YAK Camp (Young Adults Camp)

Young people have gone through a lot during the pandemic. Kidney Kids NZ knows it is vital to get YAK (young adult kidney kids) back to doing what they do best–meeting new friends and enjoying activities together in a safe environment. Our YAK Camps offer a traditional summer camp experience, allowing YAK to continue developing their renal healthcare self-management skills. At camp, YAK can connect with others facing the same circumstances, build their confidence, and overcomes feelings of isolation they’ve experienced during the pandemic.

Kidney Kids offers a weekend camp to about 300 youth (YAK 167) living with kidney disease across Aotearoa. Registration began in October 2022. And on March 17th, 2023, twelve young adults attended YAK Camp that Kidney Kids NZ fully funded: transportation, flights, accommodation, food, Hobbiton, Escape rooms, pizza pool parties, smores, firepit sing-alongs for everyone. “Going on an adventure” with YAK 2023 was an unforgettable experience!

The objectives of YAK Camps are to:

Educate YAK living with kidney disease, their caregivers, and healthcare professionals about renal healthcare management, tips, tools, and living well with kidney healthcare

Engage campers and their whanau in activities and sessions throughout the weekend

Connect with one another, reduce feelings of isolation, increase social skills, improve confidence and independence in kidney health management, and foster friendships for life

On behalf of Kidney Kids NZ, we would like to give a massive Thank you! To our YAK volunteers, Katherine Paton (Kidney Kids Ambassador) and Lelea Fonua, for your tremendous help. We couldn’t have completed camp successfully without your assistance.