Wellington Day Camp
For the first time, Arthritis NZ, Mateponapona Aotearoa held a Wellington Day Camp for children and young people living with arthritis, bringing families together for a day of fun, connection and shared experiences.
Held on Sunday 18 October at El Rancho Camp on the sunny Kāpiti Coast, the day brought together 13 families, including parents, siblings and children and young people living with arthritis. Three youth volunteers also joined us to help support the activities.
Living with arthritis as a child or young person can sometimes feel isolating, particularly when friends and classmates don't always understand what it's like to live with a long-term condition.
That's what makes days like this so important.
For the children and young people, it was an opportunity to meet others who understand some of the challenges of living with arthritis, make new friends and enjoy being part of a group where arthritis is something they have in common.
For parents and caregivers, it was a chance to connect with other families, share experiences and learn from one another. And for siblings, it was an opportunity to be included in the fun too!
For one family, the day was a welcome opportunity to reconnect and make space for something that is part of their everyday lives:
It was really nice. Especially to see some of the families we've met before. JIA is just one part of our busy family life and it was so valuable to spend some time focussed on it.
Having our three youth volunteers involved was another special part of the day, helping with activities and supporting the younger participants.
More than just a fun day out
Events like this are about much more than activities. They're about building confidence, creating friendships and helping children and young people feel that they're not alone on their arthritis journey.
As this was our first Wellington Day Camp, it was wonderful to bring families from the region together and create opportunities for connections that we hope will continue well beyond the day itself.
A big thank you to all the families who joined us, our youth volunteers and everyone who helped make the day possible.
We hope this is the first of many Wellington Day Camps!
