Camp Enchantment For Kids With Cancer

A friend and writer has a young son who has had cancer almost since his birth, with several relapses. However, his last year has been more like a miracle, without cancer recurring and his outlook becoming brighter day by day. The family has been fortunate ot have a younger brother for the first child as well, cancer free, and the two boys are adorable together.

One activity that helps kids bogged down by cancer is the opportunity to go camping. One of the best camps for these children and youth is Camp Enchantment, one at which my friends have found great joy.

Camp Enchantment is supported and sponsored by the American Cancer Society, so if you volunteer or donate anything to the ACS, you are helping children to enjoy offerings like this camp, free of charge. Bless you for doing so.

Camp Enchantment is in New Mexico,where my friends live, but such camps are located many other places. Some even offer programs for young adults to age 25!

Camp Enchantment is designed to accept children and youth from ages 7 through 17 that have cancer or who have had it in the past. to helop them ennjoy their experience even more, each child is permitted to bring a friend or family member of the same age range (7-17) with him/her. Summer camps can be expensive, so this free camp in New Mexico is a good deal. If you live out of state and can find 2-for-1 plane fare, it's even a better deal.

The camp staffers are all bilingual as well - Spanish and English.

Camping dates are limited at this camp and the 2012 dates were May 28 through June 6.

Call your local chapter of the American Cancer Society if you are interested in this camp.

If Camp Enchantment is too far away from your home, see the list of other camps with the same pupose in the subsequent sections below. Some of these camps offer year-round activities.

A list of Cancer Kid Camps for the children and their siblings is available online at the link below. Such camps are maintained in most US States and parts of Canada. Many are tuition-free and several offer acitivies for the children in seasons other than summer. Staying active helps the kids maintain a more positive attitude and serves as exercise to help the body heal.

Just one example, Ohio maintains a lot of different camps for kids with cancer and their siblings, for those that have survived cancer, and/or those who have a range of other different conditions. This list may give you some idea for searching for similar programs in your own state:

Camp Catch-A-Rainbow

This is another completely free camp delivered every year by the American Cancer Society Great Lakes Division, Inc.

The program is for residents of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio and serves children and youth ages 4 - 15 who are in treatment or remission of cancer. An additional one-day Young Campers Program is for ages 4-6, who might not be able to tolerate an overnight experience.

See ACS Programs and Services

First Descents (Young adults ages 14 - 25, all over the world. Adult Programs also.)

Thsi is a free outdoor experience for people within the age parameters who are in treatment or remission of cancer. Adventures can last from two days to a whole week. It's an exciting kayaking program that will get the blood rushing and build on the ourage already required to beat cancer.

Travel scholarships are available to help youth make it to the camps and all meals and gear are included. Inability to pay is no reason not to go, because the price will be "0." Cancer patients and their failies have anough expenses already.

Locations include all of the Western Hemisphere and some other nations. See First Decents.

Camp Kesem (For kids of cancer patients)

This is a fairly new camping system that is sponsored under a national umbrella organization with chapters on 37 American college campuses. The OSU chapter is the first in Ohio.

Run by volunteer college students who also raise the money to pay for the campers, this camp serves children ages 6 - 13 whose parents have been touched by cancer. It is totally free.

See OSU Camp Kasem

Flying Horse Farms

Named after a children's book about a horse farm, this farm is horse-less, but it does have 200 acres of fun at Mt. Gilead, north of Central Ohio off I-71. With an on-site health center, it serves kids with all sorts of serious illnesses and not only cancer. It is one of a network of camps founded by the actor and philanthropist Paul Newman. Of course, its FREE. See the wonderful web site here.

Camp Friendship

Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Ohio Division: Phone: 614-718-4438. Call for information and dates this year.

Kids N' Kamp

This camp offer activites every month of the year for the kids and their families. Besides camps, the organization provides individual educational assessments, academic tutoring, support groups, and counseling for the entire family and everything is FREE. Phone: 614-262-2220

Ohio's Camp Quality (Several are in other states as well)

• Location: 4450 Rex lake Drive in Craftmen's Park, Akron OH 44219
• Dates: Third Week in July. Apply here: BE A CAMPER