd
Action Printing
Corporate Express
Ego Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
Fuji Australia Pty Ltd
Mind Challenge
Neverfail Springwater Ltd
Pacific Magazines
Taylor Props
Woolworths Pty Ltd - South Melbourne Branch, Victoria
Yamaha Motor Australia
ZART Art
Volunteer Carers:
Griffith University, School of Nursing & Midwifery and School of Medicine, Gold Coast Campus QLD
Previous Kidney Kids Camp Fun
 'Pirates’ was the theme for the 2007 Camp - volunteers led the way calling for all Pirates, Deckhands, Captains to ready themselves. Shiver me timbers there was no time to be hanging around below deck by Tuesday.
So it was all hands on deck to experience what Camp Manyung had to offer; Pirate crew challenges, raft building, flying fox, giant swing archery and lots more! All the pirates had an opportunity to sail the high seas on a 1800’s Tall Ship (The Enterprize), explore the creatures of the deep blue (Melbourne Aquarium) and to get up close and personal with salt water crocodiles and reptiles when a special ‘Wild Action’ show visited camp. Back by popular demand - the traditional ‘Kidney Kids Camp Concert’.
Kidney Kids Camp 2005 | Kidney Kids Camp 2004 | Kidney Kids Camp 2002
Kidney Kids Capers and holiday activities - Each year we organise Kidney Kids Capers and holidays in various states, which are a daytime activity program for school-aged children with kidney disease and their siblings. We organise these fun holiday activities with the aim of providing people of all ages with kidney disease, their families and carers, an enjoyable break from normal routine. For further info on within your state call our Kidney Health Infoline 1800 4 KIDNEY (1800 4 543 639).
Other fun and information especially for our Kidney Kids
Special publications for our Kidney Kids - Kids Companion on Kidneys, a KHA publication and support sheets Family friends I Important contacts I Tablet timetable tell it 'how it is' to be a kid with CKD, on dialysis, waiting for a transplant. It describes how different and difficult life is when you can only eat certain foods and drink limited fluids, etc and have dialysis regularly to live. Challenge your friends, how much do they know about their kidneys - try our Kidney Quiz Online.
Our Kidney Chat Newsletter - See #9 December 09 I #8 August 09 I #7 March 09 I #6 November 08 I
#5 July 08 I #4 March 08 Other issues listed at the bottom of this page
Youth Links - Our highly recommended webpage takes you to a world of FUN and educational kidney info. Show your parents - they have kidneys too! Also refer to our Recommended Weblinks for fun whilst learning. You will find our web pages - Using the web and Kidney Glossary - valuable tools to assist in your research. Take a look around our other web pages, as they offer great evidence based information for you and your friends. Show them how our kidneys work and view how dialysis works!
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 (24 hrs every day) www.kidshelp.com.au is a fun and friendly website with lots of info, a place where you can get help and connect. What is Kids Helpline? Young people (5 to 25 year) can phone, email or chat online with a counsellor!
 Kidney Kids can have amazing 'Wishes' come true! Make-A-Wish Foundation of Australia has been granting cherished wishes to kids and young people since 1985. They bring magic and joy to kids with a life-threatening illness. If you are a Kidney Kid, ask your parents to help you apply to Make-A-Wish® Australia. To be eligible the child's treating nephrologist needs to confirm the child’s illness is life-threatening. Medically eligible children aged under 4 years are entitled to a “Wish Box” full of age-appropriate toys. Phone Olivia Cunliffe on 03 9426 0777 * o.cunliffe@makeawish.org.au
 Kidney Kids, you are invited to join Livewire - a supportive place for kids, teens and families to hang out, connect, share experiences, creatively express themselves and know they are not alone. Membership is free for any 10 to 21 year old living with serious illness or disability. Register at www.livewire.org.au phone 1300 727 827 or email info@livewire.org.au
|