Camp Breathe Easy, A Programmatic and Educational Overview

Camp Breathe Easy is a seven-day, six-night residential camp for children ages 7-13 with asthma. Children with an asthma diagnosis from mild to severe are eligible to attend the camp, which is operated by the American Lung Association-Southeast Region. The goal is to promote self-confidence and responsibility in campers while helping them to learn to manage their own asthma. Additionally, Camp Breathe Easy encourages campers to learn that in spite of their asthma, they can function just as well as other children without special health care needs.

Campers are offered the excitement and fun of a traditional summer camp in addition to the unique advantages of an environment and staff responsive to their unique health concerns. Campers enjoy a week of adventure while learning self-help and asthma management skills, and developing a more positive self-image.

Campers are encouraged to explore a variety of interests including swimming, fishing, archery, canoeing, tennis, rope climbing, career planning, and arts and crafts. They also participate in extensive asthma education curricula. Asthma education is taught at a very fundamental level. Camp Breathe Easy focuses on asthma triggers, early warning signs, physical clues, current pharmacological treatment regimens, managing exacerbations, and self-management. Staff members use various education tools to facilitate lessons, e.g., educational videos, lung models, didactic lectures, and interactive discussions. All curricula are conducted by professional asthma educators (respiratory therapists, health educators, physicians, nurses, mid-level providers, pharmaceutical representatives, etc.), and are age and grade level appropriate.