Let's Go to Camp! An Innovative Pediatric Practice Placement 1

Each year, children living with disabilities escape from their families for 1 week at camp armed with their sun block, sleeping bags and talent-show costumes. In British Columbia, Canada, Easter Seals Camps offer such adventures to over 800 children/teens with physical/mental disabilities, providing free, overnight camping with on-site nurses. Easter Seals Camps offer pediatric placements to nursing students to work with nurses in a multidisciplinary team. In this paper, we describe this partnership, explain the role of camp nurse, portray student learning opportunities and offer recommendations to pediatric nurses who may consider participating in similar innovative placements in pediatric camps.