In
2016, Camp Reach for the Sky will have been in the business of helping kids
affected by cancer have the time of their lives for 35 years. To date, we have
entertained; hugged; high-fived; laughed, cried, danced, and sang with nearly 18,000 kids within our summer camping
program. Many of the kids who pass through our program say Seany’s Camp Reach
for the Sky has helped them better understand cancer and its effects and has
made them stronger. Emotionally speaking, Camp
brings kids in from the dark. In 2016, The Seany Foundation will expand its
long-standing support network to include Seany’s
Family Camp, a camping session uniquely designed to meet the needs of children with a parent who is actively receiving
treatment for cancer.
Historically,
our camper population has included pediatric oncology patients ages 4 to 17
years old and their siblings. Our goal at Camp is to give all kids coping with cancer the chance to be kids—an experience
often taken away or put on hold by the disease. Even though the emphasis is on
having fun, campers often informally and organically share their concerns and
experiences with each other. Seany’s Family Camp will give 20 families the opportunity to spend
quality time together as a family, as well as find comfort and normalcy with
their situation by meeting other families facing similar challenges. Unlike
other family camps, Seany’s Family Camp will focus on the emotional needs of the
otherwise healthy child, helping to support his or her struggle to understand
and thrive alongside the parent’s life-threatening
illness.
Staying
true to The Seany Foundation’s mission, Family Camp’s primary focus will remain
on the children within these families. The main objective of this camping
session is to give these kids the opportunity to casually meet other kids who
also have a parent diagnosed with cancer. Camp is a highly supportive,
confidential atmosphere that serves as safe haven for the children who attend.
By partaking in Seany’s Family Camp, the children will learn that they are not
alone and leave with the understanding that they are just regular kids who
happen to be dealing with some special problems.
Seany’s
Family Camp is open to families who meet ALL of the following criteria:
·
Parent must be in active treatment (as opposed to supportive or
palliative care) for cancer in the state of California
·
Parent in active treatment must be able to attend Seany’s Family Camp
with his or her immediate family (spouse/partner of parent in active treatment
for cancer and their children). Designated medical staff will be onsite to
assist with general first aid
·
Parent must have at least one child between the ages of 4 and 17 years
old in their immediate family
·
Parent must be able to self-administer any needed medications to self and
family during the camping session
·
Parent or guardian planning to attend Seany’s Family Camp session must
complete and return Registration Packet prior
to being accepted (space is limited and need is high)
·
Parent or guardian must arrange for family’s transportation to and from
the campsite, located in Julian, CA
Just
a few of the activities participants of Seany’s Family Camp will look forward
to include: Swimming, zip line, challenge course, rock-climbing wall, archery,
hiking trails, game room, tree house & slide, basketball, tennis, meadow
games, playgrounds, tetherball, horseshoes, music concerts, massages,
manicures, catered meals, arts and crafts, and campfires. Activities are
adjusted to meet the needs/health/strength challenges of all participants.
All
Seany’s Camp Reach for the Sky sessions are staffed by dedicated and trusted
volunteers who love to have fun. All volunteers undergo special training that
familiarizes them with the unique needs of this special population. In fact,
many of our volunteers are cancer survivors themselves and serve as an
inspiration to all. Others are medical professionals who enjoy serving as
counselors so that they can interact with the campers in a nonmedical
environment.
Seany’s Camp Reach for the
Sky programs are free to the families. Funding comes from donations made to The Seany
Foundation. For more information about The Seany Foundation and Seany’s Camp
Reach for the Sky programs, please visit www.theseanyfoundation.org.
Camp Makes a Difference...
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