Our 2013 Program Schedule is now complete and we are accepting applications for our year-round residential camper weekends, travel programs and family retreats. Programs are open to children ages 6 to 16 who suffer from the following illnesses: Cancer, Hemophilia, HIV/AIDS, respiratory diseases, Metabolic Syndrome, A-plastic Anemia, Sickle Cell, Juvenile Diabetes, collagen vascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, mitochondrial disease and selected neuromuscular impairments (with priority given to Muscular Dystrophy, CP, and Spina bifida).

While at camp, the children receive 24 hour medical care from our on-site doctors and nurses. Campers can bring their medicines and leave their illness behind as they are surrounded by peers and counselors who understand what it is like to be a child suffering with a serious illness.
“Attending Camp Soaring Eagle was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Everyone made me feel so comfortable and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel different and was able to be completely myself.” – Manuel, Camper

Camp Soaring Eagle offers three types of residential camping programs: Camper Weekends, Travel Programs and Family Retreats. The Camper Weekends are illness specific and take place at the Jackpot Ranch in Camp Verde, AZ. Camp Soaring Eagle will host three travel programs in 2013. One to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, CT (The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is the original camp founded by the late Paul Newman). Two other travel trips will go to the Double H Ranch in upstate New York on the Finger Lakes. These travel programs offer unique opportunities for our campers to truly spread their wings and spend a week in a different part of the country with children from all over the world who have serious illnesses like themselves. The Family Retreat Programs are for families who have a child who has been recently diagnosed with cancer. These programs take place at the beautiful Briar Patch Inn in Sedona. All of the Camp Soaring Eagle programs are completely free of charge to the campers and families and funded through charitable donations.

While at camp, the children get to try all sorts of activities including: horseback riding, archery, fishing, crafts, star gazing, golf and much, much more. “It makes me smile to see the campers forget that they are patients and that they’re having fun just being kids.”- Volunteer Doctor

For the complete 2013 Program Schedule: CLICK HERE or call Juan Morales, Executive Director of Camp Operations at 928-284-9393.

All applications are reviewed by our program and medical team and decisions are based upon a physician’s review, the child’s inability to attend another camp, the severity of the child’s medical problems, and whether the child has been to camp before.

You will hear our founder Max James always say…”Camp Soaring Eagle strives to give children with serious and life threatening illnesses a little slice of heaven while they are still here with us” Yesterday, we were painfully reminded how precious life really is. The staff, volunteers and campers at Camp Soaring Eagle are so grateful to have met and spent time with such an amazing young man named Austin. His courage and generosity will live on forever with those he touched. Please read what one of our very special volunteers has to say about his special time with Austin.

Austin
My journey with Austin began at my second volunteer weekend at Camp Soaring Eagle. It was an oncology retreat at the Jackpot Ranch and it was the first weekend that I was put in charge of Archery. Little did I know that I was about to be introduced to one of the most amazing young men that I have ever had the privilege of knowing. There are not enough words to even begin to describe Austin but I am going to make an effort: Courageous, Amazing, Caring, Unselfish, Respectful, Honest, Responsible, Sportsman, Athlete, Tough, Intelligent, and Loyal. Austin had every great quality, and I mean EVERY quality, that you could possibly want a young man to be instilled with growing up. He treated his fellow campers and volunteers with nothing but the utmost respect and courtesy. He was the model camper and helped make this weekend just that much more amazing. He caught fish, did nothing but absolutely demolish the targets at archery and made sure that anyone who did not possess the same skills he had in these events was given the support and help they needed to be successful. It is an indescribable feeling to see things like this. To see a young man who has battled so much and faced such difficulties at a young age be so unselfish. No matter what the world threw at this little man he just smiled right back and he pushed forward with that smile. He radiated happiness and strength to everyone that was around him. He is one of the people who helped set the tone for how I volunteered at Camp Soaring Eagle. He made me understand that regardless of an illness, children still need to be challenged and pushed in order to develop the qualities that Austin had. Fortunately for me this was just the beginning of our friendship that grew exponentially throughout the next year.

