AB1685-PARE A SUMMER CAMP HELPING TEENAGERS’ WELL-BEING
Authors: J. Sagen
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> We know that teenagers with chronic disease often feel very alone with their worries. Often, they do not know anyone else who is in the same situation. Therefore, the Norwegian Rheumatism Association's children and youth group (Burg Norway) arranges gatherings every year. In 2024, our plan is to gather thirty teenagers for a 3-day summer camp. The participants are teenagers aged 13-17 years from all over the Norway with Rheumatic Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs). The user fee is as low as NOK 1500 (EUR 130). The local part of The Norwegian Association for Rheumatic diseases (NRF) often covers this deductible. <h3>Objectives:</h3> The main goal is to offer teenagers with rheumatic disease in the age group 13-17 years a mini break at a high-end mountain Spa hotel. The camp aims to provide participants coping techniques and joy through motivational speeches, coping activities, and socialization with other teenagers with RMDs. The secondary goals are: -Encourage teens with RMDs to experience the joy of being physical active in nature. -Give participants coping skills through activities such as challenging activities in water. -Give participants time for well-being. -To increase the feeling of unity. <h3>Methods:</h3> BURG has administrative resources equivalent to a 100 percent position. An employee will have the main responsibility for administrative work in cooperation with a project group from the central board and a colleague in the secretariat. The project group organizes activities during the stay to motivate networking. We will arrange coping activities such as lifesaving courses in water and kayak courses. In addition, professional coaches will give motivational speeches and arrange team building exercises. After the camp, we will send out digital evaluation using an analysis tool. The evaluation includes all elements of the program. The responses will aid the planning of future summer camps. <h3>Results:</h3> At the end of the weekend, a participant reported survey will reveal how many that are attending for the first time, whether they have gotten to know someone new, whether they have benefited from the lectures and activities, whether they have experienced mastering something new and whether they see the transfer value to everyday life with chronic illness. We will use the survey results in our work to develop future summer camps. We will also ask if participants would like to take part in the further development of summer camps and if they would like to become involved as a volunteer in the organization. Today we see a tendency that parents are volunteers on their children's behalf. Therefore, our long-term goal for the organization is to increase the amount of young volunteer representatives (15-26 years) in all parts of the organization. We want to market the results internally and externally in the organization and believe the project can contribute to an increase both in members and in volunteer representatives under 26 years. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> Highlighting the results from the Summer Camp will encourage the municipal and primary healthcare services to recommend the project to their patients in our target group. In this way, we can ensure better transitions to the adult life for young people with RMDs. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> The woring group affiliated to The Norwegian Association for Rheumatic diseases childrens and youth organisation. <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>