Camp S.O.A.R (Some Organ Assembly Required)

Camp S.O.A.R is a weekend camp held every March for kids ages 13-18 who have had some type of organ transplant. The campers have had heart, liver, kidney, or small bowel transplants and have been taken care of by the wonderful staff at Children's Medical Center Dallas. Volunteers serve as camp counselors for the weekend.

The purpose of Camp S.O.A.R is to provide an opportunity for teens with transplants to develop supportive relationships, discuss relevant adolescent issues, and strengthen the trust and rapport between the youth and their medical teams. Campers and staff participate in many team building games and activities throughout the weekend. Some of the activities include archery, arts & crafts, fishing, cooking, a ropes course, a rocking climbing wall and other group initiatives. Campers also get the opportunity to share their successes and challenges with their peers regarding their different transplant journeys.

Camp S.O.A.R takes place in Meridian, Texas at Camp John Marc's community. In 2007, Camp John Marc hosted over 2,600 campers including those with chronic illnesses or major disablities. Besides Camp S.O.A.R, they also welcomed several other support groups.