When your child’s life is shaped by medical complexity, childhood can too easily become defined by appointments, procedures, and precautions. At Hope for HIE, we believe every child deserves the chance to experience the magic of summer camp: friendship, laughter, and the simple joy of just being a kid. For children with HIE and other complex medical needs, that magic is possible with the right support in place.
We’re grateful to share a thoughtful new resource by our Certified Child Life Specialist and Grief Counselor, Annie Gunning, designed to help families begin exploring summer camp options with confidence.
While summer may feel far away, registrations and applications for 2026 summer camps will open before we know it. Many inclusive and medically supported programs fill quickly, making now the perfect time to begin learning what’s available.
A recent episode of Inside the Children’s Hospital beautifully captures what camp can mean for children with medical needs. In the conversation, Dr. Laura Blaisdell, Chief Medical Officer of SeriousFun Children’s Network, and Jamie Gentille, a Child Life Specialist Leader and former camper, share how specialized camps are designed so children can fully participate without sacrificing medical safety.
They describe:
Jamie reflects on her own journey from camper to child life specialist, sharing how camp helped shape her confidence and sense of belonging. From adventurous activities adapted with medical equipment to quiet late-night cabin conversations that foster connection, camp becomes a place where children are seen beyond their diagnoses.
It’s a powerful reminder: medical complexity does not eliminate childhood. With the right support, it expands what’s possible.
Looking for a place to start? The team at Child Life On Call has created a comprehensive summer camp directory where families can:
Every family’s needs are unique. Some camps are diagnosis-specific, others serve children with a wide range of medical conditions. Some are day camps; others offer overnight experiences with full medical teams onsite.
If you have specific questions, concerns, or would like help thinking through whether a camp might be a good fit for your child, please reach out to Annie directly. She would love to connect with you and help navigate options that align with your child’s needs, strengths, and hopes.
With thoughtful preparation and the right supports, summer camp can be a place where confidence grows and lifelong memories are made. Let’s start planning now, Summer 2026 will be here before we know it!
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