Each spring, families, college students, and camp counselors at 125 chapters across the country get ready for their favorite time of year: one week of summer camp at Camp Kesem. Camp Kesem is the signature program of the national organization, Kesem, whose mission is to support children through and beyond their parents’ cancer with innovative, fun-filled programs to foster lasting community.
Camp Kesem is a week-long, sleepaway camp offered for children whose parents have been affected by cancer. Each camp is conceptualized, organized, and run by a chapter of dedicated college student leaders from local colleges, many of who have been touched personally by cancer and may have similar experiences to the campers.
The camps offer traditional summer camp activities, such as sports, nature walks, arts and crafts, swimming, campfires, and canoeing, with activities varying by location and geography of campsite. These day activities are designed to create a space that helps children put behind them what is happening home for the week. However, each camp does allow a time to address cancer.
Cabin Chats are hosted each evening. The children are broken out into groups by age and student leaders hold an open discussion. They usually begin with open-ended questions such as, “Who is your favorite superhero?” The questions allow for organic discussion in which cancer can be addressed naturally. Sometimes their favorite superhero is someone they’ve seen in a movie, and other times it’s their sister for picking them up from the bus stop every day because their parents are at doctor’s appointments. These conversations help kids find community in similar experiences.
Each camp also hosts an Empowerment Ceremony; this is the one time during the week-long camp cancer is intentionally reflected upon. The ceremony is meant to be a safe space for intimate conversations during which campers can share their story with cancer. Some are angry or confused; others share hope and wisdom. The goal is to empower the kids to acknowledge how they are surviving through and beyond cancer.
In order to be prepared for these conversations at both the Cabin Chats and during the Empowerment Ceremony, the student leaders and other volunteers receive extensive training throughout the year leading up to camp. Because many of the leaders have also been touched by cancer, they are uniquely equipped to handle these conversations after this training. There are also mental health professionals at each camp should student leaders or campers need any additional assistance.
Camp Kesem is offered to children from 6 years old to 18 years old whose parents have been affected by cancer. It is 100% free for families, paid for by corporations, individuals, and foundations, with a large portion fundraised by student leaders.
Camp Kesem can be transformational for families affected by cancer. 99% of parents say they feel their children benefited and 96% intend to send their children another year. The camps provide the foundation for confidence building, improved communication skills, and enhanced life outlook and attitude. 86% of parents feel their children are more confident dealing with their cancer experience after attending camp.
Domonique Hollins, Kesem’s Vice President of Brand and Marketing, shared with us one of her favorite stories from camp. At a camp in summer 2019 in Texas, they hosted a talent show. Many campers participated and showed off their awesome, creative talents. One particular camper break danced as his talent. He had all the steps right but the execution was so new, it needed a little practice. Despite this, all the kids rallied and cheered for him and totally supported him.
Domonique said, “When you look past talent display, you can see it’s more than just a child showing talent; it’s about a child being totally confident, free-spirited, and empowered. This is what happens when children feel part of a community and are affirmed as valued and important people. No matter the talent, the children know they will be loved and supported, and there’s no feeling like it. It allows them to be bold and charge ahead in other areas of life.”
Kesem offers other programs to help support children affected by cancer outside of Camp Kesem. These programs, called Through and Beyond services, include Friends and Family Days, which bring a chapter together to continue the community in the spring or fall; Kesem Special Delivery, which are personalized greetings to campers on important days throughout the year; and Kesem By Your Side, which provides resources and tailored support to families with special needs.
This year marks Camp Kesem’s twentieth anniversary, where 5,500 student leaders will help more than 12,000 campers at camps across the country. To date, there are more than 10,000 alumni and hundreds of professional volunteers that have been touched by the programs and services of Kesem. This special program is so important and creates an indelible impact on this unique population with unique needs.
Registration is now open! Find out more and register for a camp near you here.
Interested in learning more about Camp Kesem from the perspective of a lung cancer survivor? Read our blog post written by Erika Hlavacek, a lung cancer survivor who sent her children to Camp Kesem last summer, and learn how the week at camp impacted her family.
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