Camp Winning Hands is both a resource for parents and a place for kids with congenital upper limb differences to be just kids.
For children and teens, Camp Winning Hands is an overnight camping experience and an opportunity to play and explore in a safe, supportive environment. Children attending Camp Winning Hands experience opportunities to challenge themselves and have new adventures in a safe setting where differences seem less special, less limiting, and less important.
For parents, Camp Winning Hands provides a link to a wider network of families that include children with hand/limb differences. Camp Winning Hands is also an opportunity for parents to be a resource to new parents of children with hand/limb differences and to reinforce the bonds created with camp-families throughout the years.
Three to four days full of fun give children and teens the chance to connect, play, and talk with one another. The camp experience fosters strong bonds between children. Activities include a climbing wall, zip-line, archery, sports, arts & crafts, horseback riding, rock climbing, swimming, games and more.
Camp Winning Hands is located in Livermore, California. Kids Camp is for children from seven to eleven years of age. Teen Camp serves teens 12- 17 years of age. Each camp is staffed with professionals and volunteers from UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and Samuel Merritt University (SMU) students who have finished their studies in the Master of Occupational Therapy program. Additionally, many counselors also have hand differences and serve as mentors for campers.
"Our volunteers help by creating a supportive and encouraging environment for the kids, along with kid-friendly adventures to empower children with hand differences to address daily physical, emotional and social challenges together," says Ginny Gibson, Senior Occupational Therapist at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland and Camp Winning Hands Director.
There is no cost for the hand camp; it is partially funded by The Taylor Family Foundation, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, and Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California. The first Camp Winning Hands took place in August 2010 and has since become an annual summer event.
Camp Winning Hands 2019
Teen Camp July 6 - 10, 2019
Kids Camp July 7 - 10, 2019
To learn more about Camp Winning Hands, email: CampWinningHands@gmail.com
To enroll your child for our 2019 session:
- Applications MUST be received April 1, 2019
- Complete the application: Camp Winning Hands Application
- Send the application via US Postal Service mail to:
Camp Winning Hands
Plastic Surgery Department
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
744 52nd Street
Oakland, CA 94609
Completing an application does not mean your child will be enrolled. You will be notified if your child is invited to attend Camp Winning Hands.