Heather Johnson of Lompoc has had some trouble with her asthma because of the Gap Fire, but the problem doesn’t seem to be as bad in the Santa Maria area this year.

“I haven’t seen a big issue, per se ... with the Gap Fire,” Johnson said during a telephone interview last week. “I think that Santa Barbara has seen more of the effects of it for the asthmatics in this area.”

However, everyone with asthma has different triggers, such as exercising outside, said Johnson. That’s why it’s important for everyone with asthma, including children, to learn about their condition.

Elementary school-age children can do just that at “Camp Wheez,” a day camp for first through sixth graders who have chronic asthma. The camp will be from Aug. 4 to 8 at Orcutt Presbyterian Church.

Johnson is the camp director for the Santa Maria camp; the other camps are in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.

Because the American Lung Association of California is sponsoring the camps, children can attend for free, although space is limited.

Johnson said first-time campers usually end up coming back.

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“They love it,” Johnson said. “They come back because it’s so much fun … we need to get those newer campers out there who haven’t experienced it yet.”

Campers start off the day by rotating between an asthma class, a “lung lab” and crafts.

The asthma class topics include the medical aspects of asthma, including causes and triggers, how to use devices like inhalers, and why it’s important for children with asthma to take their medication. In the “lung lab” the campers can touch actual human lung specimens while wearing gloves, courtesy of Marian Medical Center.

Recreation activities take place Monday through Thursday, including parachute games, dodgeball and relay races. A local physician and a respiratory therapist will be on hand in case any children have problems.

On Thursday morning, campers’ parents can have their questions about asthma answered with a local asthma educator. The last day of camp, the children have a field trip, with transportation provided by SMOOTH.

To register, parents can call 928-3233 and have an application mailed to them. Applications are available in English and Spanish, and include emergency contact information, a short questionnaire about the child’s asthma symptoms, and a section to fill out the child’s medical information.