Camp High Hopes Staff

Counselors:

We usually have 20-25 counselors not including medical staff.  All must be at least 18 years old.

· All CHH staff are volunteers who receive no monetary compensation for being at camp.

· Before any staff member is accepted to Camp, each applicant undergoes an extensive background check implemented by our Camp Director.  This is also a requirement of NY State law.

· Many of us have a bleeding disorder and some are former High Hopes campers.

· Some of us are family members of either future campers or campers from previous years.

· A few are professionals who deal with the bleeding disorders community on an everyday basis.

· Some heard about camp from other staff members and decided that they wanted to help out too.

 

What do the counselors do?

· Most live in cabins with the campers.  Each cabin consists of up to 8 campers and 3 counselors.  This ratio is higher than what NY State law requires; we think it is important to make sure our kids with special needs all get adequate supervision and attention.

· All counselors are fully active in the daily schedule with the kids.  Some are in charge of specific activities while others participate in the games.  We make sure that everyone has fun, but also that everyone is safe and well taken care of.

Medical Staff and Facilities:

· Our Health Director sleeps in the infirmary which is a separate cabin that has been specially set up for medical use.

· Medical attention for all campers (and counselors) is available on a moment’s notice.

· The Hospital in Lowville, NY is less than a half hour from the campgrounds in case an emergency arises that cannot be taken care of right on the campgrounds.

What does our medical staff normally deal with at camp?

· Severe, moderate and mild hemophilia and vonWillebrand patients.

· Children and counselors on prophylaxis as well as on-demand treatment.

· Infusions both with and without ports.

· All campers get their meds (oral, aerial or I.V.) on time.

· Everything from sprained ankles to nose bleeds, and the occasional fish-hook incident.

Camp High Hopes