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Camp Quality is a summer camp for children with cancer -- and more. It crystalizes a year-round support program for the children and their families.
Unfortunately, many children in our communities have cancer. Camp Quality offers them a program of unique depth, backed by almost 20 years of experience. This is a totally volunteer effort, funded solely by the community.
Camp Quality has three benefits:
- For a week, it lets kids be kids
- It supports children with a year-round "big brother/sister" companion
- The companion program gives family members a much-needed break.
Almost all of us have been touched by cancer. Our adult friends or relatives may have cancer. We know how hard it is for adults to bear. Imagine what it is like for children.
Camp Quality was started in 1983. There are now 57 camps in 20 countries, and they have served 30,000 kids. All helpers at the camp including the medical staff are volunteers, who have been carefully screened. There is no government funding.
How can you help?
- By telling a child with cancer about Camp Quality
- By offering to be a companion or staff member or just giving a few hours of time.
- By providing some funds or other dontations.
What do you get?
- You bring a smile to child's face.
- You help "kids be kids".
- You help provide support to the camper and their families throughout the year.
- You prove what "community" means.
Mandate
Camp Quality is a non-profit volunteer organization providing a camping experience and year round support for children with cancer and their families.
Primary Goals
1. To allow children to be children again, to have fun, to participate in exciting activities, to make new friends, and as far as possible be removed from all stress.
2. To give the families of these children some relief, knowing that the finest program has been selected to keep the children happy, a one-on-one companion assigned to ensure the child's safety, and most importantly, to assure them that adequate medical supervision is an integral part of every camp plan.
3. To give support to children and their families beyond the camping experience.
History
Camp Quality is an international organization that originated in Australia in 1983 and is now one of the largest children's support programs in the world. Camp Quality currently operates a total of 57 camps in 20 countries, and is expanding into two additional countries per year. The largest operation is in Australia with 14 camps running programs.
To date, five Canadian camps have been established - one in Southern Ontario (1988), a second in Northern Ontario (1992), a third in Alberta (1998), a fourth in Northwestern Ontario (2002) and our camp, Eastern Ontario (2000). Plans are underway to expand our Canadian network across the country.
Operating Principles
- Each child has a full-time companion at camp.
- Use of volunteer staff.
- Medical and nursing staff on site during camp week.
- Signed registration form completed by each camper's parent.
- Signed medical form completed by each camper's doctor.
- No charges for children or their families for camp.
- Social outings for children and families several times per year, free of charge.
- No monetary assistance from any government.
Miscellaneous
a) In all locations, volunteers are trained annually in a weekend training workshop. Security checks are also administered on all volunteers.
b) Recognition of donations is made in a number of ways, including listing of donors in Camp yearbooks, selective use of company logos at Camp Quality events, presentation plaques to major donors, etc.
Additional Support Programs
In addition to the one-week camping experience, a number of other Camp Quality programs have been established to provide ongoing contact and support to our campers and their families. These include the annual production of a camp log, an annual reunion, family cluster weekends and a Camp Quality Puppet Program.
Camp Log
The Camp Log is an annual picture book of special memories of summer camp events and other year-round activities.
The camp founder, Vera Entwistle, developed this concept in response to sick children's needs for hope for the future. Many children look through these logs during difficult times, reliving past experiences and looking forward to the next camp activity.
Annual Camp Reunion
Local camp reunions are for all campers and their families and Camp Quality staff. These annual one-day events include indoor and outdoor activities, a banquet and the distribution of the camp log. They provide an opportunity for the Camp Quality community to stay connected and for siblings and parents to share in the Camp Quality experience.
Family Cluster Weekends
This is a weekend of rest and relaxation for about six campers and their families. It is organized, staffed and paid for by Camp Quality. A location is selected, mailing distributed and the first six families to apply are invited. Preference is given to families who have not previously benefited from this opportunity.
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