Teen Camp

Teen Camp began in January 1990 as a weekend camping experience for teens with cancer or blood-related disorders. The overall goal of the weekend is to enable the teens to participate in activities that allow them to meet and support others who are currently going through the same life-changing experiences as themselves.

Teen camp is held at the Outdoor Education Center at Babler State Park. The all-volunteer staff is comprised of adults, many of whom also work at our Camp during the summer. Special themes for the weekend usually include communication, self-esteem, and acts of love and kindness.

On Friday night, when the teens arrive, the theme for the weekend is introduced and the teens participate in ice-breaker activities. Saturday typically consists of programs related to the theme that help the teens explore their own feelings and their roles in the community, and help them identify those who have helped them and those to whom they feel they have been particularly helpful.

 There are also a number of opportunities for the teens to get to know and interact more closely with one another. Saturday night always involves a special outing, such as a hands-on visit to a glass-blowing factory or playing laser tag, as well as a nice dinner. On Sunday, the teens usually enjoy bowling and going out to lunch. Camp concludes on Sunday afternoon. Even though Teen Camp is only a weekend, most campers agree that it is an enriching, fun experience, and a time when they can feel free to just be themselves.