Camp Rhythm

Welcome to Camp Rhythm

Dear Camp Rhythm Nation,

We hope this message finds you and your family well. Thank you for your patience as the Camp Rhythm Team has been working diligently on what Camp Rhythm 2021 will look like. In collaboration with CDC recommendations and The St. Louis Children’s Hospital Infection Prevention Team, the decision has been made to hold in-person DAY camp opportunities this year. No overnight camp will be held this year.

3 girls camp rhythm Day Camp for ages 8-15: July 27-30 @ Camp Wyman in Eureka, MO, 9am-4pm

Day Camp for ages 5-7: July 28-30 @ Olive and Oak in Webster Groves, MO, 9am-2pm

We plan to hold most of the camp activities outdoors. We hope to have a lot of our similar activities such as swimming, fishing, climbing wall, field sports, arts and crafts, and of course the dance! Lunch, snacks, and water will be provided each day.

We anticipate staff being vaccinated and encourage campers to get vaccinated if eligible. Based on current recommendations, masks will be expected to be worn when in close proximity however this may change prior to camp.

Unfortunately, we are limited in the number of campers we can admit to Camp Rhythm this year. Consequently, there is a chance we will not have the capacity to include all the children who will want to come. We will notify you of your child’s admittance by June 15, 2021 via email and telephone.

For questions, please reach out to [email protected] or call 314-454-6095.

Applications are due by June 7!

Thank you,

The Camp Rhythm Team

Camp Rhythm is designed to:

Provide a residential camping experience for area children with congenital or acquired heart defects.
Provide a safe environment where campers will learn they are not alone in living with heart disease.
Create an environment where it is normal to be sick, tired, have scars and take medication.
Allow children to feel accepted, build confidence and make lifelong friends.

The heart camp also includes a day camp for younger children (ages 5-7) born with a heart defect. These children will attend camp for three days during the week.

Camp Activities

Each day at Camp Rhythm is packed FULL of activities. In the morning, campers attend activities with their cabin mates and are given the chance to explore all the programming available. In the afternoon, campers are allowed Free Choice and can decide on their own what activities to attend. This gives them a chance to bond as a cabin group and attend activities together and make new friends outside their cabins as well. Here's an idea of what kinds of activities to look forward to:

Fishing
Swimming
Sports and games
Arts & crafts
Archery

In the evening, all sorts of new fun awaits campers. Camp Rhythm planning staff works very hard to plan really fun, engaging activities for all campers to enjoy. In year’s past, some of the evening activities have included:

Carnival
Medical Mania
Dance Party with a DJ
Campfire

Camp Rhythm Staff

Medical staff includes a minimum of a nurse and a pediatric cardiologist that is available at all times. Additional staff includes a certified child life specialist, pediatric social worker, cardiac nurses and St. Louis Children's Hospital volunteers. All volunteers must go through training and screenings at St. Louis Children's Hospital prior to camp. Volunteers must be 18 years of age and older. Camp counselors are adults familiar with heart defects, including some former pediatric cardiac patients.