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Our Mission |
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Goals of Camp Challenge is to provide each child with:
OPPORTUNITY to develop Coping Skills and Self-Confidence. Also to provide the opportunity to make friends and to interact with other children with similar illnesses and experiences. EXPERIENCE Group living in a camp environment. ADVENTURE Fun-filled experience away from home. AWARENESS & APPRECIATION for the natural world CONCERN for ecology and a desire to help preserve the earth. |
Who We Are |
Camp Challenge is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a life-long experience for our campers. We are ACA (American Camp Association) accredited and have a full medical staff on site for the entirety of camp - at least one doctor and four nurses 24 hours a day. Our entire staff are volunteers, full of life and energy pouring all of their talents and love into camp week.
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Our History |
In 1987, Camp Challenge was inspired by a group of nurses, doctors, and parents determined to give children fighting cancer and their siblings a chance to put their complicated medical lives aside to experience some normalcy. It was a collaboration of community support, medical personnel, parents and friends of the organization coming together to make the dream come true. Through the years, we have served children with all types of blood disorders including, but not limited to cancer, sickle cell disease and hemophilia.
Camp has since grown tremendously. Now hosted by our dear friends, Louisiana Lions Camp in Leesville, La, camp is a fully handicap-accessible camp perfect for all of our campers dependent on special medical attention. We are run by our Board. The Board of Camp Challenge has been served by many generous volunteers. Parents of Children with cancer, medical professionals, child life and social services professionals, community leaders, and lately even former campers who have grown up (sort of) and continued to volunteer. |
It's for the kids. |
This is what we’re all about: our campers. The one “vision” and the one “value” that has guided us this far is the quote our staff is very familiar with: “It’s for the Kids”. The campers are the heart of Camp Challenge. We started in the early years with 35 to 40 campers, and we’ve grown to as many as 130 or more in recent years. They come to us from all different backgrounds and experiences, and each is a unique personality. Some are very sick, some are the picture of health, but all of them know what cancer -amongst other illnesses- means all too well. Many of the “patients” get well with time, and some become our camp angels.
We love them all!! And they love camp. Camp Challenge is the highlight of their year. It’s fun and it means something. It’s an opportunity to share the experience, the challenge, of living with illness. “It’s for the Kids” |
We are here for everyone |
Camp is a place for inclusion, acceptance and finding the best in all of us. We make sure that every activity has a role and place for everybody. We stand by our campers, encouraging team play, fairness, and creating friendships.
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Waterfront ActivitiesWe visit the pool at least once a day, guarded by certified life guards. Not to mention, LAKE DAY! With canoes, paddle boats, and fishing!
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Arts and CraftsEveryday the arts and crafts staff has something for us to make to bring home so we may remember camp all year long.
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SportsWith an array of choices! Our sports hut has mini golf, basketball, tennis, and bowling, obstacle courses, YOU NAME IT! WE GOT IT!
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The Night LifeAfter our lunch and our afternoon nap, camp moves to our night time activities. Our activities follow the narrative of the camp theme. We play massive games, solve camp-wide puzzles, attend THE Carnival, have pool parties - you really just never know when Broadway (activities planner extrodinaire) is involved.
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