National Kidney Foundation Serving KS and Western MO, Children's Mercy Hosp

6405 Metcalf, Suite 201
Overland Park, KS 66202
phone: 913-262-1551
website: www.kidneyksmo.org/chimer.htm

Camp Chimer is a unique a summer camp to the Kansas City metropolitan area and surrounding communities that offers youth battling chronic kidney disease the opportunity to just be a kid for a week and experience summer camp. Campers are either on dialysis or have a kidney transplant and the extensive medical oversight needed for such conditions dictates that under ordinary circumstances they simply cannot attend typical summer camp programs. Camp Chimer provides the opportunity for children who are coping with this disease to meet other kids who are dealing with the same struggles and, for one week, enjoy the camp experience. Children’s Mercy Hospital partners with the National Kidney Foundation to provide the necessary dialysis treatments, as well as a full staff of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to ensure the campers have a medically stable environment. Several pharmacists are on staff to dispense the many medications our campers take each day.

During the week of Camp Chimer, the campers participate in arts and crafts, swimming, field trips, a dance, and many other traditional summer camp activities. We also offer Chimer University, which consists of different classes where the campers can learn new hobbies or skills. Past classes have included cooking, acting, jewelry making, self-defense and juggling. We also participate in service projects that usually include improvement of the campground in Excelsior Springs that we occupy.

Camp Chimer is a moving experience and a tremendous asset to the youth we serve.