This organization is ...
Camp Kesem is a non-profit organization that is devoted to giving children whose parents have been affected with cancer a support system. Every summer we provide a week completely free for children who have parents who have been diagnosed, battling, or have lost the fight with cancer. The mission is three-fold. The first part of our mission is that we are able to give these kids a week where they can be just what they are..KIDS... They are able to interact with other kids who are going through the same situation they are going through and can relate to their struggles. This camp allows these kids to gain insight or advice as to handle this terrible disease, which has been placed in their laps and turned their lives upside down. The second part of our mission is to give these parents a week for themselves without having to worry about their kids. This is their week to relax and not have to worry who is watching Joey or who is picking up Claire from ballet because they know their kids are in a safe environment and are being taken care of with the utmost care. Lastly our mission is for the volunteers who volunteer not only their week for camp, but the entire year filled with fund-raising and planning for this week. We hope that the volunteers give all of themselves during that week of camp to make this the best week ever for these children who have the weight of the world resting upon their shoulders.
This past camp was a bittersweet week for me, as it was my third and final year eligible for participating in Camp Kesem. My freshman year of college I applied to be a counselor and wanted to get involved with this organization because of my own personal dealings with cancer. My freshman year of college my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer and I had so many emotions. I am lucky enough to still have all of my grandparents still living, so the thought of possibly losing her to this disease was a very scary thing for me and I really did not know how to handle it. Thankfully she has overcome the disease and is a cancer survivor. But this was a reality check for me because I realized so many people are not that lucky and many lose the battle with cancer. It really makes you step back and take a look at your life and be truly grateful for the people you have in it.
Each of the counselors have names at camp because we do not allow the campers to know our real names (for privacy reasons). So my camp name is Squat. Every week out of the summer I am known as Squat and quite truthfully to all the other camp counselors, my name is Squat as well. Since we spend an entire week at camp with camp names it is kind of hard to tell someone our real names. So for a week at camp I am Squat, daughter of Sit and Stand!
My first year as a counselor I was considered a 6-7 counselor who would be responsible for three girls aged 6-7. This year our theme for our age group was bumblebees. Before lining up for meals, we would always have to do a cheer of some sort to get into the mess hall; so this year we got the kids to act like little bees and buzz and flap their arms as if they were buzzing around. Because of privacy and protection reasons for the children, I am unable to post any pictures with the campers themselves so I have a photo of the cabin that I stayed in that year (and it turned out to be the same cabin all 3 years).
The second year as a counselor I had the same role as a counselor to three little girls and we stayed in the same cabin. This year we were the monkeys and boy did they enjoy that. In order for our group to get to eat first we would all make monkey faces by puffing out our cheeks and pulling out our ears, it was so adorable seeing all these little kids make the same face.
This final year I decided to step up my role in this organization and applied for a coordinator position for our Camp Kesem North Carolina. I was chosen as part of the Student Support group whose main duties involve planning team building events throughout the year, interviewing, and selected new counselors. So throughout the year we had meetings twice a month to plan and prepare for camp. Through my role, I was also able to attend the National Conference in LA at the end of February. This was such an exciting and fun trip especially since it was my first time flying in a plane Oh the things I do for Kesem! And of course we got to do a little site seeing as well!
So this year at camp my role was a little more increased since I was acting as a unit leader. I was a unit leader for the 6-9 age groups. This means that Mushu (another unit leader) and I were in charge of 9 counselors and each of their 3 children. We could facilitate breaks for them and fill in whenever they deemed necessary. This was a cool experience but I did miss having three little campers all to myself.
One of the most memorable days at camp includes Color Wars Day. On this day the entire camp is separated by colors and you dress up crazy with your team's color attire and come up with cheers. The kids do a counselor manhunt where you have to find the counselors hidden away throughout the camp. This results in the counselors returning and having to walk the plank (aka the diving board). This is always a fun way to end a fun week at camp.
Camp has made me value the little things in life so much more than I use to. Never do I ever take for granted the ability to call my mom up anytime I want whether it just to be to say hey or i love you. After working with these children it made me realize that I have been so blessed in life and to not over dramatize the struggles I have going on in my life. After hearing a 6 year old child say to you that this was the best week of their life because their sick mommy got to rest and they didn't have to worry about whether she was okay or not because the doctors are taking care of her it stops you in your tracks. You realize these children are so strong and it makes you re-evaluate your so-called troubles in life. If you are a student at UNC or Duke I encourage you to get involved, apply to be a counselor, or if anything please donate to this wonderful organization. It is completely non-profit and we fund our camp solely on donations from the community. If you would like to donate the website is www.campkesem.org and just click the donate tab and specify you want your donation to go to Camp Kesem NC.
