Camp Bon Coeur

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Choice Camps Recommendation of Camp Bon Coeur

Camp Bon Coeur's mission is to provide a safe summer camp environment in which children with heart defects can grow physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially while learning lifelong coping skills. Campers participate in many traditional summer camp activities that include athletics, the arts, swimming, and more.

Camp Bon Coeur is a fun place for campers to return each year. Most children are repeat campers and many of staff members are former campers. Campers keep in touch with the camp office year-round and stay in touch with each other as well. For children with heart defects, Camp Bon Coeur is a place where they can grow, have fun, challenge themselves, and make friends and memories that last a lifetime.

Program Description

In 1985, Camp Bon Coeur was created by Lafayette General Medical Center, one of the leading cardiovascular centers in the south, and Mended Hearts, Inc., a national support group for adults with heart defects, to give children with Congenital Heart Defects a traditional summer camp experience. These kids might not have had the opportunity other kids enjoy due to their health needs. Camp Bon Coeur offers a two-week residential summer program that gives these campers the opportunity to meet other kids from across the country who also bear the scars of growing up with a heart defect.

Camp Bon Coeur offers a two-week program that is designed with the cardiac camper in mind. Camp Bon Coeur offers many sports-related activities that are tailored to meet the needs of their campers. Campers can participate in sports, swimming, art, and educational activities throughout their experience.

Staff Overview

Prior to the arrival of the campers, the Heart Camp staff attends five days of training. During training, staff is certified in First Aid and CPR. The staff learns about specific heart conditions, team building, how to meet the needs of campers, about each program, the goals and objectives of camp and many other topics relating to the camp, its mission, and how to best serve the children in their care.

Many of the staff, instructors and counselors in training (CITs) were campers themselves. The camp also attracts many pre-med, medical, and nursing students.

Setting & Accommodations

Camp Bon Coeur makes its summer home in scenic Eunice, Louisiana. The Acadian Baptist Center is located on 74 acres of land in the heart of “Cajun Country.”

Campers are housed is in an air-conditioned dorm style building. There are no more than 4 campers per room.

Meals are served in the cafeteria that features traditional “camp food” like tacos, hamburgers, and baked chicken. The camp also serves traditional Louisiana cuisine.

Safety Standards

There is an infirmary on Bon Coeur’s campgrounds that is supervised by camp nursing staff. Cardiac nurses are at camp 24 hours a day. The camp infirmary is equipped to deal with cardiac emergencies and includes a defibrillator.

Medical professionals, including a pediatric cardiologist and ambulance, are on alert during camp. Lafayette General Medical Center is equipped and staffed to accommodate cardiovascular emergencies and includes a pediatric intensive care unit.

Camp Bon Coeur is accredited by the American Camp Association and meets more than 300 safety standards set forth by the organization.