Children with Kidney Disease Ready for a Week of Fun at Camp Copneconic

Autumn Beltinck saw the smiles and , a 14-year-old Fenton resident, before last month.

Now the Fenton resident plans to bring more smiles and joy to those suffering from the disease. Beltinck is one of many volunteers helping in the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) Kids’ Camp at Camp Copneconic this week.

The camp is for children 8 to 16 who have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Children with CKD often have limited options for outdoor activities because of their need for dialysis treatment or medical attention. The NKFM offers fun activities the kidney patients can enjoy at camp, including swimming, boating, horseback riding, zip-lining and more.

“I want to make them feel like we made Katie feel,” said Beltinck, 15. “I want to help take their minds off of the sickness and let them know people care about them. I know in my heart kids want that, and to give that makes me happy. You can change someone’s life for a week.”

This year will be the 25th year of Kids’ Camp at Camp Copneconic. Every year, there are about 20 to 25 campers, with more than 600 throughout the camp's history.

“All children ages 8 to 16 who have chronic kidney disease (CKD), are on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, or who have a kidney transplant are welcome to participate in Kids’ Camp,” said Lindsay White, spokeswoman for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan.

Kids’ Camp is staffed with medical personnel and provides access to dialysis and other medical treatment for children. The children who attend are able to have life-changing camp experiences with other children their age, all while being looked after by dedicated medical volunteers.

When Beltinck first heard about possibly helping out at the camp, she was a little reluctant since it was shortly after Katie’s death.

“At first, I thought it was going to be to hard,” Beltinck said. “But I’m trying to not to look at Katie’s death as bad thing, but a positive way in that she changed lives. Now I can change other people's lives.”

Now the 15-year-old said she is excited, not sad, to volunteer at the camp.

“To me its an amazing opportunity to help kids,” Beltinck said. “It means a lot to change a life.”