Ep 66 BC Kid’s Camp

Let’s start the blog with the Show Notes for this episode:
This week I speak with Selena Devries, a Registered Dietitian who is taking on the task of starting a Celiac Kid’s Camp in Kelowna BC. Selena has the sponsorship of the Kelowna Chapter of the CCA, as well as local businesses. We chat about her plans for the camp, as well as my experience organizing a kid’s camp in Ontario. If you would like more information about the Kelowna BC camp go online to www.healthbean.ca. I also mention the Rod McDaniel’s Celiac Kids Camp operated by the Calgary Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association. You can find out more about the Calgary camp at www.calgaryceliac.ca.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast

Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

     (search Sues Gluten Free Baking)

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com

My Thoughts

It’s been quite a few years since I organized a celiac kid’s camp in Ontario.  When I spoke with Selena about her plans for a camp, it allowed me to reflect on the many things I found were often common among kids with celiac disease.

Most importantly, they don’t want to be different.  They don’t want to stand out, especially at meal times, when friends and classmates gather for socializing.  They often feel alone.  They often have less self-confidence in physical activities.  They have been sidelined, in more ways than one. These are just my observations. 

As a parent of a celiac child, I know I tried extra hard to make her life “normal”, if somewhat wrapped in bubble-wrap.  The best way I found to make my daughter feel normal was for her to interact with other kids with celiac disease. 

We attended a CCA conference together when she was 8 or 9 and she met another girl who was celiac, and also had a celiac Mom.  They shared many interests and hit it off instantly.  I invited the mother and daughter to visit us, which they did, and we had a great time, eating gluten free and letting the girls become fast friends.

It’s hard to estimate how much the girls gained from their friendship, but it did last for many years.  Now that they are both adults and getting on with their lives, I can see the positive impact having peers with celiac disease made on my daughter.  I tried hard to make my daughter’s life “normal”, but in reflection, maybe the best part of being normal was having a supportive friend – or friends as she later made at camp.  Today, my daughter is a well-adjusted adult who takes her celiac disease in stride, just like her celiac friends.

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