While KOA Care Camps may not be a club “member” in the usual sense, it is certainly an ever-present force in our activities and initiatives. So let’s get to know a little more about this organization we spend so much time championing. The KOA Care Camps program began in 1984 with the establishment of the Care Camps Trust, whose mission is to raise money to send kids, their siblings and sometimes entire families, to oncology camps. That first year donations from KOA owners and their campers totaled $7,100, which was divided among six camps for children with cancer. Fast forward to January 2020 the KOA Care Camps Trust reached the amazing milestone of $18,000,000 in donations, supporting a total of 135 camps throughout the U.S. and Canada. WHAT IS A CARE CAMP?At these medically-supervised camps, children affected by cancer have the chance to experience summer camp with others their age who understand what they’re going through. They swim, hike, sing, laugh, make new friends and create joy-filled memories, all while receiving the medical treatment they need.
| WHAT DOES IT COST TO SEND A KID TO CAMP?The average cost to send a child to camp for one week is $1,800...and there is no charge to the child or their family to attend. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF DONATIONS MADE TO KOA CARE CAMPS ARE USED FOR ADMINISTRATION?“The stewardship over the funds contributed to and raised by the KOA Care Camps charity is something we take very seriously. We operate in a fiscally conservative manner to ensure that the money entrusted to our care will have the greatest financial impact on the camps we support.” Every year each of the oncology camps apply to KOA Care Camps for grant funding, going through a rigorous application process that ensures the camps are of good quality, adhere to Best Practices and go above and beyond to create the best possible experience for the kids. In addition, each of the oncology camps must belong to an organization called the Children's Oncology Camping Association International (COCAi). For more information and to find out how you can help, go to www.koacarecamps.org |