Camp T.L.C (Together Living a Challenge), an “on the move” performing and creative art camping program recently visited St. Mary’s Hospital for Children to provide a fun-filled educational and recreational summer camp experience for the patients. St. Mary’s kids of all ages participated in the week-long session that featured engaging activities including a talent show, art and crafts, mini-golf, an egg-hunt, and African drumming.
Camp T.L.C was originally founded as a vehicle to provide camping to youth living with AIDS/HIV. As time progressed, Camp T.L.C teamed up with seasoned non-profit professional Caroline Baumis, LMSW and fulfilled her dream of bringing programming to children living in isolating circumstances.
Aligned with St. Mary’s focus on providing a total-healing environment for children with special needs, Camp T.L.C. believes that “when children who are faced with emotional and medical disorders are delivered hope and happiness through imagination and the arts, they are delivered a renewed sense of self-esteem.”
For the patients of St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, most of whom are seriously ill and battling complex medical and life-limiting conditions, the action-packed week was an opportunity for them to engage in authentic summer camp adventures and activities customized to match their abilities. The eager children enjoyed playing in the outdoors, participating in games, and were particularly delighted to show off their singing skills in the Camp T.L.C talent show.
The much-anticipated annual visit from Camp T.L.C. is always greeted with enthusiasm and sheer joy by St. Mary’s kids and staff, and both are already looking forward to another week of summer fun with Camp T.L.C.
About Camp T.L.C (Together Living with a Challenge)
Camp TLC (Together Living a Challenge), is an “on the move” performing and creative art based camping program that delivers a week of recreational and performing arts camp to children living in isolating circumstances. Camp TLC believes that when children who are faced with emotional and medical disorders are delivered hope and happiness through imagination and the arts, they are delivered a renewed sense of self-esteem.
Camp TLC was founded in 2011 via The Joey Di Paolo AIDS Foundation (JDAF). Launching during the summer of 2011, Camp TLC “toured” the Northeast for 4 weeks bringing camp to selected organizations in the states of New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland. Camp TLC spent a week in each city and deliver themed-filled activities similar to those provided by performing and creative art camps.
In the past two years since the launch of Camp, Camp TLC has toured the country and Camp to 5 selected organizations in the states of New York, Massachusetts California, Maryland and served approximately 500 children and families, including a special weekend camp held throughout the Holiday Season for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
For more information visit https://thecamptlc.org
