For more than 35 years, The Valerie Fund has operated Camp Happy Times, a one-week overnight camp experience for any child aged 5-21 who has or has had cancer, regardless of where they are treated. The Valerie Fund offers Camp Happy Times free of charge, including transportation, meals, and on-site medical care.
Over 150 children attend Camp Happy Times each summer. It is located at the 200 acre Tyler Hill Camp in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Tyler Hill is fully accredited by the American Camping Association. Camp Happy Times is a proud member of the International Children’s Oncology Camping Association.
Camp Happy Times promotes friendship, independence, and a spirit of cooperation for cancer patients and survivors. It is a place where campers and counselors alike can say, “I know how you feel,” and mean it. Many of the counselors were once campers themselves.
The CHT philosophy is to provide a recreationally-therapeutic environment that builds self-esteem, confidence, trust, and friendship. While they are there, campers do not feel self-conscious about their illness or the scars their illness may have left. Campers don’t have to explain their disease while they are at camp. And they make lifelong friends that become part of the unique Camp Happy Times family.
Campers are encouraged to take on the challenges of all of the activities—rock wall, tubing, arts and crafts, swimming, basketball, gaga, and tennis, to name just some. They bunk with children in the same age group and are matched with two to three counselors per bunk. For many, this is their first time away from home. Camp Happy Times offers a comforting environment that encourages individual development and group play
Matt Ruttler, Camp Director
[email protected]
Phone: 973-761-0422
Fax: 973-761-6792
Wayne County, Pennsylvania
I love CHT, they, while caring for those who survived/have cancer, also give a camp experience. Everyone is friendly, and there are many fun activities available.