Camp Korey

Have you ever heard of the Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Camps?  Maybe you have heard of the SeriousFun Children’s Network (the new name for the Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Camps?  Do you remember me mentioning Camp Korey? 

Camp Korey, an official member of SeriousFun Children's Network, founded by Paul Newman, is part of a growing global community of camps and programs all reaching beyond illness to help children and their families discover joy, confidence and a new world of possibility.

Want to know the best part about Camp Korey (for us, at least)?  It is in Carnation, Washington – just about 45 minutes from our house. 

Another great thing?  In 2011, Camp Korey partnered with Seattle Children’s Hospital and Little People of America to provide a week long camp for kids with skeletal dysplasia.  Until then, the only such camp was in California. 

You may recall a post I made in January about the family weekend we attended at Camp Korey.  Well, this summer Jadon was able to attend Camp Korey with his little people friends.  The camp is supposed to be an overnight experience.  Due to Jadon’s hesitation to go and that there were no volunteers to take care of him at night at camp, Jadon was allowed to be a day camper. 

Camp started around noon on Monday, July 30.  Jadon was greeted with much fanfare, as are all the campers (Kalina was too, actually).  After completing the check-in process with Dr. Goldberg and the great team of nurses, RT, and counselors, Kalina and I left him with instructions to return at 8:45 PM.  Jadon didn’t really seem sad to see us go.  He had a great day.  When we returned to get him we were told we came too early – he missed cabin chat.  So, for the rest of the week, we left him ~8:45 AM and we did not get him until ~9:15 PM.   What long days.  He was exhausted!  He pretty much came home, took a quick shower and crashed.  We didn’t get a lot of camp information due to his fatigue.  All that information came later in the week and after camp ended. 

Some of the highlights from camp, according to Jadon were:  massive food fight (including fire fighters coming to hose off the participants), petting a horse, going fishing, making a sand castle, camp songs, being DJ at the camp dance (DJ J Dawg was his name), stage night, hanging out with friends.  The list goes on and on.  He just told me, “pretty much everything”.  We are so thankful he had such a wonderful experience. 

We look forward to many more Camp Korey experiences.  Jadon is talking about what he will do next year and Kalina is already asking when she can go to camp.

 

 

Welcome Sign

Jadon and Linda, his RT for the first three days

 

Lodges at Camp Korey

Camp Korey Grounds



Ready for another SeriousFun day

 

 

Jadon's cabin