Camp Superkids

The sun shone hot that summer afternoon, and the pollen count was high.

Lily, 11, just finished an all-camp game and, as kids do, began running full speed to the beach, ready for some much-needed cooling down in the lake.

Her severe asthma surely didn’t slow her roll!

Already in her young life, she knew to be cautious and avoid certain risks. It made regular day-to-day “kid things” different and sometimes challenging for her.

But not on that day. On that day she ran fast, with the confidence that she could and with less worry, which was exactly the point at Camp Superkids.

Beloved by many but known to relatively few, Camp Superkids is one of just a handful of overnight camps around the country that serve children with asthma. For 60 years, the camp program has taken place for one week every summer at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi.

Camp Superkids was established in 1966 by the American Lung Association and landed at Ihduhapi in 1968 as a partnership, becoming a legacy program at the camp over the years.

Dr. Gail Brottman, a practicing pediatric pulmonologist, serves as the medical director at Camp Superkids, where she has been involved since 1989.

“Camp Superkids helps kids with asthma feel more independent and confident,” 
she shared.

“It’s a life-changing overnight camp experience that teaches young people and their families about how to better manage their asthma. Campers enjoy all of the traditional camp activities like swimming, sports, canoeing, and ropes, while also having daily educational activities that help kids learn about asthma. Lessons are taught about what happens in your lungs when you have an asthma attack or what kinds of things trigger an asthma attack, but in a fun and active way.”

In addition to the educational aspect of the program, Dr. Brottman discussed another goal of camp, which is to give kids a sense of belonging.

“Kids want to fit in and not be different. At camp, they get to feel like they aren’t the only kids that use inhalers. They get to do all the things kids without asthma do — they get to do campfires, run around outside, go swimming, and we also help show the parents that their kids can do anything and don’t have to be held back by their asthma.”

“I love the idea of camp specifically set for kids with asthma, allowing health education and development, while they also have fun,” said the parent of one recent camper. “I feel confident sending my daughter to camp, knowing she will be kept safe and healthy by both the counselors and the team of 
medical professionals.”

Another key detail that sets Camp Superkids apart from a regular camp session is the extensive volunteer medical staff that are onsite to help run the program. A 24-hour staffed clinic is set up with a physician and nurse on hand at all times. An onsite pharmacy with a pharmacist is also there to help with medication. Every cabin group is assigned a nurse or a respiratory therapist who manages medications and does daily assessments. Ihduhapi staff run the camp programming, allowing the kids to experience a traditional week of camp, just with the support of extra medical professionals to ensure every camper has what they need to stay safe and healthy during their time there.

In 2020, the CDC cancelled all camps because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and during that time, the American Lung Association ended their support for the program, putting Camp Superkids in jeopardy. Passionate supporters of the camp rallied and, working closely with the YMCA, transformed the partnership so that the program could continue. In 2021, Ihduhapi took over and has run Camp Superkids as its own program ever since.

Joe Cottew knows the impact of Camp Superkids firsthand. He was a Superkids camper from 1985-94, a Camp Ihduhapi counselor from 1995-2000, and then served as the camp director of Ihduhapi from 2006-11.

“Camp Superkids allowed us to run and play and be normal while always having medical staff nearby to help us out if we had an asthma episode,” Cottew stated.

“Camp Superkids was still Camp Ihduhapi, completely. We were a part of that camp, its culture, and its traditions. We never realized we were any different than other campers. Ihduhapi counselors made sure we had the opportunity to have a great outdoor summer experience and let the Superkids staff do their thing to manage our asthma education and treatments. Later, as a counselor, working with the Superkids team was so much fun. To see the impact of this program on other kids was a full circle moment for me.”

Dr. Brottman added to Cottew’s sentiments about the truly unmatched opportunities provided through the Camp Superkids program, sharing the fact that five to seven percent of the population of children in Minnesota have asthma and yet, “This program is the only one of its kind in Minnesota.”

Nationwide, the number of camp programs focused on serving kids with asthma is small. Maintaining Camp Superkids at Ihduhapi and the few other similar camp programs in operation in other states is crucial because, “It’s so important for kids to be able to come back year after year and make friends and really get a unique experience that they otherwise wouldn’t have.”

YMCA Senior Vice President of Adventure and Camp Operations Michel Tigan summed it up best by explaining, “Camp Superkids is an incredible opportunity in making adventure safe and accessible for campers with asthma. Being outdoors can be scary when the environment can trigger symptoms and the structure of this program, the additional training and support for staff, as well as the on-site medical team work beautifully in collaboration with the exceptional program Camp Ihduhapi provides. Campers go home feeling empowered, inspired, connected and excited about adventure.”

YMCA Specialty Health Camps

YMCA Camps have long had a tradition of hosting specialty camps to serve people with specific healthcare needs. Three examples other than Camp Superkids, current and historic, include:

• Camp Not-A-Clot at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi: A traditional summer camp experience for campers with chronic bleeding disorders.
• Camp Needlepoint at YMCA Camp St. Croix: A partnership with the American Diabetes Association, offering both day and overnight camp sessions for kids living with diabetes.
• Burn Camp at YMCA Camp du Nord: A one-week experience for burn victims and their families to spend time together, building relationships with others who have similar circumstances.
• Camp Avanti at YMCA Camp St. Croix and Camp Icaghowan: An intensive program for children ages 6 to 15 who have learning delays, sensory processing challenges, or neurodivergence in an outdoor setting.