The next opportunity that I had to build on this friendship was at the oncology family retreat at the Briar Patch Inn. This was the first time that I had met the man and woman who had raised this amazing young man into the person he was. Al and Nichole are probably two of the nicest people you’ll ever come across. I immediately began to see why Austin was who he was and instantly had a strong connection with their family. Whether it was fishing or dirt bikes or any type of outdoor activity we never had enough to talk about. It is people like this that give me faith that there is still goodness within the world. This is a family who has this amazing young man battling cancer and they take each day head on with such optimism and such hope. It is inspiring. They inspire me. Each one of them in their own way. They made me want to become better at what I was doing with these kids. We spent that 5 day retreat just building on this friendship and challenging each other. We created a bond that had absolutely no chance of ever being broken and will continue to live on forever. I was sad when that weekend ended but knew that I would have the chance to see them again.

This opportunity came at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in CT. We were taking over 40 children to this camp and, again, I had the honor to have Austin in my cabin. There were 8 children in that cabin at camp and not to sound biased, Austin was a lion among men. All of his amazing qualities shined through each and every minute that he was away on this trip. Being a young man away from a family that you care for so much can be a huge challenge. One day right before cabin chats I could tell that Austin wasn’t himself. I knew him well enough at this point to pick up on it immediately and sat and talked with him. He was homesick. He missed his family. I couldn’t blame him to be honest. Waiting at home for him were some amazing people who he absolutely loved and thought the world of and I told him exactly that. I explained to him that life is going to challenge him. There are going to be times that he is away from the people he loves but one thing he needs to understand is that no matter where they are, or where you are, you’re always going to be in each other’s hearts. Being the tough man that he was he pushed forward and leaned on the people around him to get through the difficult time. That week was one that I would be hard pressed to ever forget. I spent all week with Austin and it only solidified our friendship.

I had one more opportunity to see Austin after this camp. Tyler and I met Juan and Marie Elena at Cardon’s Medical Center just last week. Austin’s leukemia had progressed and he was admitted into the hospital. I had the opportunity to talk with his father Al and he gave us a brief explanation of what was going on with his health. Al was extremely optimistic and strong and in a position that no father should ever have to be in. We talked for about an hour and I had a chance to go into the room with Austin. He was asleep and on a ventilator and lying in his bed still fighting. I just rubbed his leg and arm and head and just stared down at his face. To see this little man who I had grown to love laying there like this fighting for his life terrified me. If I could I would have switched places with him in a heartbeat. I will never understand the higher power that decides to put children and families through this but it’s hard to forgive. On December 10, 2012 Austin passed away. There are no words to describe what news like that feels like. What I do know is this. If the goal in life is to leave a legacy behind you so that you will be remembered and loved forever then it was accomplished by Austin. Every individual that he came across in his life should feel honored and privileged to have known such a person. The experiences that I have had with Austin will live on forever through my memories and will never be lost. He is embedded in my heart and in my soul and will be there until we meet again. I love Austin and I will never forget the time we shared on this earth together.
- John Torba, Camp Soaring Eagle Volunteer.

Managing the care of a diabetic child is very stressful and unlike some illnesses, this regimen of care is FOREVER! Whether it is checking blood sugar levels in the middle of the night or continually counting carbs at each and every meal. It never ends.

YOU can give these families the gift of laughter and personally meet and spend time with your sponsor family.
11 Families with a child with Type 1 Diabetes will gather at the Briar Patch Inn located on Oak Creek in Sedona from July 29th to August 2. The families will stay in a beautiful cabin at the Briar Patch Inn. Volunteer nurses will be at camp for the week to address any medical issues that may arise. While at Briar Patch they will enjoy daily activities such as Archery, Arts and Crafts, Games, Magic Shows, visits from wildlife specialists and more and there is no cost to the family members.

