Registration Open for Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia’s Annual Camp New Hope

The Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia (SCFG) will host its 42nd Annual Camp New Hope July 14-20 for youngsters living with sickle cell disease (SCD).

The fun and enrichment camp will be held a week earlier than usual at one of Georgia’s most historic campsites, Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, adjacent to the Oconee National Forest, and featuring a 110-acre lake. Each year, the SCFG said, hundreds of campers await the opportunity to enjoy independence, make friends, learn new skills, and have a blast. The camp also offers top-shelf meals and luxury cabins.

Registration is open at this site. Camp fees have not yet been set, but ranged last year between $75 and $100 per person.  Scholarships are available. Deadline for registration is May 25.

While summer camp is a cherished tradition, it can sometimes be intimidating for special-needs children to be away from home for a week. It’s not unusual for prospective campers and their families to express concerns about safety and medical supervision. But camp organizers said the event provides an around-the-clock professional and medically supervised experience. Physicians and nurses will be present to assure campers’ safety.

Kids will get to enjoy activities such as swimming, hiking, boating, miniature golf, Native American craft making, and the study of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and lake ecology.

“This summer, we are looking forward to our new and expanded program for Camp New Hope,” Jeanette Nu’Man, SCFG operations manager, said in a press release. “There are many specific activities planned to help campers build self-confidence, camaraderie, independence, responsibility, setting and achieving goals and gaining a new appreciation for nature and the environment.”

Founded in 1971, SCFG is one of the nation’s oldest SCD organizations. Its goals are to reduce disease incidence, monitor disease prevalence, and help enhance the quality of life for those living with SCD. The foundation sponsors educational programs, conducts sickle cell trait testing, counsels families, supports healthcare professionals, and coordinates patient-centered activities.

The idea for the camp came from SCFG co-founders Nelson McGhee and Delutha King, Atlanta-based medical leaders. Camp Hope is a key part of the organization’s programming.

Visit this site to volunteer, or call 404-755-1641. Volunteer training takes place May 12-19.