Summer fun for every child

Camps for Kids provide unique summer camp experiences for patients

“One of my young patients and a first-time camper said, ‘I love camp! Having muscular dystrophy is the best!’ It was an honor to watch this camper grow in confidence throughout the week. Thank you to everyone who makes camp a possibility!”

–Katie Campbell, Child Life manager and Camps for Kids lead

Each year, kids create treasured childhood memories at summer camp. Due to complex medical needs, many kids with unique diagnoses, disabilities or circumstances might not have the opportunity to attend a traditional summer camp.

Because we believe childhood should be simple for all, we offer Cook Children’s Camps for Kids, a program that allows our patients to enjoy unique summer camp experiences tailored to them. We offer more than 20 camps for children with a wide variety of conditions and situations, including asthma, cancer and even the loss of a sibling.

Each of our camps has appropriate medical support on-site because managing an illness or injury can be a daily challenge for kids – with medicines, lab draws, infusions and other medically necessary routines. At our camps, kids can still receive the care they need, and their families can enjoy some peace of mind.

For many patients, especially those with rare conditions, our camps are often their first opportunity to engage with other kids facing a similar diagnosis. Katie Campbell, Child Life manager and Camps for Kids lead, said that she’s seen patients blossom at camp year after year.

“Seeing our patients build relationships, try new things and encourage one another is so exciting to us as the health care staff,” Katie said. “Seeing their joy, light and laughter is so refreshing and heartwarming. They had the week of their lives, and I know they are already counting down the days until next year.”

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, patients and families never receive a bill for Camps for Kids. As our patient population and capacity for campers continues to expand, our goal is to make this program available to even more patients and families.

Donate to Camps for Kids