Volunteers help make Camp Week memorable for St. Augustine Health Campus

Spending a week at camp long has been a summer tradition for many people. But for nursing home and assisted living residents at St. Augustine Health Campus in Cleveland, it seemed out of reach – until a few residents suggested the idea about two decades ago.

“The first year, some residents went to a camp near Athens, Ohio,” said Dana Carns, St. Augustine Health Ministries’ development director. The idea took root and the camping program shifted to Camp Cheerful in Strongsville, which offers recreation programs for campers with disabilities. Now, about half of the 300-plus residents at the health campus, located in the former St. John Hospital on Cleveland’s West Side, take advantage of camp week. They can stay in handicap-accessible cabins from Sunday through Thursday or attend day camp, selecting which day(s) they want to come. Transportation is arranged by the health campus.

Carns said every detail of the week is planned. Nurses, nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, activities staff and others accompany the campers. Their numbers are augmented by countless volunteers from schools, parishes and others across the Diocese of Cleveland. “We try to have one volunteer paired with each camper,” she added.

Last week, volunteers included members of the Women’s Giving Circle, part of the Catholic Community Foundation. About 40 women spent at least part of the day assisting campers. Parish volunteers, some from nearby St. Joseph and St. John Neumann parishes in Strongsville, also helped. Carns said the confirmation class from St. Albert the Great Parish in North Royalton helps to get things ready before campers arrive.

Health camps staffers bring wheelchairs, all the food, medications, bed linens, supplies, arts and crafts, fishing poles, games, puzzles, snacks and medical equipment that residents will need for the week.

“We’ve done this for about 20 years and our residents love it,” Carns said. “It’s their vacation and they really look forward to it.”

She said it’s time consuming and expensive, “but it does so much for the residents. They love it.” In fact, Carns said those who attended camp did not request pain or anxiety medications while they were there. “It made a difference,” she added.

Katherine, who is wheelchair bound and has attended camp week for about 10 years, said she really enjoys it. “My favorite thing is just being able to go around the grounds by myself.”

Carns said one thing campers stress is they love being able to make choices like what activities they want to experience.

Volunteers said they enjoyed the experience, also. “I think we got as much or more out of it than the campers,” one Women’s Giving Circle member said

Knights of Columbus from St. Joseph and St. John Neumann parishes grilled hot dogs and burgers for dinner the final night of camp week. Volunteers took orders and delivered food to the campers and other volunteers visited each camper to customize ice cream sundaes for dessert.

“This is one way we can honor and bring something of value to our residents,” Carns said.