Family Summer Camp 2009 in Denmark
Our Summer Camp 2009 for families with PID was held on the Island of Bornholm. Bornholm is a part of Denmark but is situated closer to Sweden. 51 Adults and 52 children aged 0 – 16 yrs participated in this years Summer Camp.
We were extremely lucky with the Danish weather and had glorious sunshine throughout the week. We always hold the Summer Camp during the first week of the school summer holidays, which enables our members to plan the rest of their summer vacation in good time. We also take into consideration the financial side of things with the first week of the school holiday being low-rate season!
The first day the families arrive at various times and check in at the summerhouse resort. For new members an introduction meeting was arranged on the first evening to give information, answer any enquires and welcome the new families. One of our traditions is to hold brunch for all the families the next morning. Giving opportunity to greet each other welcome, both new and old families and be informed on the programme and practical info for the week ahead.
Morning song and dance before the lectures begin
Most of the lectures were scheduled between 9am –12am. While the parents were busy in school the children were encouraged to participate in activities such as: Rounder´s, gymnastics, trampoline, football camp with a tournament at the end of the week, etc... Not forgetting to add that the undisturbed lectures could only occur with the help from a number of voluntary parents who offered to miss out on a lecture or 2. And probably most important giving the children time to play together, building up friendships along the way.
Another popular activity amongst the children is our very important teddy bear doctors, each child brings along their own “build a bear” and makes a visit or 2 to the teddy bear doctors, they are very essential amongst the children, giving openings to talk freely about sickness whether it be about their own immune deficiency or maybe a brother or sister in the family.The teddy bear doctors have also become a tradition in IDF.
Teddy bear doctors
Happy children after a visit to the teddy bear doctors
This years lectures included subjects such as:
- The importance of connection within the families with PID.
Family therapist: Birgitte Nygaard.
- Opportunities for the up and coming and young adults with reference to Further Education and Business Opportunities.
Henriette Hutters (centre for small handicap groups).
- Diet: its importance for the immune system.
Jan Roland Andreasen.
- What is Influenza and should we vaccinate PID patients?.
Microbiologist: Michael Gribskov.
- Basic course in the immune system and immune deficiency.
Sven Fandrup: IDF .
- Living with a chronic sick child.
Psychologist: Fani Pøhler.
- Love is not blind.
Family therapist: Birgitte Nygaard.
The afternoons and evenings included Social events for the families. The first afternoon entertaining our traditional game of Bingo! The parents tending to get even more excited than the children, a great afternoon was had.
The next afternoon we held IDF Mini Olympic Games 2009. A mixture of physical and mental tasks, including tasks like “who can throw the wellington boot the furthest” or memory games like “how many objects can you remember after looking at them for 30 seconds”.
Mini Olympic games for the mind and the body
Other social events included our traditional bbq party with around 20 or more outdoor tables pushed together creating the longest garden table ever. The children enjoyed each other’s company whilst the parents chatted together until late in the evening.
Barbeque party
Each day cakes were baked for the evening cake and coffee get together. To save us some money this year one of our bright thinking members applied to one of the packet cake mix companies and received a sponsorship of cake mix to see us through the summer camp week.
One of the warm summer evening’s we arranged a very interesting trip to Hammershus: A historical fortress at the most northern point of the Island. A guided tour rounded off with a brass band playing music and marching in timing with the lighting up of the fortress after dark. Spectacular sight.
Our Club 14 (all our teenagers from 14 and up) planned their own programme for the week together with their adult helper: Sven. Who managed to sneak in a surprise trip in the programme, which turned out to be an aerial rope slide. Most definitely a big success. Here you can see one of club 14 coming down the aerial rope slide.
One of the club 14 coming down the Aerial Rope Slide
The final evening we held our gala dinner and to finish off the evening we decided to do an Auction in order to disperse of all the leftover items from the various activities through the week. Nobody wanted to transport the goods home again. It was a huge success, the children enjoyed it immensely and we even collected a few extra funds for IDF, which I’m sure we can make use of towards next years Summer Camp.
All the families participating in the Summer Camp 2009
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