ZEBRA CROSSINGS
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Mission Statement
Zebra Crossings offers empowerment programs for youth and teens with chronic medical conditions. Whether it is a week-long camp or weekend activities, care is always provided by trained medical staff. We aim to lessen the burden of chronic medical conditions by connecting kids through play and giving respite for caregivers. Zebra Crossings is a fun, safe place where kids just get to be kids.
About This Cause
A child is diagnosed with asthma, a heart condition, diabetes, or epilepsy. These and other chronic health conditions can strike fear in the heart of a parent. The moment the diagnosis is determined the world changes. The child is set apart from others. Distinguished and marked by something that makes them different, possibly stigmatizes them, limits them in some ways, and certainly challenges the entire family. It fundamentally alters a child’s self-perception. It’s a humbling experience. Everyone wants his or her child to be healthy and happy. But when chronic health conditions are a reality, they weigh heavily on an entire family: parents and children alike. Parents fear for their child’s safety, feeling a greater a need to protect and control their lives. “These are kids who feel different from their peers due to their health conditions. They’re excluded from mainstream teams, camps, and recreational programs.” Keeping a child safe and managing their health conditions is an incredibly difficult and demanding daily task. Because of the isolation often created by a debilitating disease, children with a chronic health condition often have few opportunities for traditional social and recreational activities. At times, it seems that that their medical needs exclude them from being “a kid.” Fun can get lost in the stress. Giving a child a chance to explore possibilities, discover their inner strengths and take healthy/appropriate risks is difficult for any parent and one of the most important lessons for any child to become an independent, competent, and resilient child. Zebra Crossings, is the only program of its kind to of offer year-round, medically supervised programs for children 6-13 years of age with chronic health conditions. The four lead program and medical staff at Zebra Crossings have a combined experience of over 64 years in youth development, and medical specialty camp programming to create a place where youth and families can feel safe to explore, expand, and thrive. Programs are carefully and intentionally designed to further develop children’s skills, boost their independence, and reduce fear and anxiety based on their illness. Programs are small and intimate in size with average of 15-25 youth. The thoughtful and careful integration of challenging yet safe programs help children and their families feel connected and empowered. A range of day and overnight programs throughout the year allow children with chronic health conditions to renew their spirits through diverse opportunities for play and to connect with other youth who are facing the same chronic health condition. Through their commonalities and understanding of each other’s needs, our kids are inspired by each other. They break through their personal perception of limitations and they feel more confident and empowered. Together they try new experiences, can be worry free for a while, and build lasting friendships. Through structured time of reflection at the end of each program, Zebra Crossings creates self-awareness. Staff looks at what challenges and accomplishments occurred and how these parallel life’s challenges. These lessons of resiliency, strengths, and accomplishments are carried forward giving the camper confidence. As these children face difficult moments in life, they can tap into these beliefs and attitudes. Zebra Crossings’ kids discover skills unknown to them, finding solutions and alternatives to their medical barriers by developing new skills and attitudes that promote growth and confidence. "Zebra Crossings’ staff and programs have impacted Chloe and our whole family. Through the programs Chloe has been able to hang out with other kids and feel 'normal' rather than 'different.'” Children no longer feel marginalized, isolated, and unsupported. These beliefs and attitudes carry forward into their lives and they tap into them when they’re facing difficult moments in life. Their success extends into their medical lives as well. Post program evaluations conducted by camp staff, physicians, and educators find that Zebra Crossings’ kids approach life with greater confidence after being enrolled in our programs. These children have learned to take responsibility for their own health and make healthy choices, proactively seek opportunities to achieve their goals, and exhibit a sense of optimism and preparedness for any of life’s challenges.