Like all of NKF's Patient Service Programs, Kidney Kids Camp is offered free of charge on a first come first served basis. The program allows kids to forget their illness and be a regular kid for a week. If you are interested in supporting Kids Camp in this unique experience please contact our offices 415-543-3303.
         
For Kidney Kids campers, the program's benefits far outlast their weeklong stay at camp. As one camper's mother put it: "[My son] looks forward to camp all year long and he returns from camp each summer with new friends, stories, energy and self-confidence." And in addition to the simple joy of an outdoor adventure, Kidney Kids Camp encourages a number of behaviors that can affect children's long-term health, including:

• Increased physical activity levels, which can improve children's energy, self-esteem and decrease risks for kidney disease complications.
• Increased opportunities for peer socialization, which can improve quality of life and increase children's support network as they manage their kidney disease.
• Increased independence and discipline with regard to self-care, which is an important first step toward adult disease management and can boost self-confidence.