Children with epilepsy are getting a jump on their summer by attending camp this week at Lake Bloomington in Hudson.
“CamPossible” is a camp for children ages 7-18 who are living with epilepsy. Campers can attend for $100 and were provided with classic camp activities, counselor supervision and meals. Scholarship and fundraiser options were available to those with financial concerns.
The camp is organized by the Epilepsy Advocacy Network, a collection of organizations working to help those with epilepsy and to spread awareness. The network includes the Epilepsy Foundation, Epilepsies Action Network, Epilepsy Awareness, Aid and Research Foundation and The Epilepsy Network [TEN].
Epilepsy is a neurological condition experienced by nearly 3 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control, including more than 450,000 children. The most common symptom of the disease is sudden seizures that can cause kids to feel anxious and be excluded from physical activities.
Kari Jones, executive director of the local Epilepsy Advocacy Network affiliation, said CamPossible gives children who have epilepsy a sense of community.
“To be able to be with others who understand that journey that they’ve been on … that alone is huge to kind of get that validation that they’re not alone in this,” Jones said.
“Epilepsy can often be isolating because it’s a disease that a lot of people who don’t have it — who haven’t been on that journey — they just don’t understand.”
According to Jones, CamPossible was founded in the late 2010s in the Quad Cities. The camp was halted by the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020 for three years.
“In 2024, CamPossible began again as a way for kids with epilepsy to be able to experience camp without any worries if they have a seizure and with all the accommodations to make sure they can do all the activities safely,”said Jones.
CamPossible counselor Jaedyn Naomi Gale attended as a camper before the pandemic.
“It was really fun. [I] felt included for once; I didn’t feel like I had to be sent home because I was having seizures or something like I did at other camps,” said Gale, adding she feels fulfilled in her role as a CamPossible counselor.
“It makes me feel like maybe I’m making a difference helping people,” Gale said.
Several campers from last year returned this year because they enjoyed their previous experience, according to Jones.
CamPossible takes place at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, a recreation center at Lake Bloomington. Timber Pointe offers several activities for the campers, such as zip lining, kayaking, swimming and horseback riding.
It's the perfect venue for an event like CamPossible, said Jones.
“Everything is done with ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] accessibility, and so some of our campers — if they have any movement restrictions or if there’s concerns that they could have a seizure during the activity — there are special harnesses that they can use so that they are kept safe no matter what,” she said.
Campers also are encouraged to suggest games or other activities to participate in throughout the week.
