Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease,
affecting 4.8 million children in the United States and
an estimated 97,000 children in Wisconsin under
age 17.
Dean Medical Center pediatric allergist
J. Brent Kooistra, M.D., founded camp WIKIDAS
(Wisconsin Kids With Asthma) near Wisconsin
Dells 20 years ago. Dr. Kooistra saw the need for
this camp when he started his practice. According
to Dr. Kooistra, “It gives the kids a chance to be
with other kids with the same condition. It lets
them know they are not the only ones with the
condition. It provides them with self-esteem and
self-confidence, and provides a great opportunity for
them to learn from each other. It lets them be kids.”
A Camp of Our Own
Dr. Kooistra volunteered at Minnesota’s asthma camp for
kids and decided that there was a need for one in
Wisconsin. The camp started with 30 kids in 1982. Twenty
years later, they’ve had more than 1,500 attend the camp.
“We have a very dedicated staff. We have two to three
physicians on staff daily, along with 15 to 20 other medical
professionals. These physicians come from around the
state and dedicate their time and talent to helping
children learn about asthma,” he says. Dr. Kooistra was
named 2001 Physician Citizen of the Year by the State
Medical Society of Wisconsin for his volunteer work in
creating this camp.
Open to All
Last summer, the camp had 90 children between ages 8 and
13 attend. It is not a Dean camp — anyone can attend. The
only requirements are that the children are between ages 8
and 13 and on a daily asthma medication. The slots fill up
quickly. The cost of the camp is $230 a week. Dr.
Kooistra says that they have been fortunate over the
years to work with donors to help defray the cost for
those who cannot afford the cost of a week at camp.
Dr. Kooistra gives the children one simple instruction
when they come to camp: “Take your medicine and
have fun.”
The summer camp for 2002 runs from June 16 to
June 21. For more information or to register, please call
the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-
586-4872) or visit www.lungusa.org/wisconsin.
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