Camp Oasis: Life-Changing Experience for Children with Crohn’s & Colitis
Published: January 13, 2016
NEW YORK, NY – For more than 11 million children and adults, summer camp provides an escape from every day life- a chance to enjoy the outdoors, meet new people, and participate in fun and exciting activities. For 23-year-old Jessica Heirtzler, summer camp has provided her with much more than a week away from home- camp saved her life.
Heirtzler was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when she was 8-years-old. For years, she lived with constant debilitating pain, doctor’s appointments, medications, and emotional issues. It wasn’t until she first attended Camp Oasis as a high school junior that she felt like herself.
“Camp saved my life. It was the first time in my life that I didn’t have to hide who I truly was,” Heirtzler said. “Everyone at camp- both campers and volunteers- taught me that Crohn’s isn’t who I am, but it is a part of me and I should embrace it. Camp Oasis helped me grow into a confident woman who accepts and loves herself for exactly who she is. I am now completely open about having Crohn’s disease and I have Camp Oasis to thank for that.”
Camp Oasis is the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation's summer camp program that enriches the lives of children with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis by providing them with a safe and supportive camp community. The Foundation runs 12 week-long camp sessions across the country, attracting not only campers but also hundreds of volunteer counselors and medical professionals. The Foundation underwrites 65 percent of the cost of camp attendance, and scholarships are available for campers-in-need.
Disney Channel Liv and Maddie actor Benjamin King, a Crohn’s disease patient, stresses the importance of having an outlet like Camp Oasis for children with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis to come together.
“Dealing with Crohn’s as an adult, I know how difficult it can be to cope with this disease. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for children to live with the debilitating pain and uncertainty Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis can cause,” King said. “As a father, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits that summer camp has on children. The existence of Camp Oasis to give children with Crohn’s and colitis a safe environment to come together and bond over a shared experience is tremendous.”
Click here for more information about Camp Oasis.
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Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization focused on both research and patient support for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the mission of curing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality of life for the millions of Americans living with IBD. The Foundation’s work is dramatically accelerating the research process, while also providing extensive educational and support resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public.