Camp Del Corazon

MISSION: CAMP DEL CORAZON PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND EXPERIENTIAL AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS, AND FAMILIES FACED WITH THE CHALLENGES OF GROWING UP AND LIVING WITH HEART DISEASE. OUR PRIMARY PROGRAM IS A RESIDENTIAL SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN AGES 7 TO 17. WE ALSO PROVIDE A VIRTUAL FORMAT CAMP FOR CHILDREN IN THE HOSPITAL OR WHO ARE OTHERWISE UNCABLE TO ATTEND SUMMER CAMP IN-PERSON. WE HAVE OUR P.A.C.E. PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH HEART DISEASE AGES 18 TO 25, WHICH CONSISTS OF WEEKEND RETREATS WITH PEERS AND MENTORS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF LIVING AS AN ADULT WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE. LASTLY, WE HOST THE HAPPY HEART FESTIVAL, AN ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL SYMPOSIUM FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY CHD. ALL OF CAMP DEL CORAZON'S PROGRAMS ARE FREE-OF-CHARGE.

LARGEST PROGRAMS (CAMP): CAMP DEL CORAZON (CDC)'S,IS A RESIDENTIAL, MEDICALLY-SUPERVISED SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN WITH HEART DISEASE. SUMMER CAMP CONSISTS OF THREE 5-DAY CAMPING SESSIONS NOW ACCOMMODATING 350 TO 400 CAMPERS EACH YEAR ON CATALINA ISLAND. CAMPERS PARTICIPATE IN SNORKLING, KAYAKING, ROCK WALL CLIMBING, ARCHERY, AND OTHER NATURE-BASED ACTIVITIES. THE ENTIRE PROGRAM IS STAFFED BY VOLUNTEER DOCTORS, NURSES, CERTIFIED ACTIVITY LEADS, AND COUNSELORS. EACH CAMP SESSION IS STAFFED WITH TWO TO THREE TOP PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGISTS IN CALIFORNIA ALONG WITH 15 TO 20 CRITICAL CARE CARDIAC NURSES PER SESSION. THE CAMP FEATURES A FULLY EQUIPPED HEALTH CENTER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE HIGH ACUITY CAMPERS. IN 2023, CDC'S SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM SERVED 260 CAMPERS.LARGEST CAMP PROGRAMS (VIRTUAL CAMP): SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF COVID IN 2020, CAMP DEL CORAZON HAS ADDED A VIRTUAL CAMP PROGRAM TO ITS ROSTER OF PROGRAMS. FOR ONE WEEKEND IN THE SUMMER, CDC PROVIDES ALL-DAY VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING FOR CAMPERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENJOY. THIS NEW ANNUAL PROGRAM ALLOWS CAMPERS WHO ARE TOO SICK OR TOO FAR AWAY TO ATTEND OUR IN-PERSON PROGRAMS TO HAVE A COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER CHD CHILDREN. WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 100 FAMILIES ANNUALLY.

OTHER PROGRAMS SERVICES: OUR VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR VOLUNTEER CAMP COUNSELORS TO ADVANCE AND BECOME CAMP PROGRAM LEADERS WHO ARE PREPARED TO LEAD PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS SUPERVISE CHILDREN AT CAMP. ALL TRAINING IS DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION ACCREDITATION GUIDELINES. CAMP DEL CORAZON ALSO PROVIDES EXTENSIVE ADVANCED ACTIVITY TRAINING TO ALL ACTIVITY STAFF, INCLUDING LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION, CLIMBING CERTIFICATION, AND ADVANCED ARCHERY TRAINING.

LARGEST PROGRAMS (HAPPY HEART FESTIVAL): THE EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CAMP DEL CORAZON HAPPY HEART FESTIVAL IS AN EDUCATIONAL SYMPOSIUM FOR FAMILIES DURING HEART MONTH (FEBRUARY) THAT ADDRESSES THE COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS OF THE HEART PATIENT. ALONG WITH PRESENTATIONS ON ADVANCES IN MEDICAL CARE FROM TOP CARDIOLOGISTS, THE HAPPY HEART FESTIVAL OFFERS RESOURCES, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND WORKSHOPS ON HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, DIET, AND MENTAL HEALTH, TO ENSURE OUR CAMPERS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEIR FULL HEALTH. THIS EVENT IS LEAD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A LEADING MEDICAL DEVICE COMPANY, EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES, ON THEIR IRVINE CORPORATE CAMPUS. IN 2023 THE EDUCATIONAL SYMPOSIUM HOSTED MORE THAN 243 PARTICIPANTS.

LARGEST PROGRAMS (P.A.C.E.): P.A.C.E. IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 18 TO 25, WHO ARE LIVING WITH HEART DISEASE AND TRANSITIONING TO ADULT CARDIAC CARE. THE P.A.C.E. PROGRAM OFFERS SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES ALL YEAR AND CULMINATES IN A MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND RETREAT WITH PEERS AND MENTORS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF LIVING AS AN ADULT WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE. PARTICIPANTS IN THE P.A.C.E. PROGRAM OFTEN RETURN TO VOLUNTEER AS COUNSELORS IN THE SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM AS LEADERS AND MENTORS FOR OUR CAMPERS. IN 2023 THE P.A.C.E. RETREAT SERVED 48 PARTICIPANTS.