“Camp is Good Medicine”
ODA Shade Structure Initiative
Flying Horse Farms is a 200-acre farm located in Mt Gilead, Ohio, which provides summer camp opportunities to children with medical illness throughout the state of Ohio and surrounding region. Eight weekend family camps and several weeklong heart, hematology and oncology, rheumatology and gastrointestinal, pulmonary, craniofacial and sibling camps provide over 900 children each summer and their families an opportunity to focus on living and wellness. Archery, canoeing, swimming, basketball, high ropes, gardening, and fishing are just a few of the many activities where kids experience all that summer camp has to offer.
However, all of this awesome outdoor summer fun comes at a risk to the skin of children particularly to those that may have been or are currently immunosuppressed. I became familiar with Flying Horse Farms before it accepted the first
campers and have watched it grow into a program that is highly valued by pediatric healthcare providers and the Pediatric Hospitals of our state. As a pediatric dermatologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Dermatology Residency Director at The Ohio State University, this is a place where dermatologists and dermatology residents can make an
impact on Sun Safety Awareness.
As part of this program, I am working with Dr. Galanowicz to educate medical staff on sun safety through lectures and materials on skin cancer and sunscreen. We have established volunteer positions for dermatologists or dermatology residents to attend the first day of each week of camp to discuss sun safety with both campers and families. In 2018 we hope to expand this to include dermatology physicians from other regions in Ohio.
The camp is in need of sun shade coverage in three main areas. Of highest priority is “The Corral” in front of the main dining hall were all the children gather prior to eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. They do camp songs and games while they are going through their routine of taking their medication. This is a 15-30 minute process where campers are in the sun. The medication stations are covered but not enough to cover all of the waiting campers. We would be looking for a large “sail”, sun shade system. This is crucial at lunch when the sun is strong. The second most needed spot for sun protection is the area where boating activities are done and the campers waiting their turn or watching their friends The third area is a program area for dogs and there is no shade space.
Dr. Joy Mosser
ODA Past-President
Dermatologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
The ODA is looking to raise funds to help support this important initiative to provide a quality shade structure to Flying Horse Farms. If you would like to donate to this cause and help the ODA provide a shade structure to Flying Horse Farms, please click here to donate to the Ohio Dermatological Association. The money donated will be earmarked for a shade structure.