Every year, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) sponsors a week of fishing, boating, swimming, water skiing, arts and crafts, and just plain fun for youth with chronic skin conditions. Under the expert care of dermatologists and nurses, Camp Discovery offers campers the opportunity to spend a week among other young people who have similar skin conditions. Many of the counselors have skin conditions as well, and can provide support and advice to campers.
The impact this summer program has on youth can be felt in some of the powerful quotes that have come from campers over the years. One camper exclaims, “I fit in at camp more than anywhere else on earth. Camp is my heaven on earth.” Another camper says, “Camp has been an eye opening experience that has shown me how wonderful people are no matter how bad their skin disorder.”
Many of the campers are photosensitive or allergic to the sun due to either their conditions or medications. Sun protection is a necessity as a majority of camp activities take place outdoors during peak hours of sunlight.
Coolibar, a Minnesota based sun protective clothing company, will be visiting Camp Little Pine, one of six AAD Camp Discovery locations, this Monday. Coolibar volunteers will attend camp to pass out sun hats, UPF 50 swim shirts and UV goggles to the 60 children in attendance at the Crosslake location. Coolibar also donated sun protective hats to all Camp Discovery locations for sun protection donations totaling almost $12,000.
John Barrow, president and founder of Coolibar, states, “Coolibar is honored to provide sun hats to the children at Camp Discovery so that every child can enjoy camp the way it was meant to be! We want to be sure everyone can get outside and safely play in the sun.”
Learn more about AAD Camp Discovery.
Learn more about Coolibar’s involvement with AAD Camp Discovery.
