Camp Heart Connection (Children’s Cancer Connection)

Camp Heart Connection’s Oncology Camp is a true summer camp experience, with activities including rock wall climbing, arts and crafts, horseback riding, Wish Night and more. A week of summer camp is something every child should be able to experience. Oncology Camp allows for children who are on or off treatment to attend a week full of exciting summer camp activities!

Camp Heart Connection’s mission is to provide campers affected by childhood cancer and their families a secure environment to connect, grow and create lifelong memories.

A week of summer camp is something every child should be able to experience. Oncology Camp allows for children who are on or off treatment to attend a week full of typical summer camp activities and so much more. Worried that your child won’t fit in? Campers who have attended before demonstrate that all campers understand the childhood cancer journey. In fact, survivors are often inspiration for kids who are newly diagnosed. Our staff is trained to be sensitive and supportive to all campers, and medical professionals are on site 24/7 to meet medical needs. Best of all, Oncology Camp is free to attend.

Siblings are typically not the center of attention when it comes to childhood cancer, but they still carry the scars of cancer inside. Our Sibling Camp, one of the few in the nation, allows for siblings to experience a week they can call their own. It is a place where they can reconcile their emotions and meet others who have lost a sister or brother to cancer. No matter the treatment outcome of their sibling, this week is theirs and free to attend.

Family Camp

Since Children’s Cancer Connection is about the entire family, what better way to spend a weekend than at Family Camp? We provide an opportunity for the entire family to experience the joys of camp and connect with other families experiencing a similar journey.  It is the perfect place for the youngest campers to see what camp is all about before attending on their own.

Day Camp is for both the children diagnosed with cancer and their siblings. Days are filled with summer fun, field trips, and spending time with friends here in Des Moines at the Hansen Home for Hope.

The program allows Iowa and Nebraska children with cancer and their siblings a camping experience.

Children’s Cancer Connection is an affiliate of Children’s Oncology Camping Association (COCA). COCA is a non-profit organization with a mission to strengthen the international community of camps for children with cancer and their families through networking, advocacy and education.

Camp Heart Connection is a COCA Gold Ribbon Accredited Camp. Camp Heart Connection leaders completed the Gold Ribbon education program which helps organizations to identify policies and practices, specific to setting and population, that are documented and delivered in the course of providing a medically and emotionally safe pediatric oncology camp experience.