Eighty-seven campers boarded the buses this morning for a week of adventure during Camp Tiger 2007 whose theme is “Who Dat.”
LSUHSC’s Camp Tiger is a free week-long summer day camp for mentally and physically challenged children run by first-year students at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans’ School of Medicine.
For the campers, Camp Tiger may be their only chance during the summer to socialize with other children without being singled out for their disabilities.
This week allows the campers to be “just one of the kids” and provides them with the freedom to play, socialize, and express themselves as healthy, vibrant children.
The first year medical students look forward to the opportunity to work with these exceptional children and give back to the community.
On Monday, the campers will visit the Abita Springs Quail Farm at 23185 LA 435 on the North Shore where the Greater Covington Junior League has set up their museum without walls. It includes arts and crafts and turtle viewing for the kids before they have lunch.
Carrying on the tradition begun by the freshman class of 1985, LSUHSC first-year medical students, on their own, plan all of the activities, raise necessary funds, solicit donations for activities and supplies and then volunteer their time and energy to serve as camp counselors.
The estimated cost to fund 80 campers is $45,000-$50,000.To date, Camp Tiger has served more than 700 children.
Besides beginning the LSU Health Sciences Center tradition of community outreach, Camp Tiger gives these medical students an opportunity to begin dealing with some of the rare medical conditions they may encounter during their professional careers, and it gives the campers the chance to experience the same summertime as other kids, many for the first time in their lives.
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