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Camp Courage

Founded in 1994, Camp Courage seeks to create an unforgettable recreational and therapeutic camp experience for children and teens being treated at the BI-LO Charities Children’s Cancer Center for cancer or a blood disorder.

Traditional summer camp activities with medical support

Camp Courage provides two weeklong sessions of overnight camp each summer:

Main Camp (for ages 6-12)
Teen Camp (for ages 13-18)

Our camps are medically staffed by members of the Prisma Health Pediatric hematology/oncology team, and our volunteers are trained in the unique medical and psychosocial needs of our camper population.

Many of our volunteers are former campers, which contributes to the sense of community and camaraderie found at Camp Courage. We strive to provide a normative, fun and inclusive summer camp experience for our campers. Camp activities can include swimming, zip line, fishing, archery, crafts, a talent show and more! In addition, special programming facilitated by our Community Partners is part of what makes each camp week exciting!

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- Experiences are very limited when we are sick and in the hospital or on chemo, or whatever treatment that we're going through.

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Coming to camp gave me that opportunity to be with kids that are going through that, and seeing your doctors and nurses here that are helping you go through that.

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- I've never been to any kind of camp and I have like, you know, I've never been away from home like this before,

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but this is my first year and I think it's really nice and it's very welcoming and everyone here is just very nice and, you know, I love it really.

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- My favorite part of Teen Camp is just having fun with the teams here,

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being with the counselors who are just like almost your age, but just a few years older. Being friends with them. Being friends with the campers.

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- My first year at Camp Courage,

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I was really excited because I got a chance to meet new people that have been through similar things in life that I have been through,

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and it really helped a lot to just make these new friends and have a fun camp experience. (light upbeat music)

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- It is very encouraging to be surrounded by people that are going through the same thing and getting to see people that did go through the same thing and that they're on the other side of it.

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It gives you hope. (light upbeat music)

Our mission? Helping children with unique medical needs build community

Camp Courage seeks to provide psychosocial support in the form of recreational programs for children and adolescents who are living with cancer or a blood disorder. Camp Courage creates an opportunity for campers with these unique medical needs to share similar experiences with peers while participating in activities that promote optimal development and encourage age-appropriate coping with the challenges they face.

Objectives: Support, safety and strength

Camp Courage seeks to support the psychosocial well-being of pediatric patients living with cancer and blood disorders as well as their families by providing opportunities for:

Peer support and friendship through interactions with other campers who truly understand what they are going through.
Medically safe activities that support optimal growth and development for all ages.
An increased sense of control and development of independence.
Teamwork and group interaction to build working relationships and cooperation.
Increased self-esteem and confidence through goal setting and mastery.
Improved coping skills during times of crisis.

Camp Courage believes that all children and adolescents require the same social, emotional and physical opportunities for development regardless of their diagnosis. Our summer program helps to promote growth and independence through offering peer support, a least restrictive environment, teamwork and individual choices.

Camp Courage campers smile for the camera — View our full photo gallery

Additional Information

Volunteer opportunities

Donations help us stay cost-free for campers

Friends of Camp Courage

Children’s Oncology Camping Association (COCA)

First time campers? We’ve got your back

Sending your child off to camp is exciting, nerve-wracking, and sometimes scary. We understand your concerns, and we take having your child with us at camp as a privilege and a serious responsibility.

Here are some ways we are making sure your child is safe and cared for at camp:

Camp Courage has a minimum of two full-time counselors in each cabin.
All counselors have undergone background screenings as well as health screenings and have received training on how to best support our campers during their time at camp.
Camp Courage is staffed at all times by a full-time physician, nurse practitioner and registered nurse. This team is there to take care of any medical needs that arise while your child is at camp including administering medication, treating bug bites or scrapes, and more. No medical issues are ever treated by a counselor or volunteer at camp.
Our medical team is comprised of staff members who are already part of your child’s medical team. Every medical staff member at camp works at the BI-LO Charities Children’s Cancer Center.

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