Camp Discovery, the annual week-long summer camp for women cancer survivors, kicked off this week at the HUB for Community Innovation.
This is the third year that Augusta University’s Occupational Therapy Department, of its College of Allied Health Sciences, has organized the therapeutic program, in which women at all stages of cancer journey, from those early in their treatment to those in remission, keep active and improve their quality of life by participating in a series of activities, exercises and classes.
“The goal is to help them discover more about their condition, about long term impacts, about their health, but also to discover or rediscover activities or occupations that might be of interest to them,” said Pam Kearney, chair of AU’s Occupational Therapy Department and one of the coordinators of Camp Discovery. “We know that the research tells us… that when women have a cancer diagnosis, of course, that has an impact on what they do, how they spend their time, particularly leisure occupations or activities.”
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Over the course of the week, the camp offers participants a kind of movement activity, such aerobics or yoga; and a creative expression activity, such as journaling, painting or bead jewelry making. There is also an educational component, in which a specialist comes to speak and answer questions on subjects such as stress management, recovery or the long term effects of chemotherapy.
This year’s offerings included planting herb gardens, baking pizza, painting rock gardens, Tai Chi and a talk on nutrition.
In the program’s first year, it averaged roughly nine campers per day, with 12 or 15 signed up total, Kearney says, whereas this year averages 15 or 16 a day, with 20 people total involved over the week.
Last year, to meet a growing demand from participants for sessions during the year beyond summer, the program implemented monthly fall and spring groups where the campers can reconvene.
The department is conducting a pilot research study alongside the camp, assessing the effect the program is having on the women in the camp, though campers are not required to participate in the study.
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While the study has not yet accumulated statistically significant data, due to the groups’ small numbers, Kearney cites the relationships forged as evidence of the program’s positive impact.
“We have seen the women have built community amongst themselves. They check in on each other and are support each other beyond camp,” Kearney said. “Several of our new participants this year are here because a friend of theirs has been here and brought them so. So that’s also an indication that participants find it meaningful.”
Those interested in Camp Discovery may contact organizer Patty Watford at pwatford@augusta.edu.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
