You signed up your child for camp: now what?

Teena Chu talks about being a first-time camp parent at Camp Casco, and why she’s glad her daughter found our program

Ella and Cora show off their Camp Casco swag

You signed up your child for camp: now what? As a parent, especially one new to Camp Casco, we’re sure you have questions about us and your child’s experience at our programs. You’re not alone! Teena, a new camp parent for summer 2023, signed up her daughter Ella, the sibling of a childhood cancer patient, for Day Camp for the first time this past July. Spoiler alert: Ella had the BEST time! In this blog post, Teena talks about how she heard about Camp Casco, why she instantly felt comfortable sending Ella to camp, and why the camp experience is vital to the entire family. 

I heard about Camp Casco through another Camp family. Cora [my daughter] and their daughter Mia were diagnosed with B Cell ALL around the same time, and we met them at the clinic. Her mom and I instantly became friends. Mia and her siblings attended Camp Casco in the summer of 2022, and their mom said the kids had a lot of fun there. I checked Camp Casco’s website and signed up for the mailing list. The first event we attended was Camp Santas, and our family had so much fun meeting other families and the staff. 

I had the assumption in the beginning that for Ella to attend camp, her sister Cora had to attend as well. For the summer of 2023, Cora did not meet the minimum age requirement to attend camp, so I figured I wouldn’t send both of them until the summer of 2024. That assumption was cleared up at Camp Santa when I started chatting with Sparkles. She encouraged me to sign up Ella. She said that siblings are just as important and that Ella could come without Cora. From then on, I felt very confident that Ella would be in really good hands. 

Ella loved camp. She came home every day telling me all the fun things they had done. Ella is very easygoing and wasn’t nervous to go to camp. She looked forward to going and making new friends. Ella’s favorite activity at camp was the egg roulette camp. She really enjoyed smashing the eggs on Rainbow! 

When I was dropping Ella off at camp, I would bring Cora along. She kept asking when she would get to go. Cora really bonded with Coach during the Family Fun Day event.  At the end of the week, dropping and picking up Ella, Cora would look forward to seeing the counselors. Both girls are very much looking forward to going to camp together next summer. 

Teena and Ella at Campfires & Cocktails

Next year [summer 2024], I am considering sending Ella to One Mission’s Sibling Retreat. I am thinking of signing Ella up because the counselor-to-kid ratio is small, but I’m nervous about sending Ella to camp because this will be the very first time that I send her away. I’m nervous she will get homesick.  I feel this is a good opportunity for her and me to try something new, and I know the staff are very attentive to the kids. 

I hope Ella will become more independent if she attends One Mission’s Sibling Retreat. I also hope she will meet other siblings who are currently or have in the past, watching their siblings and family go through the hardship of a cancer diagnosis.  It is so important for siblings to attend camp. Siblings play a huge part in the family dynamic, and they are also affected by the cancer diagnosis. The diagnosed child gets a lot of attention, whether from their family or the medical team. It’s good to give the siblings attention and ensure they are just as special as the diagnosed child. My favorite thing about Camp Casco is their inclusion of siblings, even if the diagnosed child cannot attend camp yet. Also, the staff and counselors are amazing and give the kids the best experience! 

To any parents who are considering sending their child to Camp Casco, I say, please do it! The staff and counselors are so attentive. It’s a very unique and fun camp for the kids!

Do you have questions about Camp Casco, our staff, or our programs? We’re here to help! Send us a message at hello@campcasco.org. We can’t wait to hear from you.