A Minnesota summer camp for children with HIV/AIDS is closing its doors because of a decline in eligible campers.
One Heartland, which opened in 1993, was founded to serve a population of children who contracted HIV, mainly through transmission from their mothers in pregnancy, during birth or through breastfeeding. Initially intended to be a one-time, weeklong camp, it lasted three decades.
“We wanted to create a safe haven where children affected by the disease, perhaps for the first time in their young lives, could speak openly about it and be in an environment of unconditional love and acceptance,” camp founder Neil Willenson told The Minnesota Star Tribune Friday.
All the while, HIV transmission to children has declined. In 2010, 74 babies were born with perinatally acquired HIV in the U.S., while by 2019 that number had dropped to 32, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Mr. Willenson, who stepped away from the One Heartland leadership in 2010, reflected in October on the impending sale of the 80-acre camp in Willow River, calling it bittersweet.
“The ‘sweet’ is that mother to child transmission of HIV has virtually been eliminated in the United States in recent years. The number of children now born with HIV is in the handfuls versus the estimated 1,630 babies born with HIV during our founding year in 1993,” Mr. Willenson said in a Facebook post.
The “bitter” was that One Heartland was still serving some campers. Its clientele expanded to include children with diabetes, homeless children, children grappling with grief and LGBTQ+ youth, according to Minnesota Public Radio.
The camp served more than 6,000 children with HIV/AIDS over the years, at least 150 of whom have died in the years since their time there.
Some of the deceased are buried on the property. Mr. Willenson said in his post that he hopes that the next owner of the camp preserves the Honor Garden, the final resting place for those campers.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.