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Children enjoy archery and climbing, among other activities, at Camp Wezbegon.

Remember how fun it was as a child to eat a hunk of watermelon on a warm summer day and see who could spit the seeds the farthest? That may sound like an improbable game for an asthmatic child, but the kids at Camp Wezbegon, a summer camp Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center dedicates to asthma education, prove they can.

For one week each summer, a select group of asthmatic children from ages 9 to 13, some of whom wouldn't otherwise have a vacation, enjoy outdoor activities, play games and learn how to rely on themselves to manage their asthma. Robin Coleman, asthma patient educator at Le Bonheur and camp director, explained the significance of teaching kids how to live with their asthma.

Some kids may use their asthma as a crutch, "and we want to throw that crutch away," Coleman said. "We want to teach them what it's OK to do. You may have to modify some activities but you can do it. 'Can't' is not a word (used) at camp."

In fact, children have to sign a code of conduct stating they will participate or their parents will be called. Each year, parents apply their children for the free-of-charge camp. Coleman said they prefer to have as many new campers as possible so new applicants are given first choice over repeats. The more severe the asthma, the more likely they are to be accepted. Coleman explained every effort is made to include children Le Bonheur feels will benefit most from camp, especially those children who are unable to attend a regular camp because of the severity of their asthma.

She said part of the reason why Le Bonheur chose to have an asthma camp is due to the fact that doctors were seeing the same children in the hospital repeatedly. It has become imperative to teach children about their asthma beyond the daily classes at the hospital, which are typically designed for parents of young asthmatics. Once children reach preteen and teenage years, it's time for them to be responsible for their health.

"Kids don't learn the same way adults do," maintained Coleman. "You can't put them in a classroom and expect them to learn and absorb and appreciate all of this. You have to make it fun."

Fun is something Camp Wezbegon provides in abundance. The July 2007 camp will be held at Pinecrest campgrounds in LaGrange, Tenn. During their five days and four nights at Camp Wezbegon, 24 children will have the opportunity to participate in customary camp activities such as swimming, hiking, archery, cooking classes, arts and crafts, and much more. A doctor is on location throughout their stay, along with nurses, respiratory therapists, a child life specialist and camp counselors.

Children are cleared by the physicians and medications are given each morning. No one is exempt from activities, but if a child is known to have difficulty with a specific activity, particularly severe asthmatics, the child will be pretreated.

At orientation, children initially learn basic asthma facts, such as what is occurring in their lungs to cause constriction of breathing, including inflammation, mucus and bronchial spasms. Children learn the purpose of a peak flow meter, as well as how their medication works, how to identify attack triggers and how to know it's time to see a doctor. Teaching children the physiology of asthma and how to modify activities instead of simply eliminating them empowers kids to manage their asthma without relying on parents to nag them.

"What they teach you at camp is incredibly informative, even for older kids," said Patrick Finley, 18, a camp counselor for the past three years and an asthmatic. "It's incredibly valuable if you have asthma."

Games are tailored to help children learn about asthma, such as asthma Jeopardy, bingo and Pictionary, all teaching various aspects of the disorder and its treatment. Kids participate in individually designed scavenger hunts to find their own asthma triggers. Campers even have their own version of the Olympics.

Not surprisingly, the children are quite competitive, which keeps them motivated to participate in activities. The more they play, the more they realize what they are capable of and that asthma, while it can limit their activities, doesn't have to hold them back. From exploring clay pits and taking two-mile hikes to a hay-less hayride and a flameless camp fire, children are able to enjoy traditional camp activities modified to suit their special needs.

"A lot of times they don't even realize they're learning because it's fun," Coleman said.

Until becoming a camp counselor, "I never actually fully understood what asthma was," Finley added. "I'm glad kids are exposed to the information, even if it's not fully absorbed, and have a better idea of it than what I did at their age."

For some kids, this camp may be the only opportunity they have to get out of the house, as well as interact with children of different races and backgrounds. Finley said the doctors teach kids about asthma while the camp counselors teach kids about kids. As one of the few counselors with asthma, Finley said he tries to show kids as much as possible that if they're properly taking care of their asthma, they can live with it. And most importantly, they have fun while they gain greater awareness.

"We try to give them the most positive vacation experience they can have," added Finley. "It really is a lot of fun."

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