I just wanted to thank all of the CKAKC staff and volunteers for such a wonderful job putting together a virtual camp for our children. The week of camp was an unexpected hard week for my daughter. Her chemo treatment medications were increased earlier this month causing more intense side effects and also causing her hair to fall out again. The 1st day of camp is when we saw clumps of her hair coming out and as you can imagine for a little girl whose hair was just starting to come back, it was devastating. Camp was a life saver!!!!! Her mind was not focused on her hair loss, and even if you couldn’t tell in her face sometimes, she was super excited for all the activities and all the silliness that would have her cracking up throughout the day. Even though this was her first year with CKAKC she felt like part of the family. Her cabin leaders made her feel special and important to the group and you made her laugh so much. After camp sessions were over she would come to me and share about it with such a huge smile on her face. I am forever grateful that she was able to be part of it on such short notice. Thank you for making that possible. Thank you so, so much for all you do for our kids.

I was most surprised by how authentic of a camp experience it was! I didn’t expect to feel so connected to everyone but I felt like we all worked together so well. I was also surprised by how engaged the kids were in a virtual format.

I was pleasantly surprised by how camp-like it was, how connected we all felt and how fun the activities were even though we weren’t able to be together in person.

I am so happy to be a part of the team this summer. Even though it turned out unexpected because of covid, we all did amazing. I felt so inspired and warm after camp. Everyone was so passionate. Thank you for everyone and for what they do to make the campers enjoy camp and have a good time!

I didn’t know how much fun camp could be on Zoom but CKAKC was awesome. I think what really helped our cabin have fun was their camp bags so they could follow along from home. They were always engaged whenever they had an activity in front of them.

I want to thank everyone who made this virtual camp possible. This was my very first camp experience and I was nervous going into it, but this has been the most fun and exciting week for me! It was so incredible to see the campers open up and become more comfortable with us as the week went on. You all have created something so special and thank you for letting me be a part of it!

Every year at the drop-off, I love the presentation that the staff and volunteers make to the families. As a matter of fact, I cannot get through it without crying. I get so touched that so many folks would give not just the week but many weeks of their time planning, training, fundraising and brainstorming to make that week awesome for our kids. I tip my hat to all past, present and future staff, volunteers and benefactors.

Thank you to the entire staff for always putting these kids as a priority and always putting a smile on their faces. You guys always find fun activities and crazy songs that these kids love.

We are so very lucky that all the counselors and staff dedicate their time to be with the kids and make their experience even better.

Thakn you to Dr. K. Our daughter went into camp with a pre-established relationship with her. She showed our daughter the personal and professional side of her and made camp a wonderful experience.

Everyone has been great. Ken, Rich & Rob have all made [our son] feel comfortable over the past 4 years at camp. For this year in particular, Aidan seemed to enjoy his conversations with Malissa as well.

Everyone was so lovely and kind.

We love it. Under any other circumstances, it would be difficult for us to let our 7-year-old go off for a week without us, but we know he’s in great hands. He’s been through so much more than a lot of 7 year olds and it’s made him grow up a lot faster than he should have. It is wonderful that he has places like Camp Kids Are Kids that allow him to just BE a kid for a while.

Finding a way for ALL kids to participate is awesome! Small groups to get kids to open up and talk to one another. One-on-one with counselors REALLY helps too!

It was a highlight of my son’s summer. He has not been able to do much all summer and this was a needed distraction. I know he pushed himself to keep up with the kids.

AMAZING! This year especially, Jack seemed to really make a connection to the fact that he was camping with other kids who had also gone through something similar to his cancer experience. He was very moved that the kids chose to share their cancer stories and was happy to have other kids there who understand his difficulties getting around with crutches, etc.

You did great! Sophia is pretty reserved but when she comes back from camp she’s a different person.

The activities are great but it’s always the staff and volunteers that make the experience memorable and the CKAK team are always incredible.

No matter what each child is going through, they are not looked at differently. Camp gives them a chance to enjoy themselves and be with kids who experience a similar adjusted lifestyle because of their medical needs. Kids get to be kids with attentive staff who are kids at heart.

“This camp gives these kids the chance to be a normal child without worrying about their condition all the time!!!”

“I loved the fact they had a pediatric oncology doctor and nurses that knew how to assist if any health issues would arise.”

“It’s surprising how difficult it is to connect with other families even when you go to the same clinic. Camp not only brings the kids together, but gives them several days to bond, share and have fun.”

“In our journey as a family through the ups and downs of Katrina’s fight, we’ve met a lot of people and organizations that helped us through some tough times, but I can honestly say none have touched us on such a personal level as the counselors and volunteers of CKAKC. It legitimately felt like a family within an hour of meeting, and the way the kids forged bonds with each other and the volunteers was something that brought a tear to my eye when we picked her up at the end of camp. I had several of the counselors relate to me about what a kind, thoughtful and intelligent kid Katrina is, and hearing that from someone who was a stranger a week before is something that I can honestly say does not happen often. Some organizations just due their diligence and move on, but CKAKC truly made us all feel like we belonged to a very special group of people.”

“Camp has been an amazing experience for our family. It’s wonderful knowing there is a place where all the negativity of her medical issues can be left behind and our whole family can feel normal for a week every year.”

“He had the best time and was so sad to say good-bye to all his new friends. He cannot wait to go back this summer. It was a great opportunity for him to just be a kid again.”

“I enjoyed the fact I knew she was having fun and that would help maybe forget what cancer had done to her, and recognize that he was not the only kid going through cancer.”

“She has told us multiple times that the week at camp ranked right up with her Make-A-Wish trip that we took on a Disney Cruise, even going so far as to ask my wife and me almost daily if there would be another camp this summer!”