Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation Kidney Camp at YMCA Frost Valley

In 1975, Frost Valley YMCA, in partnership with the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation and the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, established the nation’s first mainstream camp experience for children with kidney disease. Over 45 years later, Frost Valley has welcomed more than 2,000 kidney campers. Each child has the traditional sleepaway camp experience for 12 days, in villages with same-age peers, while gaining confidence and independence in what may be their first time away from home. Campers meet other children with medical problems like theirs and share their story with their counselors and cabinmates. They learn new skills and improve techniques for managing and coping with their medical condition. Parents are able to see their child make friends, gain independence, and have fun. Kidney campers are free to just be kids!