Camp Sunshine
Encyclopedia
Camp Sunshine is a non-profit
retreat and camp located on the shore of Sebago Lake
, Maine
that provides children with life-threatening illnesses and their immediate families hope for the future, as well as immediate help in dealing with a child's chronic illness
. The camp is currently the only program in the nation that aids in lightening the impact of a life-threatening illness on a person's entire immediate family
, not just the person with the illness.
. Originally, Larry and Anna Gould repurposed some buildings and assigned the resort's staff to operating the camp for a week that year, and in later years four weeks per year.
As of 2006, the camp, while still substantially supported by the Goulds, has grown into a tax-exempt charitable organization with assets exceeding $10 million, and over 50 corporate, foundation, and civic sponsors. New facilities, formally opened in June 2001, stand on 15 acres (6.1 ha) of land located near the shore of Sebago Lake. The volunteer staff normally number about 70.
The primary focus is providing respite and relaxation to families with critically ill children.
, to blood disorders, transplant
patients, to people with Down Syndrome
, Camp Sunshine is able to help each family by providing services to both the parents and children. Sessions include weeks for children with cancer, diabetes, lupus
, fanconia anemia, and more. Camp Sunshine also offers bereavement sessions, for families who have lost a child to an illness like cancer, and in 2001, they offered a session for families who lost a loved one in the 9/11 terrorist attacks
.
Children are assigned to day-camps, where they are able to laugh and play with other children with the same disorder. This helps them discover that there are other people out there like them, forming lasting friendships with people across the United States. Age groups include infants, 3–5 year olds in the "Tot-Lot", 6–8 year olds, 9–12 year olds, teens, and adult groups. Activities range from mini golf
, boating on Lake Sebago, rock climbing
and challenge courses, and discussion groups.
Parents often get involved with parent-support groups, informational sessions, or lectures by doctors working with the specific chronic illness.
Each night, children and parents are able to come together and take part in a different event. Popular night events include talent shows, dance parties, and magic shows. There is also a parents-only dinner and a bonfire or movie night for the children.
Each session ends with the launch of a "wish-boat" for each child. Wish-boats are built by the children on one day of their day camps. A candle is lit at the center of the boat before it is sailed out into the middle of a small pond. Children, and parents, are encouraged to make a wish as each boat is sailed out.
There is also a field trip
for children and teens disadvantaged from the Carteret County Parks & Recreation in Morehead City, North Carolina
called Camp Sunshine although they do not actually go to camp. This camp has no affiliation to the Camp Sunshine in Maine. There is a camp in Georgia called Camp Sunshine that has a similar program, but this is not the same Camp Sunshine either. Camp Sunshine (Casco, ME
) does have satellite campuses in Wisconsin and Arizona.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
retreat and camp located on the shore of Sebago Lake
Sebago Lake
Sebago Lake is the deepest and second largest lake in the U.S. state of Maine. The lake is deep at its deepest point, with a mean depth of , covers about in surface area, has a length of and a shoreline length of . The surface is around above sea level, so the deep bottom is below the present...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
that provides children with life-threatening illnesses and their immediate families hope for the future, as well as immediate help in dealing with a child's chronic illness
Chronic (medicine)
A chronic disease is a disease or other human health condition that is persistent or long-lasting in nature. The term chronic is usually applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months. Common chronic diseases include asthma, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.In medicine, the...
. The camp is currently the only program in the nation that aids in lightening the impact of a life-threatening illness on a person's entire immediate family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
, not just the person with the illness.
History
The camp was founded in 1984, adjoining Point Sebago ResortPoint Sebago
Point Sebago Resort is located on the shore of Sebago Lake, southern Maine's largest lake. Point Sebago opened in 1970 as a campground suitable for tents and trailers. Today the resort has over 250 park homes on and around Sebago Lake, resort cottages and vacation homes on and around the 18-hole...
. Originally, Larry and Anna Gould repurposed some buildings and assigned the resort's staff to operating the camp for a week that year, and in later years four weeks per year.
As of 2006, the camp, while still substantially supported by the Goulds, has grown into a tax-exempt charitable organization with assets exceeding $10 million, and over 50 corporate, foundation, and civic sponsors. New facilities, formally opened in June 2001, stand on 15 acres (6.1 ha) of land located near the shore of Sebago Lake. The volunteer staff normally number about 70.
The primary focus is providing respite and relaxation to families with critically ill children.
Sessions
A Camp Sunshine session, lasting about a week long, helps a group of families with a specific chronic illness. With illnesses ranging from cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, to blood disorders, transplant
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
patients, to people with Down Syndrome
Down syndrome
Down syndrome, or Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866. The condition was clinically described earlier in the 19th...
, Camp Sunshine is able to help each family by providing services to both the parents and children. Sessions include weeks for children with cancer, diabetes, lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus , often abbreviated to SLE or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage...
, fanconia anemia, and more. Camp Sunshine also offers bereavement sessions, for families who have lost a child to an illness like cancer, and in 2001, they offered a session for families who lost a loved one in the 9/11 terrorist attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.
Children are assigned to day-camps, where they are able to laugh and play with other children with the same disorder. This helps them discover that there are other people out there like them, forming lasting friendships with people across the United States. Age groups include infants, 3–5 year olds in the "Tot-Lot", 6–8 year olds, 9–12 year olds, teens, and adult groups. Activities range from mini golf
Miniature golf
Miniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,...
, boating on Lake Sebago, rock climbing
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
and challenge courses, and discussion groups.
Parents often get involved with parent-support groups, informational sessions, or lectures by doctors working with the specific chronic illness.
Each night, children and parents are able to come together and take part in a different event. Popular night events include talent shows, dance parties, and magic shows. There is also a parents-only dinner and a bonfire or movie night for the children.
Each session ends with the launch of a "wish-boat" for each child. Wish-boats are built by the children on one day of their day camps. A candle is lit at the center of the boat before it is sailed out into the middle of a small pond. Children, and parents, are encouraged to make a wish as each boat is sailed out.
There is also a field trip
Field trip
A field trip or excursion, known as school trip in the UK and school tour in Ireland, is a journey by a group of people to a place away from their normal environment...
for children and teens disadvantaged from the Carteret County Parks & Recreation in Morehead City, North Carolina
Morehead City, North Carolina
Morehead City is a port city in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,661 at the 2010 census. Morehead City celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on May 5, 2007...
called Camp Sunshine although they do not actually go to camp. This camp has no affiliation to the Camp Sunshine in Maine. There is a camp in Georgia called Camp Sunshine that has a similar program, but this is not the same Camp Sunshine either. Camp Sunshine (Casco, ME
Casco, Maine
Farmers found the surface of the town uneven, its hard and rocky soil "tolerably productive." Outlets of ponds, however, provided Casco with good sites for water powered mills. The town had four sawmills, four gristmills, a shook mill, a barrel stave mill, four shingle factories, a carriage factory...
) does have satellite campuses in Wisconsin and Arizona.