Every summer, kids across the country attend camps to make friends, learn new skills and form lifelong memories. That was certainly the case this past summer at Camp Rock, a new rock-climbing day camp for children and teenagers with upper-limb differences hosted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Camp Rock was designed to help kids with upper-limb anomalies — including congenital limb differences, brachial plexus injuries, and other conditions affecting strength, function or movement — build confidence, connect with peers and push their own boundaries.
Over two weeks, 41 campers between the ages of 8 and 17 gathered at Philadelphia Rock Gym in Oaks, Pa., to learn rock climbing and participate in other group activities, like crafts. Joining the campers were CHOP occupational therapists, athletic trainers and research coordinators, as well as rock-climbing professionals.
“For many of our campers, it was the first time they met another child with a limb difference,” says Meagan Pehnke, MS, OTR/L, CHT, CLT, occupational therapist and clinical specialist within CHOP’s Center for Rehabilitation and camp director for Camp Rock. “It felt profound to be able to provide this opportunity to the kids and their parents.”
DREAMING UP CAMP ROCK
It was Pehnke, along with Apurva S. Shah, MD, MBA, attending orthopedic surgeon at CHOP, who had the idea for Camp Rock.
“Dr. Shah and I had learned about the growing popularity of camp-style programs around the country for kids with upper-limb differences, and we dreamed of developing our own,” Pehnke recalls. “We thought rock climbing would be a fun and novel activity for those with an upper-limb difference.”
“Many of these children have been told by peers or adults that they are unable to or should not do things that other kids do,” adds Dr. Shah. “We believed that rock climbing would be challenging for kids with upper-limb differences, and that facing these challenges would build physical and psychological fortitude. Camp Rock was the culmination of this vision.”
Pehnke and Dr. Shah had initial conversations about the program almost 10 years ago, and the dream became a reality when they were introduced to the Patterson family.
REMOVING BARRIERS THROUGH PHILANTHROPY
It was important for Pehnke and Dr. Shah that Camp Rock be free for participants, and generous philanthropic support from the Patterson family helped make this possible. When the Patterson family heard about plans for Camp Rock, they knew immediately that they wanted to be involved.
“Having personal experience with congenital limb differences, we inherently understood what CHOP wanted to achieve with this initiative,” the family shares. “Camp Rock was the ideal setting and activity to provide these amazing young people with exactly the kind of experience they needed to psychologically thrive and grow.”
The family had the opportunity to visit Camp Rock over the summer and were thrilled to experience it.
“We were inspired by every one of the campers — who were clearly having an incredible experience alongside their peers — and the CHOP support staff and their climbing instructors,” the Pattersons report. “Seeing their friendship, bonding, encouragement for each other, determination and confidence filled us with every imaginable positive emotion. We cannot wait for next summer’s camp so that we can witness all this again!”
A LASTING DIFFERENCE
At the end of each week, families were invited to join campers for a celebratory ceremony.
“There were lots of happy tears. The kids could not wait to show their families how they could climb to the top of the wall,” Pehnke says. “Many of the campers pushed their parents to harness up so they could race them. It was amazing to see their pride and excitement.”
For Felicia Brackin’s daughter Kennedy, the shift in confidence and capability by the ceremony was unmistakable. “It was incredible to see the difference between day 1, where she was somewhat hesitant to climb, and day 5, where she was at the top of the wall, cheering on her friends and myself to do the same,” Felicia shares.
Kennedy not only conquered the wall but said it was one of her favorite parts of camp. “I challenged myself,” she says. “I liked the feeling when I made it to the top of the really high wall.”
Camp Rock made a deep impression on everyone who participated.
“I am forever grateful for the week Nate spent at Camp Rock,” says camper Nate’s mother, Eileen Brant. “For the first time in his entire life, he was surrounded by kids who were like him instead of always being the only one with a limb difference. He got to spend a week with a new group of kids and didn’t have to spend the whole time answering questions about his difference.”
“I LOVED the camp,” adds Nate. “I enjoyed meeting other kids like me and I made some really great friends.”
In addition to meeting each other, the campers met adaptive adult athletes from the U.S. National and Development Climbing Teams. They volunteered their time to climb and share stories with the campers, giving the kids an opportunity to meet adults who looked like them and were thriving as athletes. Campers were not alone in being changed by the experience.
“Participation in Camp Rock has been transformative for the CHOP staff who participated in the program,” shares Dr. Shah. “Watching these amazing children learn to rock climb makes you look inward and ask whether each of us as individuals is capable of doing more and being more. Being a staff member at Camp Rock was a true gift.”
THE ROUTE AHEAD
Pehnke and Dr. Shah hope to continue offering the program for many years to come.
The camp includes an optional research component to ensure that it is as strong as can be and provides more insight into how adaptive sports impact confidence, engagement and overall well-being.
The research is ongoing, but for campers and their parents, the results are clear. “Camp Rock was the experience of a lifetime for my daughter, Emma. Watching her climb with such confidence and determination, while also having a blast with her new friends, was something I will never forget,” shares Danielle Hepp. “Beyond the climbing skills and the giggles, we could see an immediate boost in Emma’s self-esteem. She came home every day beaming with pride.”
“It was the best camp ever!” adds Emma.
