Know any cleft lip and palate patients who could benefit from meeting other people like themselves? If so, tell them about Camp Keep Smiling, a camp for Texas Children’s patients ages 10 to 16 years old with cleft lip and palate.
Hosted by the nonprofit Camp for All, the camp in Burton provides a safe, fun environment for patients between the ages of 10 and 16 to engage in meaningful social interaction and gain self-confidence. Participants can enjoy activities like canoeing, fishing, archery, ropes courses, basketball and arts and crafts.
Texas Children’s Pediatric plastic surgeon Dr. Laura Monson, who helped start the camp, leads the initiative with other team members from the plastic surgery division. Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, OR staff and child life specialists serve as counselors who notice tremendous strides in the campers towards the end of the session.
Admission is free of charge for patients as it is supported directly by donations and the help of generous volunteers.
This year’s camp is scheduled for Friday, March 6, to Sunday, March 8. Applications for patients to attend the camp are available online at this link and are due Friday, February 21. For questions, contact camp coordinator Michelle Roy at mgroy@texaschildrens.org or 832-822-3180.