HDYO’s North American HD Young Person Camp 2024

We are incredibly excited to host our 6th North American HD Young Person Camp on August 11-15 from Camp St Charles in Maryland.

Camp offers young people the chance to meet others impacted by HD to learn about HD through educational workshops, share experiences and also have plenty of fun participating in the many on-site activities like swimming, rock climbing, hiking, archery and much more.

Goal - We aim for young people attending camp to benefit by feeling less isolated, more supported, as well coming away from camp with an improved understanding of HD and strong peer connections with other young people in similar situations. There will also be an experienced HD team of professionals and volunteers on-site to support young people at all times. HDYO has an exceptional record of holding amazing camps for young people impacted by HD.

Applications are currently closed If you have applied, you will be notified of your status in May. For more information and questions, look at the application timeline below.

Details

Who can attend? Young people ages 18-25 (there may be some flexibility with the age) that live in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico who are impacted by HD (impacted covers those at risk, tested, not at risk but in a family, close friend etc.)

It’s HDYO's discretion to find the right fit for the dynamics and success of the entire camp group.

How many spaces are available? There is the capacity for about 45 young people to attend the camp.

What is the Cost? Free!!!! Like all HDYO’s camps we have found sponsorship to cover all costs including travel, food and camp fees. Campers will be responsible for any cost associated with baggage fees and campers should have some money for airport snacks and incidentals.

When will it be?
Arriving Sunday, August 11, 2024 – Departing Thursday, August 15, 2024

Where will it be? Camp St Charles in Maryland

“This was my first year at HDYO camp. Not going to lie, I was VERY nervous to share my HD story with people I didn’t know. But over the past few days that I’ve been at camp, I’ve met people that I have bonded extremely well with. Before camp I felt very alone when dealing with HD and overall very stressed when the topic was brought up. Now, on the way back to the airport to go home, I feel SO safe and supported with the people around me. I feel so educated and understood. The Camp staff and volunteers played an incredible role with loving and caring for the people around them, I am so thankful. – Camper, HDYO North American Camp 2018

Application Process:

• Applications can be submitted until April 30, 2024. Applications are officially closed.

• Applications will be reviewed by the camp team during the first two weeks of May 2024.

• If there are more applicants than places, we will prioritize those young people who may not have a lot of support in their local community.

• Notifications of application acceptance will go out no later than May 15th, 2024.

• Notifications will be E-MAILED out around May 15, 2024. Applicants will have one week to accept their spot at camp or it will go to another applicant.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How will I/my child get to camp in Maryland, USA? If you are selected to attend camp, we will arrange travel for you. The flight costs are covered by HDYO, but should you need to check a bag that is your family’s responsibility. If you are within driving distance, we will work with you and your family to arrange travel.

Who is running the camp? There will be an experienced staff team from HDYO and HD professionals from around the country, and a trained and trusted group of young adult volunteers from the HD community in North America to form the volunteer support team. All camp activities are supervised by certified staff that are employees of Camp St Charles.

Insurance: All campers are REQUIRED to have medical insurance. You should check your policy for travel coverage. The camp is fully insured and there will be extra event coverage organized by HDYO as well. All families will be required to sign a release alleviating HDYO of responsibility in the case of an accident or injury.

Medical Treatment:
Qualified first aiders and trained medical professionals will be on-site as part of the staff & volunteer team. The camp team will need to know of any medical conditions that may impact the camper’s ability to participate.

What experience do the staff have with supporting young people and camps? HDYO’s team will be overseeing the camp, with support from HD professionals from the region. HDYO has organized 10 HD camps for young people in North America, Europe, South America and Australia & New Zealand, since we founded in 2012. That has given us vast experience in developing camp projects to be the best they can be for young people impacted by HD. We will have a team for camp as well as HD professionals such as social workers and genetic counsellors from the region. We will also have a trained and trusted volunteer team of young adults from the HD community in North America who will be with the young participants at all times.

What will each day look like? The days will start with breakfast as a group. After that, depending on the day, there will be a mix of recreational activities, educational sessions and some sharing sessions. A full agenda will be provided to each family prior to the start of camp.

What support is available to my child before and after camp? A member from the HDYO team will be scheduling at least one call prior to camp to discuss the family’s situations, get a sense of any concerns and begin to build a relationship with the young person. We will also work with the associations to ensure that any available support in their region is identified. They will be holding calls with the family post-camp as well. During camp, the campers will learn about the various sources of support post-camp.

I reviewed the camp website and notice the camp has a religious background. Will there be a religious aspect to camp? There will not be a religious component for the HD Camp. Although Camp St Charles does have a religious focus during its own summer program, they understand that this is a camp focused on support for young people impacted by HD and the camp does not require outside groups to engage in any faith-based activities.

Have a question/query about the camp that isn’t answered above? Contact HDYO at matt@hdyo.org

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