Every summer, Camp Simcha offers 200 children with cancer and blood disorders two weeks of fun and friendship that gives them the courage to continue to fight pediatric illness.
What is Camp Simcha?
Camp Simcha is a medically supervised overnight camp for children and teens living with cancer or other blood disorders.
Who can attend?
Camp Simcha is open to children ages 6 – 20 on active treatment or who are post-treatment. Campers are accepted after the submission of a complete application, including medical forms that must be completed by your child’s physician. All applications are reviewed by our medical director prior to acceptance.
What’s Camp Simcha like?
In many ways, Camp Simcha is like every other sleep-away camp. Our campers participate in sports, swimming, boating, arts and crafts and crafts workshops. They climb on our climbing wall and whiz down our zip line. They play paintball, engage in photography and videography, work on the camp newspaper and participate in our many shows. There are also concerts, interactive games and shows throughout the summer sessions.
In some important ways, though, Camp Simcha is very different from other camps. Every building and facility is handicapped accessible to assure that every child can participate. We play adaptive sports and adapt our other activities to foster inclusion. Camp Simcha’s medical team, which consists of pediatric oncologists, nurses, therapists, EMTs, and a pharmacist, carefully guard our children’s health and safety.
Perhaps most critical is that your child is in an environment where he or she is no longer “that kid with cancer.” By normalizing illness, we give children the chance to be kids again, to enjoy themselves, to make friends, to forget about illness or to talk about it with the only people who will truly understand them.
What is Camp Simcha Special?
Camp Simcha Special is a medically-supervised overnight camp for children and teens living with cancer or other blood disorders.
Who can attend?
Camp Simcha Special is open to children ages 8-17 who are chronically ill or who have genetic disorders or physical disabilities that make it impossible for them to attend other overnight camps. Campers should be cognitively functioning at grade level.
Campers are accepted after the submission of a complete application, including medical forms that must be completed by your child’s physician. All applications are reviewed by our medical director prior to acceptance.
My child has multiple diagnoses and/or is dependent on medical equipment. Can s/he come to camp?
Of course! Camp Simcha Special is one of the few camps designed to meet the medical and social needs of children and teens with multiple diagnoses and disabilities. Many of our campers are dependent on medication and/or medical equipment, including wheelchairs, walkers, trach tubes, gastric tubes, and other equipment.
What’s Camp Simcha like?
In many ways, Camp Simcha is like every other sleep-away camp. Our campers participate in sports, swimming, boating, arts and crafts and crafts workshops. They climb on our climbing wall and whiz down our zip line. They play paintball, engage in photography and videography, work on the camp newspaper and participate in our many shows. There are also concerts, interactive games and shows throughout the summer sessions.
In some important ways, though, Camp Simcha is very different from other camps. Every building and facility is handicapped accessible. Even our swimming pool has a ramp and water-submersible wheelchairs so that everyone can experience the magic of water play. We play adaptive sports and adapt our other activities to foster inclusion. Camp Simcha’s medical team, which consists of pediatric oncologists, nurses, physical and respiratory therapists, EMTs, and a pharmacist, carefully guard our children’s health and safety.
Perhaps most critical is that your child is in an environment where he or she is no longer “that kid with cancer.” By normalizing illness, we give children the chance to be kids again, to enjoy themselves, to make friends, to forget about illness or to talk about it with the only people who will truly understand them.
The camp’s medical and administrative staffs are experts in caring for children with serious or debilitating chronic disorders. As a result, we can welcome children dependent on wheelchairs or walkers, respirators, gastric tubes and other medical equipment. The camp is fully kosher and special diets and feeding routines are accommodated.
Camp Simcha is located on a beautiful, 125-acre campus in scenic Catskill Mountains in bucolic Glen Spey. It is sponsored by Chai Lifeline, the international children’s health support network that provides emotional and social support for seriously ill children and their families.
Camp Simcha offers two two-week sessions for children with cancer. Our goal is to give children an exciting and enjoyable camp experience that will enhance resiliency and help them through the inevitable rough patches of fighting illness.The medical staff is comprised of pediatric oncologists from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The camp infirmary can accommodate children on treatment.
Each child has his/her counselor so that schedules can be tailored to a child’s interest and energy level.
Camp Simcha pays for transportation from a child’s home city.
Administrative Office
Chai Lifeline
151 West 30th Street
Third Floor
New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 699-6661 / (877) CHAI-LIFE
Email: [email protected]
Summer Office
The Jack and Moishe Horn Campus
430 White Road
Glen Spey, NY 12737
Phone: (845) 856-1432 / (888) 756-1432
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