CARE CAMPS

Our goal is provide funding for any child with cancer, who wants to attend an oncology camp, the opportunity to go at no cost to the child's family. Being sick or different involves a change in nearly every aspect of a child's life. Children will experience changes in their relationships with other people and in their perceptions of themselves. Illness deprives the child of control of daily routine, privacy, relationships with family and friends and control of life itself. Camp allows children with cancer the opportunity to be themselves, by allowing their focus to be off their disease and on meeting friends, swimming, sailing, horseback riding and making crafts. By participating in enriching camp experiences, these children gain confidence in themselves and learn activities that they can carry with them throughout their lives. At Care Camps children develop skills and abilities, as well as discover that they are still able to do many of the same activities as everyone else.
Camps have proven to be a beneficial environment for all children-especially those with cancer. Though the camp experience they can learn many of the skills necessary to meet the extraordinary challenges that they will face while fighting their disease and the everyday struggles of life.

To make this happen we engage campground owners and managers to raise money at their locations through events and activities as well as through the reservation process. We have the generous support of Kampgrounds of America (KOA Inc) who provide resources and advise. We engage companies and employees in the RV/Outdoor industry through cause marketing and online campaigns. We also have several Ambassadors who help to raise awareness at a National level and also raise funds for our cause. The combined efforts of these generous and passionate people allow us to send more kids with cancer to camp.

Through our fundraising efforts we currently raise approximately $1.6 million a year in donations to provide a life changing experience to the kids with cancer that get to go to camp. We have the capability of reaching out on an national level and have many partners that work with us to build awareness, which in turn generates donations. We also have a special relationship with the camps through their camp association COCAi, which allows us to get funds to the camps through a grant process. We currently fund 135 camps across North America.

The organization has raised more than $18 million since its inception in 1984 to provide funding to oncology camps. Our goal is to continue to fund as many camp experiences as possible, until there is a cure for childhood cancer and our services are no longer needed. In the interim we will continue to work on engagement, national recognition and outreach to donors, as well as acting as liaisons with the oncology camps we support.