Earlier this summer, Washington State University College of Nursing faculty members Sarah Fincham, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, and Fionnuala Brown, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, volunteered as camp nurses at YMCA Camp Reed, providing health care and support to hundreds of campers and counselors during a week of outdoor adventure.
Fincham first connected with Camp Reed in 2015 when she and her family attended Family Camp. “I’d never gone to summer camp as a kid, so I was hesitant about sending my own children,” she said. “But our family had the best time making memories while experiencing Camp Reed traditions.” She began volunteering as a camp nurse in 2019 and has since returned four summers, each time providing 144 hours of care over six days.
Brown also discovered Camp Reed through Fincham. “This is my third summer volunteering,” Brown said. “I will wholeheartedly admit that I am not an outdoorsy person and never went to a summer camp as a child, but I absolutely love Camp Reed and everything it has to offer children and teens. They play old-school outdoor games, encourage lasting friendships, and enjoy the outdoors without phones or iPads. It is so heartwarming to see kids being kids!”
Together, Fincham and Brown managed everything from medication schedules to bug bites and minor injuries. “It’s long days and hard work,” Fincham said, “but it’s so satisfying to see kids gain confidence and have fun out in nature. Some children may not have been able to attend without a health care professional on site.”
It’s long days and hard work but it’s so satisfying to see kids gain confidence and have fun out in nature. Some children may not have been able to attend without a health care professional on site.
Sarah Fincham, DNP, MSN, FNP-C
Brown added, “Between bloody noses, bruised toes, and splinters, we laughed and laughed, also without much screen time! Volunteering at camp helps meet the kids’ and counselors’ needs while contributing to something larger than ourselves. It’s a meaningful way to make a difference, and I hope to volunteer there for years to come.”
About Camp Reed
YMCA Camp Reed, located on Fan Lake north of Spokane, offers youth a safe wilderness setting to grow, build friendships, and experience outdoor adventure. The camp teaches the YMCA’s core values of respect, honesty, responsibility, and caring and is accredited by the American Camp Association for meeting rigorous safety and quality standards.
