National Kidney Foundation of KS and Western MO, Children's Mercy Hospital

6405 Metcalf, #204
Overland Park, KS 66202
phone: 913-262-1551
website: www.kidneyksmo.org/chimer.htm

Camp ChiMer offers a summer camp experience to children who have chronic kidney disease.

These campers are either on dialysis or have a kidney transplant. Because of their extensive medical requirements, they 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. Many of our campers are from remote areas and this is the only time during the year they can meet and visit with their peers.

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 as well 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.