We have learned that diagnosing a celiac child can be a real challenge.  Once a diagnosis is made, life changes for the family.  All members must learn to adjust and, as parents of celiac children will attest, it is difficult to help that child overcome feelings of deprivation adhering to a gluten-free diet while watching peers eat a more typical American diet.  While Lone Star is not specifically geared toward children’s needs, we can point you in the right direction to receiving the help you need. 

A preeminent author on the needs of celiac children is Danna Korn.  Her national organization, “Raising our Celiac Kids”, R.O.C.K., is a wealth of information on addressing the needs of celiac families and small children  --  Raising our Celiac Kids = R.O.C.K., 3527 Fortuna Ranch Rd.,  Encinitas ,  CA   92024 , 1-858-395-5421.  Visit Danna’s R.O.C.K. website at:  http://www.celiackids.com.

Through the efforts of a small group of celiac parents and some dedicated Gold Award Girl Scouts in this area,  North Texas is lucky and privileged to offer one of the few summer gluten-free camps available in the United States for children with gluten sensitivities.  Please visit the website below to begin investigating this camp as a possibility for youthful celiacs.

Great Gluten Escape Camp 2010:

Great Gluten Escape 2010!  Children’s GF Summer Camp

Live in a gluten-free world for 5 nights and 6 days, July 11 - 16, 2010.  Designed to accommodate kids ages 7 - 14, with siblings also welcome (even if they are not affected).   Camp  Gilmont in Gilmer, TX , 2 hrs. east of  Dallas , is a week-long resident camp for kids with dietary restrictions related to Celiac Disease, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, and/or Gluten Sensitivity/Intolerance. Website at:  http://www.greatglutenescape.org .

Also, please visit the national GIG site, http://www.gluten.net, for information on other kids’ gluten-free camps - click on GIG Events and then Kids Camps.  The  Dallas area R.O.C.K. club for kids is in flux.

North Texas GIG, http://www.northtexasgig.com, has a KIDS group (North Texas GIG KIDS Club) listed under Contact Information at its site. Contact Melissa Thompson at mailto:kids@northtexas.gig.com.