To learn how you can support Camp Rock, contact Nick Masters at mastersn@chop.edu
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Every summer, kids across the country attend camps to make friends, learn new skills and form lifelong memories. That was certainly the case this past summer at Camp Rock, a new rock-climbing day camp for children and teenagers with upper-limb differences hosted by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Camp Rock was designed to help kids with upper-limb anomalies — including congenital limb differences, brachial plexus injuries, and other conditions affecting strength, function or movement — build confidence, connect with peers and push their own boundaries.
Over two weeks, 41 campers between the ages of 8 and 17 gathered at Philadelphia Rock Gym in Oaks, Pa., to learn rock climbing and participate in other group activities, like crafts. Joining the campers were CHOP occupational therapists, athletic trainers and research coordinators, as well as rock-climbing professionals.
“For many of our campers, it was the first time they met another child with a limb difference,” says Meagan Pehnke, MS, OTR/L, CHT, CLT, occupational therapist and clinical specialist within CHOP’s Center for Rehabilitation and camp director for Camp Rock. “It felt profound to be able to provide this opportunity to the kids and their parents.”
DREAMING UP CAMP ROCK
It was Pehnke, along with Apurva S. Shah, MD, MBA, attending orthopedic surgeon at CHOP, who had the idea for Camp Rock.
“Dr. Shah and I had learned about the growing popularity of camp-style programs around the country for kids with upper-limb differences, and we dreamed of developing our own,” Pehnke recalls. “We thought rock climbing would be a fun and novel activity for those with an upper-limb difference.”
“Many of these children have been told by peers or adults that they are unable to or should not do things that other kids do,” adds Dr. Shah. “We believed that rock climbing would be challenging for kids with upper-limb differences, and that facing these challenges would build physical and psychological fortitude. Camp Rock was the culmination of this vision.”
Pehnke and Dr. Shah had initial conversations about the program almost 10 years ago, and the dream became a reality when they were introduced to the Patterson family.
REMOVING BARRIERS THROUGH PHILANTHROPY
It was important for Pehnke and Dr. Shah that Camp Rock be free for participants, and generous philanthropic support from the Patterson family helped make this possible. When the Patterson family heard about plans for Camp Rock, they knew immediately that they wanted to be involved.
“Having personal experience with congenital limb differences, we inherently understood what CHOP wanted to achieve with this initiative,” the family shares. “Camp Rock was the ideal setting and activity to provide these amazing young people with exactly the kind of experience they needed to psychologically thrive and grow.”
The family had the opportunity to visit Camp Rock over the summer and were thrilled to experience it.
“We were inspired by every one of the campers — who were clearly having an incredible experience alongside their peers — and the CHOP support staff and their climbing instructors,” the Pattersons report. “Seeing their friendship, bonding, encouragement for each other, determination and confidence filled us with every imaginable positive emotion. We cannot wait for next summer’s camp so that we can witness all this again!”
A LASTING DIFFERENCE
At the end of each week, families were invited to join campers for a celebratory ceremony.
“There were lots of happy tears. The kids could not wait to show their families how they could climb to the top of the wall,” Pehnke says. “Many of the campers pushed their parents to harness up so they could race them. It was amazing to see their pride and excitement.”
For Felicia Brackin’s daughter Kennedy, the shift in confidence and capability by the ceremony was unmistakable. “It was incredible to see the difference between day 1, where she was somewhat hesitant to climb, and day 5, where she was at the top of the wall, cheering on her friends and myself to do the same,” Felicia shares.
Kennedy not only conquered the wall but said it was one of her favorite parts of camp. “I challenged myself,” she says. “I liked the feeling when I made it to the top of the really high wall.”
Camp Rock made a deep impression on everyone who participated.
“I am forever grateful for the week Nate spent at Camp Rock,” says camper Nate’s mother, Eileen Brant. “For the first time in his entire life, he was surrounded by kids who were like him instead of always being the only one with a limb difference. He got to spend a week with a new group of kids and didn’t have to spend the whole time answering questions about his difference.”
“I LOVED the camp,” adds Nate. “I enjoyed meeting other kids like me and I made some really great friends.”
In addition to meeting each other, the campers met adaptive adult athletes from the U.S. National and Development Climbing Teams. They volunteered their time to climb and share stories with the campers, giving the kids an opportunity to meet adults who looked like them and were thriving as athletes. Campers were not alone in being changed by the experience.
“Participation in Camp Rock has been transformative for the CHOP staff who participated in the program,” shares Dr. Shah. “Watching these amazing children learn to rock climb makes you look inward and ask whether each of us as individuals is capable of doing more and being more. Being a staff member at Camp Rock was a true gift.”
THE ROUTE AHEAD
Pehnke and Dr. Shah hope to continue offering the program for many years to come.
The camp includes an optional research component to ensure that it is as strong as can be and provides more insight into how adaptive sports impact confidence, engagement and overall well-being.
The research is ongoing, but for campers and their parents, the results are clear. “Camp Rock was the experience of a lifetime for my daughter, Emma. Watching her climb with such confidence and determination, while also having a blast with her new friends, was something I will never forget,” shares Danielle Hepp. “Beyond the climbing skills and the giggles, we could see an immediate boost in Emma’s self-esteem. She came home every day beaming with pride.”
“It was the best camp ever!” adds Emma.
To learn how you can support Camp Rock, contact Nick Masters at mastersn@chop.edu
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