The cost to put on this program is $1000 per family.
Sponsor A Family – $1,000
• Family sponsors are invited to come to camp and meet the family they sponsor.
• Receive a professional photograph of you and your family at the closing ceremony.
• Family sponsors are invited to join their family for a meal during the session and join in the camp activities including the very touching and emotional closing ceremony.
• Receive a personalized letter from camper family.
• Sponsors will be recognized with signage at camp, in a post camp advertisement in the Red Rock News, in our camp newsletter and on our website.
Family Pal – $500
• Family Pals are invited to come to camp during the session and participate in an activity with the families and attend closing ceremony.
• Receive a personalized letter from camper family.
• Sponsors will be recognized with signage at camp, in a post camp advertisement in the Red Rock News, in our camp newsletter and on our website.
Activity Sponsor—$250
• Activity sponsors are invited to come to camp and participate in an activity with the family.
• Sponsors will be recognized with signage at camp, in a post camp advertisement in the Red Rock News,in our camp newsletter and on our website.
To Become a Sponsor
Contact Rick James or Jennifer Perry
928.284.9393
Camp Soaring Eagle is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
All donations are tax deductible as allowed by the law

The Importance of Asthma Camp Sessions

The need for asthma camps has never been greater. More than half of the 17 million Americans who have asthma are children. A recent survey reported that 70 percent of all Americans either have asthma in their household or immediate family or know of someone with the disease. One in three children suffering from asthma went to an emergency room last year because of an asthma attack. Even more alarming is that over the last 15 years, the number of deaths from asthma has increased by 150 percent.

Children that have an opportunity to attend asthma camps have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to manage their asthma while at the same time realizing that they can run, swim and have fun-just like kids without asthma. Many parents of asthmatic children are fearful of allowing their children to play sports or horseback ride in fear of an asthma attack occurring. With camp, the nurses teach both the children and the patients how to pre-treat prior to exercise or horseback riding can prevent an attack from occurring from running or dust/hay exposure. These children need to learn they can do the same sports and activities as their peers.

Camps also show children how they can control asthma so asthma does not control them by providing asthma tools and asthma education session. Each child receives a peak flow meter, which is a measuring device to perform daily to observe their asthma control. Nurses give individual training to each child on how to do proper medication inhaler technique to assure they are receiving a full dose of their controller and rescue medications. A group education session occurs to discuss asthma triggers so the children can relate to their peers and realize they are not alone with dealing with asthma triggers daily. Children don’t always recognize the signs of an oncoming asthma attack until it are too late. Experts agree that education is the key, and the nurses are committed to creating an environment at camp where children can learn about their disease while having fun at the same time. The education helps children learn how to take an active role in the management of their disease. The children will also learn what happens to the lungs before and during an asthma attack, and they are taught about the different types of medications and their effects on the disease. Most importantly, they learn the steps they can take on their own to better manage their asthma and avoid an attack.

Asthma is not a disease you usually grow out of -so this camp is vital in preparing children how to manage their chronic medical condition, so as adults they will have the knowledge on how to control their asthma. As a pediatric asthma educator, I understand that the power of knowledge can change lives and save lives. I also have witnessed how stressful it is for both the parents and the child to be told they have a chronic medical condition that they have to take care of every day, possibly for the rest of their life. Living with asthma can sometimes be scary and lonely for a child. They may feel isolated and fear they are the only ones who have the disease. Children with asthma are sometimes the targets of other kids who make fun of them. Asthma Camp teaches asthmatic children that they are not alone and that many others suffer from the same disease. Many campers return year after year and make life-long friends through these programs. After the acceptance of this diagnosis, these children deserve an opportunity to learn how to live life the same as their peers.

Kimberly Reiners, RN, BSN, CPN, AE-C, Pediatric Asthma Educator, Cardon Children’s Medical Center

Tiles for Smiles Program: Groups and individual customers may paint 4” tiles at any As You Wish location for $10 each plus tax or 12 tiles for $100. $7 out of every $10 spent on Tiles For Smiles goes directly towards sending a child to camp! The cost to send a child to camp for a week is $1500.

While many people across the valley have painted tiles including, valley news anchors, law offices and other businesses as part of their corporate teambuilding, Girl Scouts troops, and Football Hall of Famer, Steve Young and his family, many more are needed, and all are welcome. Angie Fraley, As You Wish Community Relations Director says, “Most people think of large projects and large sums of money in order to make a difference in a big way. This however, is a tangible, family friendly, way to involve your children in giving back and make a difference in the life of a local child, all while having fun at the same time, for only $10 per tile. It’s a win win!”