Earlier this month, several students and alumni of the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy volunteered their time as medical staff and counselors at camp Kno-Koma, a non-profit summer camp for children with diabetes in and around the state of West Virginia. The camp was held in Lewisburg, WV, at the Greenbrier Youth Camp July 7-13.
The nine volunteers from the School of Pharmacy worked alongside a larger interprofessional group made up of nurses, physicians, dietitians and psychologist. Together they provided the medical supervision needed for campers to make having fun their number one priority.
P4 student Maddie Harvey was head counselor at the camp this year. She herself has diabetes and has been attending camp Kno-Koma since she was eight years old. It was her experience at camp as a young girl that inspired her career choice.
“I first became interested in pharmacy as a career after seeing how important the role of the pharmacist was at camp,” said Harvey. “It is such a unique experience to see so many professionals collaborate to provide the best care in order to give the children not only a good week at camp but knowledge they need to care for themselves for the rest of their lives.”
More than 150 campers ages seven to 15 with Type 1 Diabetes had a week of fun doing activities like — rafting down the Greenbrier River, bike riding, navigating a ropes course, swimming in the pool, archery, crafts, campfires, dances and various games.
