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 The Victory Junction Gang Camp Medical Volunteer Program
What is the Victory Junction Gang Camp?
The mission of the Victory Junction Gang Camp located in Randleman, North Carolina, is to enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment. The program offers a week of exhilarating, challenging and nurturing fun under comprehensive, but unobtrusive, 24-hour medical supervision. Activities include arts and crafts, woodshop, an adventure course, archery, swimming, boating, fishing, horseback riding, music and theater, and a special Nascar themed program area complete with race cars, racing simulators, and racing gear. Each summer session offers up to 125 camper spots, and our fall and spring family weekends offer 30 families a chance to experience camp together.
Who are the campers at Victory Junction Gang Camp?
The camp accepts children 7-15 years of age, who have medical conditions or serious illnesses. Victory Junction serves children with a variety of conditions including: arthritis, burn survivors, cancer, epilepsy, gastro-intestinal disease, genetic disorders, heart disease, hemophilia, immunodeficiency/HIV, kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, neurological deficiencies including traumatic brain injury, sickle cell anemia, skin disease, and spina bifida. Many children are still receiving active treatment while at camp, while others may be in remission or on maintenance medications. Our campers are primarily from the tri-state area, however campers are welcome regardless of where they live.
What are the medical facilities at Victory Junction Gang Camp?
The Goody's Body Shop is a comprehensive medical facility complete with four treatment rooms, two observation rooms, and a stocked pharmacy. Emergency equipment is readily available and portable. First aid kits are located in each building on camp, and oxygen, backboards, cervical collars, and Epi-Pens are stored at appropriate program sites. The full-time summer staff consists of a medical director, nursing director, and 4 staff nurses. The Body shop can handle a range of medical problems from dialysis or chemo administration to bug bites, strains, and sprains, but we can't do it without our medical volunteers!
What do medical volunteers do at Camp?
Medical volunteers are essential to our camp program. Volunteers bring their spirit, fresh ideas, and energy to our camp program.
Registered Nurses : Each session we recruit 4 to 6 volunteer RNs to assist with camper and staff care. Volunteer nurses work side-by-side with our staff nurses to provide primary to a group of campers with specific diagnoses. Care includes: following each camper's individual plan of care as detailed by their home physician or specialist, providing needed treatments, medications, and lab draws, and assisting with camper personal care needs. Volunteer nurses also spend a portion of the session triaging and treating the unexpected camper or staff illness or injury.
Health Care Professionals : LPNS, RNs, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, EMTs, and other medical professionals or students are needed as cabin counselors. Because so much care is provided around the clock, health care professionals are essential to our mix of volunteer counselors who live and play with the campers all week.
Physicians : We recruit two to three volunteer physicians (specialists and/or general practitioners) each session. Physicians work closely with the nurses in providing routine and emergency care to campers. Resident physicians at the PFY-2 or greater level assist in the Body Shop under the supervision of the Medical Director.
Volunteer for the day! We are in need of several volunteer nurses or pharmacists to assist with camper medications from 1 pm to 6 pm every camper arrival day during our summer season.
What are the licensure requirements for medical volunteers?
Nurses : Nursing volunteers must be RNs and have a current North Carolina nursing license . The North Carolina Board of Nursing is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, an interstate organization. This means that the North Carolina board of Nursing recognizes and honors nursing licenses issued by other “compact” states. These states include: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. If you do not hold a nursing license in NC or one the compact states, you must obtain a NC nursing license to volunteer as a nurse at camp. Information about obtaining a NC nursing license is available on-line at www.ncbon.com . The fee for this is approximately $150. Finally, all nursing volunteers most hold current CPR certification .
Physicians : The General Assembly of North Carolina passed a bill (1177) in May 2003 that allows physicians who are licensed in another state to “practice medicine or surgery at a camp that specializes in providing therapeutic recreation for individuals with chronic illnesses” for < 30 days/year.
What is the time commitment for medical volunteers? Are partial sessions an option?
A 6-day commitment is required of all volunteers. For continuity of care, partial sessions are not recommended.
What are the living arrangements for medical volunteers?
Volunteer physicians and nurses do not live with the campers as do the volunteer cabin assistants. Expect to share a room with two or three other volunteers. All housing options are air-conditioned and indoor bathrooms and showers are provided. Meals are provided in our dining hall and are taken with the campers and other staff.
Is there any training for Medical Volunteers?
Every medical volunteer, new and old, is expected to arrive at camp the day before his or her session starts for an Orientation to camp. Camp provides an extensive orientation on medical care, and behavioral modification techniques…. as well as all the fun stuff like songs and cheers.
Are there any restrictions I should be aware of?
• There is no smoking permitted anywhere on camp grounds.
• Drinking and drug uses are also strictly prohibited.
• Except for scheduled time off, all medical personnel (volunteer and staff) are expected to be “on-duty” 24 hours a day. Night call is taken by full-summer staff only, however, volunteers may be called upon to assist should the need arise.
If you have any other questions please contact:
Emily Parenteau, FNP
Nursing Director
Victory Junction Gang Camp
4500 Adam's Way
Randleman, NC 27317
Ph: 336-495-2020
Fx: 336-495-2045
eaparenteau@victoryjunction.org
Peter Sim, MD, FACEP
Medical Director
Victory Junction Gang Camp
4500 Adam's Way
Randleman, NC 27317
Ph: 336-495-2015
Fx: 336-495-2045
psim@victoryjunction.org
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