Camp Braveheart

Organized by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Camp Braveheart was founded in 1995 by Kathy and Roger Flynn in honor of their daughter Ansley. The camp continues today in her memory. At Camp Braveheart, every child’s possibilities are endless. From team-building activities to individual support, the camp has something for everyone. Made possible through the generous support of foundations, corporations, and individuals Camp Braveheart is offered at no cost to the camper family. 

Camp Braveheart is a week-long summer camp for children ages 7-17, with congenital or acquired heart defects and heart transplant recipients. Each summer, over 200 campers are able to experience camp, build friendships, and make memories that last a lifetime. 

Camp Braveheart is held in collaboration with Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA. Camp Twin Lakes provides fully accessible and intentionally designed camp programs that teach campers to overcome obstacles while creating shared experiences with other children who face similar challenges. After spending every other day of the year adapting to the world around them, for one week, camp adapts to them. Camp Twin Lakes’ expertise in therapeutic, adaptable programming, state-of-the-art campsites, healthy and kid-friendly food services customized to each camper’s dietary needs, and highly trained staff bring tremendous value to a long standing partnership with Children’s camp programs. 

Campers and volunteers enjoy many activities and fun events throughout the week such as swimming, arts and crafts, fishing, horseback riding, archery, ceramics, farming, boating, a climbing wall and ropes course. Favorite evening programs include a camp wide dance and talent show. Special camp traditions, such as annual remembrance Ceremony, gives campers and volunteers a time and space to remember friends and loved ones they have lost over the years. To meet the unique needs of adolescents, teen specific programming is offered at camp to promote socialization and peer support. 

With a team of over 100 staff and volunteers, parents can rest assured that their child will be well cared for at camp. A team highly skilled and licensed medical professionals, including physicians and nurses, provide around the clock, on-site medical care for an entire week of camp. Medical staff monitors the health and well being of each camper and provides medical treatment as needed. Thousands of medications are dispensed throughout the week by nurses assigned to each cabin. Other care may include respiratory treatments, tube feeds, blood sugar monitoring, blood tests for campers on certain medications, and basic first aid. In addition to a superb medical staff, a dedicated team of camp counselors and activities staff volunteer their time and talents to ensure that each camper has a safe and memorable experience. 

Camp Braveheart is a unique, residential summer camp providing essential medical care, treatment and fun for kids with heart defects and heart transplants. For some campers, camp brings many first the first time away from home, the first time to ride a bike, climb to the top of a rock wall or learn to swim. For many, it is the first time their scars make them feel included instead of different. The camp environment provides a unique setting where our campers grow in confidence, build resiliency as they face difficult aspects of their disease head on and acquire important life skills. For campers and volunteers alike, it is a truly magical and transformative experience.