Camp Kesem - A magical week for children whose parents have cancer

The start of a new year brings many new opportunities.  It may be the resolve to eat less, eat more, keep up the gym habit at least a week longer than last year, or just being an all around better person.  Beginning January 1st, we were thrilled to open registration for brand new campers wanting to enroll in Camp Kesem BYU's 2014 session!  We are already excited with the new families who have signed up and look forward to getting to know them.  This year, we are expanding our enrollment from 75 to 100 children, so almost a fourth of our campers will be new faces.  Leaving home for a week can be tough on many people (not just for kids, but adults too).  Our purpose is to create a fun, magical, and comfortable environment in order for these children to forget their worries.  The aim of this post is to take you, whether young or old (even after attending for so many years, many parents probably STILL don't know what happens at camp), on a virtual tour of camp for the week.

Monday - Campers arrive!  Probably one of the most looked forward to days of the year (even more than Disneyland or Christmas say some of our campers).  Old friends are reunited, new friends are made, and luggage is everywhere!  What happens that night?  Skits and opening ceremonies!  Everyone digs into the costume boxes and dresses up the counselors who then put on a fashion show.  As night falls, we gather around a warm, toasty fire and roast marshmallows.

 Tuesday - Wake up, shower, EAT, show everyone how to get down (ask a camper how they get down).  Tuesday begins our themed days.  This year, we lived nobly for MEDIEVAL DAY!  Swords were drawn and shields were brandished as the lads and lasses braved activities, hunted dragons, and ate some more.  After a hot day, we enjoy a swim in the pool to cool off.  SNACK!  At night, we play a crowd favorite, the magic chair game.  Everyone brings every random item they can think of down to the field, in hopes that the magic chair will call them up.  Closing circle.  Smores.  Cabin chat.  Bed (but not really).

Wednesday - Superhero day.  Who is your hero?  EAT! Do karate, build marshmallow guns and go on top secret missions.  We had a special guest presentation by Sub Zero Ice Cream as they showed us how to make ice cream from dry ice.  Since we didn't get wet enough from swimming, we held our annual WATER WAR.  This war had everything: super soakers, 1000+ water balloons, red buckets and not a single dry person!  We also welcomed the teen group back from their 3 day camping trip.  At night we had the best dance party you've never been too!  Snack.  Shower.  More snacks.  Lights out (but not really).

Thursday - We take a page out of the Harry Potter books for our magic day.  We create different "houses"  made up of all different age groups.  EAT!  We do drama activities, swim, and the awesome ropes course!  Will you conquer your fears?  Night brings our empowerment ceremony.  The one night where we openly talk with one another about how we deal with cancer.  It is a very powerful night for everyone.  Lights out (not really).

Friday - Today we live our dreams and be whatever we want to be.  EAT AND GET DOWN! Arts and crafts, more snacks, drama, outdoor adventure.  But it is really that night that everyone looks forward to: the talent show!  Both campers and counselors get to show off their skills from singing to playing an instrument to riding a magic carpet.  We share one last closing circle as our last night together.  Scary stories.  Sleep (not really).

Saturday - We clean up and await the arrival of the parents.  Awards are given out to every camper.  EAT!  Say goodbye for another year.






We hope to share this magical week with so many more people this year.  If you or someone you know would like to be a part of Camp Kesem BYU, you can follow the link to our registration page:
http://campkesem.org/camper-application

If you would like to help support Camp Kesem BYU with fundraising or donations, you can follow this link:
https://campkesem.givebig.org/c/CK13/a/campkesem-byu/